Howie Hughes

Did you know that Howie Hughes scored the first Los Angeles Kings goal in the Fabulous Forum at 7:30 of the 1st period on January 11, 1968 vs. St.Louis?


Howie was one of those guys who had to fight for every minute of his ice time in the NHL. At only 5´9" he was considered to be too small for the NHL and it wasn't until the expansion in 1967-68 that he got his chance to prove himself in the NHL.

"Size shouldn't matter" Howie once said "only what you do or don't do. I know I did pretty well. Most of my career, it didn't get me anywhere. Why didn't I get more of a chance ? was it because of my size ? I don't know. I didn't make the decisions and I never complained. I just did the best I could."

Howie played his junior hockey for his hometown team, St.Boniface Canadians between 1955-59. He was picked up by the Winnipeg Braves for the 1959 playoffs and won the Memorial Cup with them. In his first pro season 1959-60 Howie scored 79 points (35+44) in 68 games for St.Paul (IHL) and won the championship with them.

Howie was clearly too good for the IHL and went on to play in the much stronger WHL. There he played for Winnipeg Warriors, Seattle Totems and Vancouver Canucks between 1960-63. During the 1963-64 season he played for St. Paul Rangers of the CHL, collecting 64 points in 66 games. He then racked up another three strong seasons in the WHL for the Vancouver Canucks (50 and 72 points) under tough coach Bert Olmstead who he called the most influential person in his life and Seattle Totems (71 points).

During that last season with Seattle (66-67) Howie made the 2nd WHL All-Star team and led the Totems to the championship. He also was the leading scorer in the playoffs where he had most goals (6) and points (11)

Los Angeles Kings liked what they saw in Howie and GM Larry Regan chose him in the 9th round of the expansion draft. Regan's own scouting report said: "Howie is an excellent two-way player, and is outstanding as a penalty killer."

Finally at the age of 28 Howie got his chance in the NHL. Although Howie played in every game, he was used sparingly by the coach Red Kelly and played mainly as a spare or penalty killer. In his first season with the Kings he scored 23 points (9+14) in 74 games and scored two more goals in the playoffs.

Howie at that time had a simple explanation. " I don't know any other way to play than full out. That's what I'm getting paid to do. Even when you're playing regularly, you're only on the ice a minute or two at a time, so why not give it all you've got? And when you're only getting a few minutes a game, you have to make the most of them. If being versatile and being able to produce in short shifts helps me keep a job up here, that's fine, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play regularly and didn't think I was good enough. I love hockey and have few regrets, but I've had a frustrating career." Howie said.

The 1968-69 season proved to be Howie's finest in the NHL. He got 30 points (16+14) in 73 games and saw more ice time. Then in 1969-70 he only played 21 games for LA.

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Vitali Yachmenev

A lot of people got really excited about Vitali Yachmenev back in the 1995-96 season. The 59th overall draft pick by the LA Kings in 1994, Yachmenev spent much of his rookie season playing on Wayne Gretzky's right wing, and looking good in doing so.

It was probably the best and the worst thing that could happen to the young Russian from Chelyabinsk. He played well along side The Great One, and picked up 19 goals and 53 points that season.

But that raised expectations for the youngster, who would not be able to put up good numbers once Gretzky was traded to St. Louis towards the end of that season, and in the following two campaigns.

Though his stock plummeted, Yachmenev landed on his skates with the expansion Nashville Predators in 1998-99.

Yachmenev played 4 years in Nashville. For a sniper, he did not put up any memorable numbers, never scoring more than 16 goals in those seasons. In fact, in his last NHL season he scored just five times.

But he was an intelligent hockey player with good hockey sense. He was trusted on the penalty kill and he was a reliable defensive winger, willing to take hits on the wall to get the puck out of the zone.

He was a bit of a cult hero in Nashville. He was a quick player, not a speedy player, and brought energy to each game that fans and teammates appreciated.

In the summer of 2003 Yachmenev returned to Russia where he continued to play hockey for many years.

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Los Angeles Kings Greatest Players

	Jimmy Carson - He was traded for The Great One. Though he had one of the most impressive three year starts in NHL history, he could never live down the trade.
	Marcel Dionne - Marcel Dionne was the shining jewel of the famed Triple Crown Line. He remains the highest scoring French Canadian player of all time.
	Daryl Evans - Daryl Evans capped the most unlikely of playoff comebacks, leading the Kings to a 1982 upset of Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers in what is now known as the Miracle on Manchester.
	Jim Fox - He wasn't the brightest star in Hollywood, but Jim Fox was quietly a very effective hockey player.
	Butch Goring - At the trading deadline in 1980, the New York Islanders acquired the final piece of their soon-to-be dynasty puzzle - the former heart and soul of the Los Angeles Kings - Butch Goring.
	Wayne Gretzky - In the trade that shook the world, hockey took over Hollywood in 1988. Many of Gretzky's greatest achievements occurred in a L.A. Kings jersey.

	Kelly Hrudey - Now known as the man behind Hockey Night In Canada's feature segment "Behind The Mask," Kelly Hrudey was once one of the top goalies in hockey.
	Dave Hutchison - Dave Hutchison was a tough as nails defenseman.
	Ted Irvine - This energetic grinder endeared himself to fans in Manhattan and Hollywood. His famous son does the same all around the world, as a professional wrestler.
	Brian Kilrea - "Killer" scored the first goal in Los Angeles Kings history.
	Chris Kontos - After scoring 9 goals in 11 playoff games in 1989, Chris Kontos' name became synonymous with the term "unlikely playoff hero."
	Marty McSorley - Popular Marty McSorley worked hard to shed his goon image and become known as a good player. Then he blew it.
	Bob Nevin - A consistent, two way star first found success with his hometown Maple Leafs, but became a star in Manhattan. He finished his career strongly in LA.
	Bernie Nicholls - One of the most popular players in California hockey history, Bernie was known for highlight reel goals and his famous Pumper-Nicholl.
	Petr Prajsler - This Czech defector never panned out as the Kings offensive secret weapon on the blue line.
	Luc Robitaille - Lucky Luc retired as the Los Angeles Kings all time leading goal scorer.
	Charlie Simmer - A key member of the Triple Crown Line in Los Angeles, Charlie Simmer could have been one of the all time great scorers if injuries didn't get in the way.
	Doug Smith - The Kings made Doug Smith their second overall draft pick in 1981, ahead of Ron Francis, Grant Fuhr and Al MacInnis..
	Dave Taylor - The long time King was the heart and soul of the team for team, serving with the organization for 30 years.
	Rogie Vachon - The lovable Kings netminder was a surprise star at the 1976 Canada Cup. Rogie Vachon remains hockey royalty in Hollywood..
	Bert Wilson - Beltin' Bert Wilson was around for only one reason - and it was not to score goals.

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Petr Prajsler

Petr Prajsler risked his own life and the life of his wife and parents in order to live out his dream.

"I wanted to play in the National Hockey League" explained Prajsler, pronounced Prays-ler.

In order to do that, Prajsler had to defect from his native Czechoslovakia, which was still under strict communist control in 1987.

Prajsler said he simply drove to Yugoslavia for a brief vacation and then with help for the Los Angeles Kings, his agent and two immigration lawyers he acquired the proper documents to drive across the Austrian border, and into the freedom of the Western World.

"I was nervous" remembered Prajsler. "I was afraid maybe the Yugoslavians wouldn't let us go. If we would have been returned to Czechoslovakia with an Austrian transit stamp in our passport, that would have meant we wanted to leave illegally."

That of course would have led to strict punishment for Petr and his wife Eva, as well as his parents Jaroslav and Jana.

"We just showed our documents (to the Yugoslavian body guards) and they let us go." he said. "To go to a Western country, you need a visa. Normally they won't give a visa to an average citizen, but if you through a travel agency for vacation tickts, you might get it.

One in Austria Prajsler laid low and sent a letter to the Los Angeles Kings, who had drafted him 93rd overall in 1985. The Kings were surprised and quick to act.

"He really didn't want to talk when we first made contact" said Kings GM Rogie Vachon. "Finally we convinced him who we really were, that we were willing to sponsor him."

"We moved him to another place, to a tiny little town near Vienna. We tried to keep it as quiet as possible for security reasons. We didn't want someone to grab him in the middle of the night."

With the help of immigration lawyers Ron Bonaparte and Milton Glenian, Prajsler finally got his tickets out of Europe and to Los Angeles in time for training camp.

The Kings were excited to have him in camp.

"Our scouts saw him in the junior world championships in 1984. They said he was one of the best players in the tournament." continued Vachon. "He played for Czechoslovakia's best team (Pardubice) the past two seasons. They are the Edmonton Oilers of Czechoslovakia."

"He claims he's a stay at home defenseman, but he can handle the puck and he can skate. We're keeping our fingers crossed he can play."

In that quote is where Prajsler NHL dream started to die. The Kings were trying to make Prajsler something he wasn't - an offensive defenseman. Their unrealistic expectations ruined his career.

Initially the Kings sent Prajsler to the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks. Still learning english, the Kings felt Prajsler would be best off learning North American life in the minor leagues. Injuries hampered him to just two 1/2 seasons over his first three years. His third year was spent with the Kings where he scored 3 goals and 10 points in 34 games and appeared in 3 playoff games. The following year Prajsler played his first full North American season - but with IHL Phoenix not the NHL. He played well, notching 13 goals and 47 points.

The Boston Bruins signed Prajsler as a free agent in 1991-92 but again he spent all but 3 games in the minors. Prajsler quit North American hockey after that season despite a good year in the minors.

Prajsler's story has a good ending though. With the political freedom achieved in the now former Czechoslovakia, Petr was allowed to return hom to his family and friends without fear of punishment. He resumed his hockey career, and probably enjoyed himself a whole lot more.

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Brian Kilrea

Brian Kilrea is a legend in the hockey world. He is a veteran of just 26 NHL games but is best known as the winningest coach in junior hockey history. As the long time coach of the Ottawa 67's, Kilrea has earned over 1200 career wins in the Ontario Hockey League as well as producing countless NHL and minor pro players - names like Bobby Smith, Gary Roberts, Jim Fox and Doug Smith.

Asked if he ever considered moving on to coach in the NHL or at least in professionally, Kilrea quickly responded, "I couldn't think of a more perfect situation. I'm in my home town and I love it. There's no other place I'd rather be. Why would I ever want to leave here? I couldn't even begin to think of a better place," said Kilrea once. "You know I had a call the other day from an NHL team asking me if I'd even give it a thought to coach there. I told the guy: 'No thanks.' I'm happy right where I am.

"I'm not only proud of the players I've had who made it to the NHL, I'm proud when I look around the community and I see some of the players who we had here that have become good people. That's what's important. You try to teach the kids to be good to the people around them."

That, and over 1200 career wins, sums up Kilrea the junior coach pretty nicely. But let's take a look at the rest of Kilrea's life in hockey.

From Giggles To Killer

A look into Kilrea's hockey resume reveals a tremendously interesting hockey journey.

Brian was born to play hockey. His father was a legendary player in the Ottawa area in his day, but he had to quit the game to begin working. But Brian's uncles Hector, Wally and Ken all played professional hockey including in the National Hockey League.

After two years of junior hockey with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs, the 5'11" 175lb center turned pro with the IHL's Troy Bruins. He played 4 seasons in the "I" as a solid skater and great playmaker. He even appeared in one NHL game in the 1957-58 season with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings had some injuries and invited the small Kilrea to participate in the game, but he received very little ice time.

The next year he started what turned out to be an 11-year stay in Springfield, Mass. under the ruthless regime of the legendary Eddie Shore. Kilrea, whose maternal nickname Giggles became shortened to Gig, learned a lot of what would make him a successful coach in his long tenure with Shore in the AHL.

"Eddie would do anything to make sure that our life was hell. That was just his style. We always played Christmas Day. Why give us a day off? I liked him, but I didn't like the way he humiliated people," says Kilrea.

After 11 seasons, Kilrea finally got another shot to play in the NHL when the expansion Los Angeles Kings purchased the Springfield Indians from Shore. Kilrea along with all the Springfield players instantly became property of the NHL Kings.

Kilrea would appear in 25 games with the Kings and became the answer to an interesting trivia question when on Oct. 14, 1967 Kilrea scored the first goal in Los Angeles Kings' history in a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Great Western Forum.

Send Me Back To The Minors, Please!

Kilrea's NHL tenure lasted only 25 games because he couldn't stand the weather.

"I just couldn't stand it there. I thought it was too hot," says Kilrea. "So I went to them and I told them that if they didn't mind, I'd like to be sent back to Springfield. They thought I was nuts to ask for it. I remember sitting in GM Larry Regan's office and he was trying to talk me out of it. Nobody had ever heard of anything like this before. I couldn't stand the hot weather. I hated it. I wanted to be closer to Ottawa."

Kilrea, who is probably the only person to ask to be demoted from the NHL due to his dislike of sunny weather also took a paycut from $16,500 US to $9,500 to play in Springfield.

Kilrea would finish the season in Springfield but spent the following two seasons on a road trip across North America. He appeared in Vancouver, Rochester, Tulsa and Denver before retiring in 1970.

Back To The Bigs

Kilrea would return to the NHL for two seasons as an assistant under hall-of-fame coach Al Arbour with the New York Islanders in the mid-1980s. He became very popular with his players, which eventually cost him his job.

"The Islanders thought I was too close to the players," says Kilrea. "That was fine. Al and I were different people. We did things in our own way. I tried to look at it as a learning experience and I learned a lot from him."

These are some of the interesting stories I have unearthed on Brian Kilrea. When you become the winningest coach in junior hockey history, you know there has to be a great past prior to his becoming a coach with the Ottawa 67s. As I have learned, Kilrea is one of hockey's most interesting personalities long before he became famous for his junior coaching days.

In 2008 Brian Kilrea was rightfully inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kevin Shea had an excellent interview with Kilrea. You should definitely check it out.

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Dave Hutchison

Dave Hutchison was a rugged and reliable defenceman throughout his 12-year professional hockey career. In 584 regular season games, he totaled 116 points and 1,550 penalty minutes. He was a role player, an aggressive stay-at-home defenceman who was often paired with an offensive minded defenceman. In fact he was the defensive conscience of two of the top defensemen of his time: Borje Salming and Doug Wilson.

Hutchison's hockey career began in his hometown of London, Ontario, where he played his junior hockey with the London Knights of the OHA. He was then was drafted 36th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 1972 but spent time in the Eastern Hockey League and the World Hockey Association before joining the Kings in 1974-75.

Hutchison played for the Kings for four seasons. "Hutchy" loved life as a bachelor on the warm beaches of California. But it was also in Los Angeles that he learned to become an effective NHL defenseman. He would thank coach Bob Pulford for making him into an NHL caliber rearguard, teaching him how to maximize his abilities by realizing and playing within his limits.

But those who did not follow Hutchinson closely knew him strictly as a tough guy defenseman. He dropped his gloves frequently, and with devastating results. Unlike a lot of tough guys, he thoroughly enjoyed fighting, taking great pride in his battles.

Of course, fighting meant a lot of bumps and bruises, too. That only served to further enhance his quickly earned his tough as nails reputation. For example, he once played 6 weeks of the 1975-76 season with his jaw wired shut.

As an Ontario-raised boy, the summer of 1978 was a dream come true for Dave. Dave was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs after a contract squabble with the Kings. However Hutchison's stay with the white and blue was short-lived. After a season and a half with the Leafs, Hutchison was traded to Chicago for Pat Ribble.

With the Hawks, Hutchison recorded a personal-best 23 points in 1981-82, the same year that Doug Wilson captured the Norris Trophy. Dave played a large role in Wilson's success. There was no way Wilson could have scored 39 goals that year had he not had a steady partner to cover his defensive position, thus giving Wilson the green light to run and gun.

After three seasons with the Hawks, Hutchison moved on to play with the New Jersey Devils for the 1982-83. He only played in 32 games that year and announced his retirement following the season.

The retirement was short-lived however. The Toronto Maple Leafs came calling and gave him one last chance to play. He accepted and played 47 solid more games to close out his career.

Hutch settled back in the London, Ontario area after retiring. He would find success as a real estate agent.

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Dave Taylor

No player in the long history of the Los Angeles Kings has worn the uniform with most class than Dave Taylor. For 17 seasons Taylor gave his all on and off the ice and is regarded as one of Hollywood's greatest, albeit quietest, sporting heroes.

Taylor turned out to be the steal of the 1975 entry draft as he was drafted in the 15th round. He was relatively unknown as he played with little known Clarkson University (he still holds all the scoring records there) in a time when it was very rare for university players to make the NHL. Oh, and he successfully earned his bachelor of science in industrial management in 1977, by the way.

Through hard work and gritty effort, Taylor never needed to fall back on his education as he managed to make the Kings and became the ultimate compliment to the greatest King ever, Marcel Dionne. With Dionne's incredibly wizardry, Taylor's career blossomed from a regular player to a first line star. Combined with left winger Charlie Simmer, the trio was known as the Triple Crown line.

A fearsome body checker, Taylor became an almost as fearsome scorer, though highly underrated. Most people tend to pass off Taylor's offensive record as by-product of playing with Marcel Dionne, but in reality Taylor was a gift offensive player in his own right.

He was an excellent skater, agile for a big man and making up whatever he lacked in breakout speed with his incredible balance that made him almost impossible to knock down. He had great anticipation and opportunistic hands, able to work with Dionne as if the two were born to play with one another. In fact, Taylor was as much of an influence on Dionne's success as Dionne was on his.

The heart of his game was grinding up and down the right wall and in the corners. He would do the dirty work for his linemates, and often also act as their defensive conscience. He patrolled his wing with great strength and tenacity. Though big and strong, he was not much of a fighter. Though he dropped the gloves when he had to, he is probably best remembered for flattening Wayne Gretzky when he was still with the Oilers.

No hard feelings would linger from that incident. Of course Gretzky would leave Edmonton and come to Los Angeles in 1998. Taylor showed what a great leader and a selfless team player he was. It was Taylor who insisted that Gretzky wear the "C" of the team captain on his jersey.

Though he was generally underrated by observers around the league, the L.A. fans adored Taylor. He took home many team awards, including team MVP and most popular player, and represented the Kings in 5 NHL all star games. He was given the ultimate sporting thank you when he had his number 18 retired to the rafters of the Great Western Forum along side Marcel Dionne and Rogie Vachon.

He also won the Bill Masterton and King Clancy awards in 1991, after years of tirelessly working towards charity and community endevors. The highly respected Taylor was very proud of these two significant NHL honors.

In his career he tallied 431 goals and 1069 points. He played in 1,111 career games, all with the Kings. Needless to say that is a team record he is very proud of.

Taylor retired and stepped into management, serving as the long time Kings GM (1997-2006) before moving on to the Dallas Stars organization.

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