On This Date in Sports March 6, 1984: Hawerchuk High Five
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Dale Hawerchuk of the Winnipeg Jets becomes the NHL’s ultimate playmaker for one period in a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings at the Forum. Hawerchuk’s record-breaking period comes in the send, as Winnipeg broke the game open with five goals. In the history of the NHL, there have been numberous players to register four assists in one period, but Hawerchuk remains the only with five.
Dale Hawerchuk was born April 4, 1963, in Toronto. After playing for the Cornwall Royals in the QMJHL, Hawerchuk was the first player taken in the 1981 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. After winning three titles in four years in the WHA, the Jets struggled to adjust to life in the NHL. The drafting of Dale Hawerchuk gave them a star to market and build around. Hawerchuk’s career got off to a great start as he won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie with 45 goals and 58 assists in his first season. However, the Jets struggled in the shadow of Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division.
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The Jets coached by Tom Watt were in fourth place with a record of 24-30-10 as they faced the last place Los Angeles Kings 19-37-12. The Kings had recently named Roger Nielsen as coach in the hopes of turning around their long-struggling fortunes.
The Jets held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period when Dale Hawerchuk recorded his first assist on a goal by Morris Lukowich to make it 2-0 in favor of Winnipeg. The Kings would rally to tie the game with two goals by Terry Ruskowski and Charlie Simmer 56 seconds apart. The Jets would regain the lead as Hawerchuk assisted on a goal by Wade Campbell who beat Markus Mattson at 7:45 to give the Jets back the lead. Paul MacLean who scored the Jets first goal scored the next two goals for a hat trick, each of which were assisted by Hawerchuk who joined a long line of players with four assists in one period. With nine seconds left, Dale Hawerchuk capped his record-breaking period by assisting on another goal by Morris Lukowich who scored the first of the five goals. Each team would score in the third period as the Jets defeated the Kings 7-3.
Dale Hawerchuk’s five assists in one period remains an NHL record as more than 70 players had registered four helpers in one period. He would finish the season with 37 goals and 65 assists as the Jets finished the season in fourth place with a record of 31-38-11.