Sharks' Roenick Eyes 500th Career NHL

Sharks' Roenick Eyes 500th Career NHL

NHL PR

Fifty years ago next week, Montreal Canadiens right wing Maurice "Rocket" Richard reached the most celebrated individual milestone in what was the 40-year history of the National Hockey League by becoming to first player to tally 500 career goals.

Richard's milestone tally came in a 3-1 Canadiens victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Montreal Forum on October 19, 1957. Richard, his teammates who earned an assist -- Jean Beliveau and Dickie Moore -- and the opposing goaltender, Glenn Hall, all are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Richard's historic quest made a tremendous impact. "It would not be inaccurate to say that on October 19, everyone in the province of Quebec, sometime during the day, either discussed or thought about Richard and his imminent accomplishment," declared The Hockey News. "Sports observers agree that this staggering 500 total is by comparison every bit as great an achievement as the lifetime home run production of baseball's immortal Babe Ruth."

It would take close to five years after Richard's triumph for the second NHL player to reach the 500-goal milestone (Detroit's Gordie Howe on Mar. 14, 1962) and nearly 13 years for the third to do so (Chicago's Bobby Hull on Feb. 21, 1970).

In the ensuing years, the number of members in the '500-Goal Club' has increased to 39, and San Jose Sharks center Jeremy Roenick is just three goals shy of becoming the 40th.

Roenick, a nine-time NHL All-Star, entered the season with 495 career goals and tallied a pair, including the game winner, in a 3-1 victory at Vancouver on Oct. 5. The 37-year-old Boston native is vying to become just the third U.S.-born player to achieve the feat, joining Mike Modano (Livonia, Michigan, 507) and Joe Mullen (New York, NY, 502). Roenick ranks third in points, third in goals and fifth in assists among U.S.-born players. In 1,256 NHL games with Chicago, Phoenix, Philadelphia. Los Angeles and San Jose, he has posted 1,172 points (497 goals, 675 assists).

An unlikely source - the NHL all-time victories leader Patrick Roy -- has the distinction of allowing a League-high three 500th goals, to Detroit's Steve Yzerman (Jan. 17, 1996) and Brendan Shanahan (Mar. 23, 2002), and Pittsburgh's Joe Mullen (Mar. 14, 1997). Three of hockey's greatest goal-scorers, the New York Islanders' Mike Bossy (Jan. 2, 1986), Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky (Nov. 22, 1986) and Los Angeles' Jari Kurri (Oct. 17, 1992). tallied their 500th goal into an empty net.

500-GOAL SCORERS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Date Player Score Time Goaltender

Oct. 19, 1957 Maurice Richard, Mtl MTL 3 vs CHI 1 15:52, 1st (PP) Glenn Hall

Mar. 14, 1962 Gordie Howe, Det DET 2 at NYR 3 17:10, 2nd (SH) Gump Worsley

Feb. 21, 1970 Bobby Hull, Chi CHI 4 vs NYR 2 16:51, 2nd (EV) Ed Giacomin

Feb. 11, 1971 Jean Beliveau, Mtl MTL 6 vs MIN 2 6:42, 2nd (EV) Gilles Gilbert

Mar. 21, 1973 Frank Mahovlich, Mtl MTL 3 vs VAN 2 1:27, 3rd (EV) Dunc Wilson

Dec. 22, 1974 Phil Esposito, Bos BOS 5 vs DET 4 6:49, 2nd (PP) Jim Rutherford

Oct. 30, 1975 Johnny Bucyk, Bos BOS 3 vs STL 2 12:52, 1st (EV) Yves Belanger

Feb. 27, 1977 Stan Mikita, Chi CHI 3 vs VAN 4 13:56, 3rd (EV) Cesare Maniago

Dec. 14, 1982 Marcel Dionne, L.A LA 2 at WSH 7 3:00, 1st (EV) Al Jensen

Dec. 20, 1983 Guy Lafleur, Mtl MTL 6 at NJ 0 8:34, 3rd (EV) Chico Resch

Jan. 2, 1986 Mike Bossy, NYI NYI 7 vs BOS 5 19:43, 3rd (EV) Empty Net

Mar. 9, 1986 Gilbert Perreault, Buf BUF 4 vs NJ 3 10:44, 2nd (EV) Alain Chevrier

Nov. 22, 1986 Wayne Gretzky, Edm EDM 5 vs VAN 2 19:42, 3rd (EV) Empty Net

Mar. 21, 1989 Lanny McDonald, Cgy CGY 4 vs NYI 1 10:54, 1st (EV) Mark Fitzpatrick

Feb. 13, 1990 Bryan Trottier, NYI NYI 2 vs CGY 4 9:57, 2nd (EV) Rick Wamsley

Oct. 14, 1991 Mike Gartner, NYR NYR 3 vs WSH 5 3:27, 1st (PP) Mike Liut

Feb. 16, 1992 Michel Goulet, Chi CHI 5 vs CGY 5 19:23, 1st (EV) Jeff Reese

Oct. 17, 1992 Jari Kurri, L.A LA 8 vs BOS 6 19:06, 3rd (EV) Empty Net

Jan. 8, 1994 Dino Ciccarelli, Det DET 6 at LA 3 4:20, 3rd (EV) Kelly Hrudey

Oct. 26, 1995 Mario Lemieux, Pit PIT 7 at NYI 5 17:12, 3rd (EV) Tommy Soderstrom

Nov. 6, 1995 Mark Messier, NYR NYR 4 vs CGY 2 12:32, 3rd (EV) Rick Tabaracci

Jan. 17, 1996 Steve Yzerman, Det DET 3 vs COL 2 7:52, 2nd (PP) Patrick Roy

Jan. 31, 1996 Dale Hawerchuk, StL STL 4 at TOR 0 10:26, 3rd (EV) Felix Potvin

Dec. 22, 1996 Brett Hull, StL STL 7 vs LA 4 10:25, 3rd (EV) Stephane Fiset

Mar. 14, 1997 Joe Mullen, Pit PIT 3 at COL 6 16:01, 2nd (EV) Patrick Roy

Mar. 15, 1997 Dave Andreychuk, N.J NJ 3 vs WSH 2 9:03, 1st (PP) Bill Ranford

Jan. 7, 1999 Luc Robitaille, L.A LA 4 vs BUF 2 18:14, 3rd (EV) Dwayne Roloson

Mar. 22, 2000 Pat Verbeek, Det DET 2 vs CGY 2 14:38, 3rd (PP) Fred Brathwaite

Jan. 2, 2002 Ron Francis, Car CAR 3 vs BOS 6 13:12, 1st (PP) Byron Dafoe

Mar. 23, 2002 Brendan Shanahan, Det DET 2 at COL 0 7:48, 3rd (PP) Patrick Roy

Dec. 11, 2002 Joe Sakic, Col COL 1 at VAN 3 4:25, 2nd (PP) Dan Cloutier

Jan. 17, 2003 Joe Nieuwendyk, N.J NJ 2 at CAR 1 11:18, 1st (EV) Kevin Weekes

Feb. 4, 2003 Jaromir Jagr, Wsh WSH 5 at TB 1 7:19, 2nd (PP) John Grahame

Nov. 8, 2005 Pierre Turgeon, Col COL 5 vs SJ 2 9:16, 3rd (PP) Vesa Toskala

Oct. 14, 2006 Mats Sundin, Tor TOR 5 vs CGY 4 0:50, OT (SH) Miikka Kiprusoff

Nov. 22, 2006 Teemu Selanne, Ana ANA 2 at COL 3 14:54, 2nd (PP) Jose Theodore

Dec. 22, 2006 Peter Bondra, Chi CHI 3 vs TOR 1 5:37, 3rd (EV) J.S. Aubin

Jan. 26, 2007 Mark Recchi, Pit PIT 4 at DAL 3 11:59, 3rd (PP) Marty Turco

Mar. 13, 2007 Mike Modano, Dal DAL 3 vs PHI 2 9:36, 3rd (EV) Antero Niittymaki