This Day in History: March 14th

I'm not usually one for "This Day in History" posts, in fact, this is my first.  However, sometimes there's something cool that comes up and is worth mention.

Eighty-Nine years ago today (March 14th, 1923), Pete Parker of CKCK in Regina broadcasted the first complete game play-by-play of a professional hockey contest.  The Western Canada Hockey League game (at that time a pro-league) featured Regina and Edmonton, with Edmonton taking a 1-0 victory.

Photo Source: billsportsmaps.com

It was a big 30 days or so for hockey broadcasting as the very first play-by-play hit the airwaves for the third period of a game between Midland and North Toronto at the Gardens on February 8th.  Bridging the gap between the first call and the first complete professional game was the first complete amateur game airing from Winnipeg between the Winnipeg Falcons and the Port Arthur Bearcats.

Good ole' Reginald "Reg" Fessenden hit the air December 24th, 1906 with his first radio broadcast out into the Atlantic.  That means it took 17 years for folks to realize the best use for radio and we've been rolling with it ever since.

Speaking of which, it was great to listen to Game 7 of the Hawks and North Stars game last night.  Sounded like a heck of a contest/series and the crowd was deafening.  I may have to get in a road trip down to catch a game in the Conference Finals.

It should be a great weekend of hockey coming up and if you can't make it to the rink, you can definitely listen in.  All thanks in part to Spiderman.

-D

Thanks to Dale Roth for passing along the info, and the internet for the rest.