Blogs > New Haven 200 at 200

The New Haven Register sports department is celebrating our 200th birthday by sharing 200 of the most interesting stories relating to sports in Greater New Haven over the past 200 years. Check back daily for historical updates.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Chris Drury: From Little League to NHL, always a winner

Chris Drury used his strong right arm to pitch his hometown Trumbull team to the Little League World Series championship in 1989.

He tossed a five-hitter as Trumbull stunned Taiwan in the title game 23 years ago.

Drury got to visit the White House, threw out the first pitch in Game 2 of the 1989 World Series and was honored as “Young Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated.

But it turned out to be the ice — not the baseball diamond — where Drury really flourished.

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Bob McVey, 1960 Olympic Hockey Team


Associated Press File Photo

 From left to right are (first row): Jack McCarten; Herb Brooks, Weldy Olson, Paul Johnson, Richard Meredith, Harry Batchelder, Larry Palmer; (second row) Jim Claypool, manager; Rod Paavola, Harry Berg, Bob McVey, Roger Christian, William Christian, Ben Bertini, trainer, Jack Riley, coach; (third row) Tom Williams, Bob Owen, Dave Outerbridge, Bob Depuis; Gene Graziam; Larry Alm; Jakc Kirrane

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The “Miracle on Ice” performance by USA Hockey in 1980 gets the notoriety. Often forgotten by the mainstream is the fact that the 1960 U.S. Olympic team pulled off the same feat first.

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was on the verge of disaster in 1960 when the countries met on the ice in Squaw Valley, Calif. Hamden’s Bob McVey was a second-line left wing that day, helping Team USA to a monumental 3-2 upset victory.
Read Chip Malafronte's complete story.

McVey's Olympic profile page

USA Hockey Magazine looks back to 1960 team (with photo of McVey)

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Two videos from YouTube on the 1960 Forgotten Miracle team


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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Don Perry, New Haven Blades



Don Perry was the face of the wildly popular, oft controversial, and typically combative New Haven Blades of the defunct Eastern Hockey League.

Perry, born in Edmonton in 1930, began his stint with the Blades in 1954 as a player/coach and ended in 1972. In between the team won its only title, titillating its rabid fan base with large-scale brawls in the rowdy venue.

Read Bill Cloutier's full story.

Don Perry's Los Angeles Kings profile page.

Here's some videos on the Eastern Hockey League from YouTube.



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