Hartford Whaler Nation - The Official Web Site for Hartford Whalers Fans by Mark Willand

On this Date in Whalers History: John Cunniff Passes Away

John Cunnif

Amateur career

Cunniff was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and attended Boston College, where he was a two-time All-American left wing, and was the 1964 Rookie of the Year, and was the first hockey player ever to be named the Beanpot MVP twice ('64 & '65); a record that lasted for 39 years. He was a dominant scorer, his 71 goals and 82 assists in just 75 games established a Boston College career point record. His 67 points in 1966–67 was best in the nation, and helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Championship finals.

This Date in Whalers History - 1985: Peter Sidorkiewicz and Dean Evason are acquired from Washington for David A. Jensen.

This Date in Whalers History - 1985 On this Date in Whalers History: 1985, Peter Sidorkiewicz and Dean Evason are acquired from Washington for David A. Jensen.  A great deal by Emile Francis, one of many he'd make between 1985 and 1986.

Sidorkiewicz is currently an assistant coach with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Erie Otters.

 

 

 

Evason is now an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals.

 

 

This Date in Whalers History, 1982: The Whalers Draft Paul Lawless, Kevin Dineen, Ulf Samuelsson and Ray Ferraro.

This date in Whalers History:  The Whalers Select Paul Lawless (1), Kevin Dineen (3), Ulf Samuelsson (4) and Ray Ferraro (5) in the 1982 NHL Draft.

Whaler Nation Birthdays, May 10 -- Randy Cunneyworth and Mikael Andersson

Whaler Nation Birthdays, May 10 -- Randy Cunneyworth and Mikael Andersson

This date in Whalers History May 3, 1999 Former Whalers player Steve Chiasson passes away in Raleigh, NC

This date in Whalers History May 3, 1999 Former Whalers player Steve Chiasson passes away in Raleigh, NC

Chiasson Remembered as a Leader On and Off the Ice

Posted: May 2, 1999 RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes are dealing with a loss much greater than Sunday night's season ending defeat in Boston. Defenseman Steve Chiasson died in a car accident in Wake County early Monday morning. Chiasson and teammates had just returned to Raleigh from Boston.

A Hurricanes spokesman said the team's charter arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport about 1 a.m. The players got in their vehicles at the airport and left. TheNorth Carolina Highway Patrolsays Chiasson died about 4:15 a.m. He was thrown from his Chevy pickup truck which left the road and overturned along Falls of the Neuse Road near the Raleigh Water Treatment Plant. The Highway Patrol says speed and no seat belt were factors in the accident; aclohol may also be a factor.

"The message is still clear and concise and brought into focus with this incident: put on a seatbelt, don't drink and drive and slow down," says Sgt. Jeff Winstead of the Highway Patrol. In just three seasons with the Hurricanes organization, Chiasson, 32, was a leader on and off the ice, as a husband and father of three. "We are shocked and saddened today with the passing of Steve Chiasson," says Jim Rutherford, Hurricanes' president.

"This is a tragedy that none of us can put into words. We grieve with Steve's family, his wife Susan and his children." "There's no other way to put it except for we lost a member of our family and its a very painful time for all of us," says Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice. "On behalf of our entire team and our families, we extend our deepest sympathies to Susan and the kids. Like all of us, Steve loved the game of hockey. He was a skilled player who took a youthful approach to the game. He was a man of tremendous character and a loving father," says teammate Glen Wesley.

News of Chiasson's death also hit hard in Detroit, where he spent several years as a player. The Red Wings released the following statement: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve's family." It was just two years ago, two star players with the Red Wings nearly lost their lives in a limousine accident just days after the team won the Stanley Cup. One of those players was a teammate of Chiasson's with Detroit in the early 90s.

Aside from his role as a hockey player, Chiasson and his wife, Susan, were both active community leaders during their short time in the Triangle. The Ontario native is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. A private funeral is planned.

The public is invited to express their condolences by signing registries at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home locations in Raleigh and Cary. From staff and wire reports * Reporter: Mark Roberts * Photographer: Ron Pittman * Web Editor: Michelle Singer

This Date in Whalers History - May 3, 1996: "Save the Whale" season ticket sales drive is extended for 11 days

FROM 1996 Edition of IceHockey.com

by Steve Galichio, Hartford Correspondent

---

Tom Clancy couldn't have written a better script. It had action, intrigue, secret agents, mystery men, hidden agendas, unspeakable motives, and every other ingredient for a ratings-busting network movie of the week.

And in the middle, it even had a hockey team.

By now, the outline to the story of the Save the Whale campaign is well known, and no doubt the stuff of soon-to-be legends, as the charter members of the "96 Club" gather the memories to dispense to grandchildren at the Stanley Cup parade down Asylum Street decades from now.

But just so the facts don't get in the way of a good story, a rough chronology of events is in perfect order.

The primer: Peter Karmanos, Thomas Thewes, and Jim Rutherford purchased the Hartford Whalers in 1994 from the Connecticut Development Authority, a quasi-public arm of the state government, who had previously purchased the team from area businessman and village idiot Richard Gordon.

VIDEO: This Date in Whalers History -- Whalers Lose to Montreal in Double OT, 1992

This Date in Whalers History, May 1.  In 1992 Whalers lose to Montreal in double-overtime of Game Seven of Adams Division semifinals on Russ Courtnall's goal.

Box Score

Hartford Whalers 0 2 0 0 0 - 2
Montreal Canadiens (wins 4-3) 2 0 0 0 1 - 3

Russ Courtnall's tally at 5:26 of the second overtime period gave the Montreal
Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the surprising Hartford Whalers in the deciding
game of the seven-game series.

First period-- 1, Montreal, Schneider 1 (Savard,Gilchrist), 6:08 (pp). 2,
Montreal, Dionne 3 (Lebeau), 11:07. Penalties-- Craven, Har (interference),
5:37; Skrudland, Mon (cross-checking), 7:53; Muller, Mon (holding), 13:24.

Second period-- 3, Hartford, Cassels 2, 8:13. 4, Hartford, Sanderson 1
(Holik,Poulin), 15:36. Penalties-- Skrudland, Mon (interference), :18;
Cunneyworth, Har (cross-checking), 2:48; Craven, Har (holding), 10:38; Lebeau,
Mon (hooking), 12:26; Ladoceur, Har (roughing), 17:31.

Third period-- None. Penalties-- None.

First overtime-- None. Penalties-- None.

Second overtime-- 5, Montreal, Courtnall 1 (Corson,Dionne), 5:26.
Penalties-- None.

Shots on goal-- Hartford 9-10-12-7-3--41. Montreal 11-11-11-18-5--56.

Power-play opportunities-- Hartford 0 of 4; Montreal 1 of 4.

Goalies-- Hartford, Pietrangelo, 3-4 (56 shots-53 saves). Montreal, Roy,
4-3 (41-39).

A-- 17,718.

Referee-- Don Koharski. Linesmen-- Ron Finn, Gord Broseker.

This Date in Whalers History: April 19, 1972 -- The Whalers Sign First Player -- Larry Pleau

In 1972, Larry Pleau becomes the first player to sign a Whalers contract.  Here Pleau is shown with GM Jack Kelley and Managing Partner Howard Baldwin.

VIDEOS: This Date in Whalers History: April 13, 1997 -- The Whalers Say Goodbye.

Sportschannel Tribute

Whalers Fans

Kevin Dineen

News Coverage

Three Videos of Final Game Coverage

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

April 13, 1997 the Whalers play their last game in Hartford, a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay.

This Date in Whalers History, April 12

This Date in Whalers History, April 12, 1986: John Anderson sets the Whalers (NHL) playoff record for assists (4) and points (6)  as the Whalers complete three-game sweep of Adams Division champion Quebec, their only NHL playoff series victory.

Box Score

 Source: The Hartford Courant (4/8/87)
Quebec  2 1 1 - 4
Hartford 4 3 2 - 9

1st period:

1. Har: Dineen 1(Turgeon, D.Babych) 2:29 (pp).
2. Har: Tippett 1(Samuelsson) 5:22 (sh).
3. Que: Lemieux 1 (Picard, Goulet) 8:40 (pp).
4. Har: Francis 1(Dineen, McEwen) 15:08.
5. Que: Ashton 2(Price, Gillis) 15:52 (sh).
6. Har: Ferraro 1(Anderson, Francis) 19:20 (pp).
Penalties: Picard, Que (hooking) 1:21; Goulet, Que (slashing) 3:45; Jarvis, Har (hooking) 4:01; Samuelsson, Har(holding) 7:29;                Moller, Que served by Suave, double minor-major-misconduct-game miscondcut(roughing) 9:18; Gillis, Que                (roughing) 9:18; Eagles, Que (roughing) 9:18; Ferraro, Har (roughing) 9:18; Bothwell, Har (roughing) 9:18;                Robertson, Har (roughing) 9:18; D.Babych, Har(holding) 11:01; Goulet, Que (slashing) 12:31; Samuelsson,                Har(slashing) 12:31; Tippett, Har(tripping) 13:24; Hunter, Que (hooking) 14:02; Patrick, Que (charging) 18:04.

2nd period:
7. Har: Samuelsson 1(Anderson) 2:07.
8. Que: Hunter 1(Picard, Goulet) 11:06 (pp).
9. Har: Ferraro 2(Anderson, Dineen) 13:08 (pp).
10. Har: Anderson 2(Ferraro, D.Babych) 13:34 (pp).
Penalties: Gillis, Que (roughing) 1:07; Kleinendorst, Har(roughing) 1:07; Bothwell, Har (interference) 2:39; Jarvis, Har (hooking)                10:33; Price, Que (holding) 13:01; Patrick, Que (cross-checking) 13:01; Quenneville, Har(tripping) 14:12;                Kleinendorst, Har(tripping) 18:54; Siltanen, Que (tripping) 19:06.

3rd period:
11. Har: Anderson 3(Dineen) 7:00.
12. Que: Kumpel 1(Siltanen, Lemieux) 11:19.
13. Har: Dineen 2(Anderson, Quenneville) 18:23.
Penalties: Hunter, Que double minor(roughing) 6:05; Samuelsson, Har double minor(high-sticking, roughing) 6:05; Gillis, Que                (high-sticking) 9:17; Turgeon, Har (high-sticking) 9:17; Hunter, Que major (fighting) 15:02; Ashton, Que                minor-major(roughing, fighting) 15:02; Gavin, Har minor-major (roughing, fighting) 15:02; Samuelsson, Har major                (fighting) 15:02.

Shots on goal:
Quebec 13 11 9 - 33
Hartford 13 14 8 - 35

Power Play Opportunities:
Quebec 2 of 8; Hartford 4 of 7.

Goalies:
Quebec Malarchuk (13 shots, 9 saves), Gosselin (:00 second, 22-20)
Harford Liut (33-29)

A 15,126
Referee: Ron Hoggarth. Linseman: Ron Finn, Jim Christison.