This Day in MN Hockey History: Feb. 21

1945:  Chicago goalie Mike Karakas recorded his 27th career shutout in the Black Hawks’ 5-0 win over the visiting Boston Bruins.

1946:  Former North Stars left winger Danny Grant born in Fredericton, N.B.

1948:  Boston’s Frank Brimsek became the second goaltender in franchise history (and the 7th in the NHL) to record 200 victories when the Bruins won 3-1 over the Canadiens at Montreal.

1952:  The 8th annual MSHSL State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is held at the St. Paul Auditorium from Feb. 21-23rd.

1957:  The 13th annual MSHSL State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is held at the St. Paul Auditorium from Feb. 21-23rd.

1963:  The 19th annual MSHSL State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is held at the St. Paul Auditorium from Feb. 21-23rd.

1968:  Mike McMahon scored a goal and added two assists and Jean-Paul Parise had three assists to lead the North Stars to a 5-3 win against Boston in Minnesota.

1972:  With three weeks left in the Stars/Vulcans regular season, Stars/Vulcans Head Coach Herb Brooks accepts the Head Coaching position at the University of Minnesota.  Doug Woog takes over as Head Coach of the Vulcans. (Known as the Junior Stars at the time).

1973:  NHL MN Wild center Brian Rolston born in Flint, Mich.

1980:  Defenseman Brad Maxwell had three assists to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 5-2 win against the Islanders at New York.

1984:  Washington Capitals signed goaltender Bob Mason as a free agent.

1986:  Calgary’s rookie Mike Vernon recorded his first career shutout and the Flames’ first ever against the Canucks, a 4-0 at Vancouver.  Rookie Joel Otto led the scoring with two goals and an assist.

1986:  Phil Housley picked up three assists as the Sabres won 5-1 over the Islanders in Buffalo.

1986:  Dennis Maruk scored a goal and added two assists and Minnesota’s Brian Bellows extended his team-record point scoring streak to 20 straight games in the North Stars’ 5-2 win over the visiting Quebec Nordiques.  Bellows scored 11 goals, 18 assists for a total of 29 points during the 20 game streak.

1987:  New York Rangers traded Brad Maxwell to the North Stars for future considerations.

1990:  George and Gordon Gund declare three options on this date: 1.  Relocate the North Stars to the Bay Area; 2.  Entertain offers to sell the team to keep them in MN; 3.  Explore possibility of an expansion team in Minnesota, in conjunction with a North Stars move to the Bay Area.

1992:  Brian Bellows became the North Stars’ all-time leading goal scorer, when he scored twice in a 5-4 loss to the Rangers, in New York; his two goals gave him 355 with Minnesota, two more than Dino Ciccarelli.

2004:  Mighty Ducks of Anaheim acquired defenseman Martin Skoula from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Kurt Sauer and a fourth-round draft pick in 2005.

2011:  Pittsburgh Penguins acquired left wing James Neal and Virginia, Minnesota native Matt Niskanen, from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman (and Grand Rapids, Minnesota native) Alex Goligoski

2013:  Matt Cullen scored two goals and an assist to lead the Wild to a 3-1 victory at Edmonton.

2013:  Robbinsdale, MN native Blake Wheeler scored his second goal of the game with 4:54 remaining in regulation to give the Jets a 4-3 win at Carolina.

Courtesy of Vintage Minnesota Hockey.com,
your No. 1 source for Vintage Minnesota Hockey History and Hockey Apparel!