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Gary "The Suitcase" Smith February 4: On this day in 1944, Gary "Suitcase" Smith was born in Ottawa, Ontario. Promoted to Toronto from Rochester (AHL) to replace injured Terry Sawchuk and played in games on February 19, 20, 23, 1966. Gary Smith began his NHL career with the Leafs in the 1965-66 season and played a couple of games in goal during the Leafs 1966-67 Cup-winning season. He earned his nickname by playing for several pro teams including 7 NHL teams between 1966 and 1980. As a Leaf, Smith had a record of 0-4 with a 3.61 G.A.A.
Terry "Ukey" SawchukFebruary 4: On this day in 1965, in his first season as a Leaf, Terry Sawchuk became the first goaltender in NHL history to win 400 games as the Leafs beat the Canadiens 5-2 in Montreal. As at the end of the 2006-07 season, Sawchuk ranked fourth in all-time career wins with 447, behind Patrick Roy (551), Martin Brodeur (494) and Ed Belfour (484).
Called "the Uke" or "Ukey" because of his Ukrainian heritage, Terry Sawchuk played more games and recorded more shutouts than any goalie in the history of the NHL. When he was 12, Sawchuk hurt his arm badly playing a friendly game of rugby. He kept the injury to himself and two years later doctors discovered the arm had been badly broken and subsequently healed poorly; it was two inches shorter than his left arm, but even this did not dampen his dream to become a pro hockey player.
Called "the Uke" or "Ukey" because of his Ukrainian heritage, Terry Sawchuk played more games and recorded more shutouts than any goalie in the history of the NHL. When he was 12, Sawchuk hurt his arm badly playing a friendly game of rugby. He kept the injury to himself and two years later doctors discovered the arm had been badly broken and subsequently healed poorly; it was two inches shorter than his left arm, but even this did not dampen his dream to become a pro hockey player.
February 4: On this day in 1980, the Leafs signed goaltender Jiri Crha as a free agent after he had defected from his native Czechoslovakia. He won the first game he played in the NHL on February 16th against the Hartford Whalers. Crha played in goal for the Leafs until the end of the following season, posting an overall winning record of 28-27-11 on a sub-.500 team. When the Leafs were slaughtered by the New York Islanders in the 1981 playoffs, Crha was bought out and never played another NHL game.
Eveolution of the Kansas City Scouts LogoFebruary 4: On this day in 2006, the Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and held on to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in Toronto. The Leafs won all four games against the Devils during the 2005-06 season, but in the end it was the Devils that qualified for the playoffs. As at the end of the 2006-07 season, the Leafs have an all-time winning regular season record against the Kansas City Scouts/Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils of W-51, L-29, T-20, OL-2. As of 2007, the Leafs have faced-off twice against the Devils in the playoffs, in 2000 and again in 2001. The Devils won both series.
The Devils were founded in Kansas City, Missouri as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974, moved to Denver, Colorado as the Colorado Rockies after only two seasons, and then settled in New Jersey as the New Jersey devils in 1982. For their first 24 seasons in New Jersey, the Devils were based in East Rutherford and played their home games at Brendan Byrne Arena/Continental Airlines Arena. Prior to the 2007–08 season, the Devils relocated to Newark to play their home games at the newly-constructed Prudential Center
The Devils were founded in Kansas City, Missouri as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974, moved to Denver, Colorado as the Colorado Rockies after only two seasons, and then settled in New Jersey as the New Jersey devils in 1982. For their first 24 seasons in New Jersey, the Devils were based in East Rutherford and played their home games at Brendan Byrne Arena/Continental Airlines Arena. Prior to the 2007–08 season, the Devils relocated to Newark to play their home games at the newly-constructed Prudential Center
