NHL History September 8 features one of the biggest announcements of Gordie Howe’s legendary career, a pivotal night in the 1972 Summit Series and a Hockey Hall of Fame induction class filled with iconic names.
On September 8, 1971, Howe announced his retirement after 25 remarkable seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Exactly one year later, Team Canada suffered a 5-3 loss to the Soviet Union in Vancouver during the Summit Series, leading to Phil Esposito’s famous emotional response to Canadian fans. Then, in 1980, four influential hockey figures entered the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Here is a look back at the most memorable NHL and hockey moments that happened on September 8.
NHL History September 8: The Biggest Moments
1971: Gordie Howe Announces His Retirement from the Detroit Red Wings
On September 8, 1971, Gordie Howe announced his retirement after an extraordinary 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Howe was 43 years old and was also named a Red Wings vice president following the announcement.
At the time of his first retirement, “Mr. Hockey” stood at the top of the NHL record book. Howe had played 1,687 regular-season games for Detroit while recording 786 goals, 1,023 assists and 1,809 points. He was the NHL’s career leader in games played, goals, assists and points when he stepped away.
Howe had also helped Detroit win four Stanley Cups and established himself as one of hockey’s most dominant all-around players. He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP six times and the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer six times.
His final season before retiring was a difficult one by his standards. Howe recorded 23 goals and 52 points in 1970-71, his lowest point total since the 1948-49 season.
The retirement did not last.
After two seasons away from professional hockey, Howe returned in 1973 to play alongside his sons Mark and Marty Howe with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. He later played for the New England Whalers before returning to the NHL when the franchise became the Hartford Whalers.
Howe played all 80 games for Hartford during the 1979-80 season, recording 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points at age 51. He eventually finished his NHL career with 801 goals and 1,850 points in 1,767 games.
1972: Soviet Union Defeats Team Canada in Game 4 of the Summit Series
September 8, 1972 produced one of the defining moments of the historic Canada-Soviet Summit Series.
Team Canada faced the Soviet Union at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver in Game 4 of the eight-game series. The Soviets jumped out to an early lead and defeated Canada 5-3, taking a 2-1-1 series advantage before the teams travelled to Moscow.
Boris Mikhailov scored two power-play goals during the first period as the Soviet team built an early advantage. Canada entered the third period trailing 4-1 before Bill Goldsworthy and Dennis Hull helped make the final score closer.
Canada actually outshot the Soviet Union 41-31, but goaltender Vladislav Tretiak once again proved difficult to beat.
Phil Esposito Delivers His Famous Summit Series Speech
The aftermath of Game 4 became almost as famous as the game itself.
Some Canadian fans at Pacific Coliseum booed Team Canada following the loss. Phil Esposito, one of the team’s leaders and most important offensive players, responded during a televised postgame interview.
Esposito passionately defended his teammates and emphasized how much representing Canada meant to the players. The emotional moment became one of the lasting images of the 1972 Summit Series.
The series then moved to Moscow. Canada eventually completed one of the most famous comebacks in hockey history, winning the final three games and taking the eight-game series when Paul Henderson scored with just 34 seconds remaining in Game 8.
1980: Gump Worsley and Harry Lumley Enter the Hockey Hall of Fame
Another significant moment in NHL history on September 8 took place in 1980 when the Hockey Hall of Fame welcomed four new members.
Goaltenders Gump Worsley and Harry Lumley were inducted alongside forward Lynn Patrick and longtime American Hockey League executive Jack Butterfield, who entered the Hall as a builder.
Worsley enjoyed a 21-season NHL career with the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1952-53 and was part of four Stanley Cup championship teams with Montreal.
Lumley was one of the premier goaltenders of his era. His NHL career included stops with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. Lumley won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 1950 and became known for his durability and ability to record shutouts.
Lynn Patrick was part of the famous Patrick hockey family and won the Stanley Cup as a player with the New York Rangers in 1940. Jack Butterfield, meanwhile, became one of the most influential executives in American Hockey League history during his decades in the sport.
Why September 8 Is an Important Date in Hockey History
September 8 has produced moments that stretch well beyond ordinary offseason transactions. Gordie Howe’s first retirement marked the apparent end of one of the greatest careers the NHL had ever seen. One year later, the Summit Series changed the way Canadians viewed international hockey and helped create one of the country’s defining sporting moments.
The 1980 Hockey Hall of Fame ceremony added another layer to the date by recognizing players and builders whose contributions helped shape professional hockey across several generations.
Together, those events make September 8 a noteworthy date on the NHL calendar even though it normally falls during the league’s offseason.
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