May 1 in Indianapolis hockey history

May 1 in Indianapolis hockey history

1982: The Checkers’ first Adams Cup Final appearance begins with a 5-2 win over the host Dallas Black Hawks. Red Laurence’s goal 18 seconds into the second period gives the Checkers a 3-1 lead, and Steve Stoyanovich and Charlie Skjodt score later in the second to break the game open. Kelly Hrudey hardly breaks a sweat, stopping 15 shots in the Game 1 win. It’s the team’s eighth straight playoff win, setting a CHL record.

1999: The Ice take a lead for the fifth straight game, but for the third time, are unable to hold it in the third period. Sylvain Cloutier and Nathan Perrott give the Ice a 2-1 edge in the first, but Detroit’s Mike Prokopec ties it with 9:33 left, and Yves Sarault beats Ice goaltender Marc Lamothe at 8:05 of overtime to give the Vipers a 3-2 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series.

2009: The Ice suffer a heartbreaker in Game 1 of the Clark Cup Final, as Fargo’s Steve Spinell scores with 38 seconds left to beat the Ice 2-1. Loren Barron’s power play goal in the second provides the Ice’s offense, and stood as the game’s only goal until Fargo tied it with 10:29 left.

Happy birthday to …

Bill Brennan: Goaltender who played 12 games for the Capitals in 1950-51. He played eight pro seasons from 1947-55, primarily in the USHL (a level below the AHL) and the WHL. A native of Saskatoon, he was born in 1925. He passed away in 2011.

Sid Finney: Center who played for the short-lived 1963 Capitols. He had two goals and three assists for eight games in Indianapolis, and left the team for the WHL after five more. He played 59 NHL games with the Blackhawks from 1951-54, scoring 10 goals, but spent the majority of his career in the WHL with Calgary. He joined the Caps in his final full pro season. A native of Bainbridge, Ireland, he was born in 1929. He passed away in 2009.

Mike Greeder: Defenseman for the Checkers in 1982-83 and for one game the following year. He had nine goals and 19 assists over 57 regular-season games, and also had three points in the 1983 playoff run. Greeder’s stop in Indy came during an eight-year pro career in the AHL, CHL and IHL between 1979-87. He was drafted in the eighth round by Philadelphia in 1977. A native of Mahtomedi, Minn., he was born in 1957. He passed away in 2005.

Scott Clements: Defenseman who played 23 games for the Ice in 1988-89, tallying two goals and six assists. He played five pro seasons, the first four in the AHL and the last 23 games with the Ice in the fifth year. A native of Sudbury, Ont., he is 55.

Jamie McKinley: Winger who played four games for the Ice in 1988-89, his rookie year. He played primarily overseas during his career, which lasted into the mid-2000s. A native of Fredericton, NB, he is 50.