Thursday, July 31, 2008

On this day in Caps history

1991: The Caps traded Robin Bawa to Vancouver for cash.

Bawa saw North America on the NHL plan, starting his journey by signing with the Caps in May 1987. He saw his only action for Washington in the 1989-1990 season, logging five games (1-0-1, -3, six PIMs) before being shipped to the Baltimore Skipjacks farm club.

On this date, he was sent to Vancouver for cash, but played only two games for the Canucks in the 1990-1991 season (0-0-0, even, no PIMs) before being sent to San Jose for Rick Lessard on December 15, 1992. Before that, however, he did appear in one playoff game (0-0-0, even, no PIMs)

In San Jose, Bawa played 42 games in the 1992-1993 season (5-0-5, -25, 47 PIMs) in his only season with the parent club.

Anaheim claimed him in the 1993 expansion draft. He played 12 games for Anaheim the following season (0-1-1, -3, 7 PIMs), but was signed away by Dallas as a free agent the following season. He never played for the Stars, but did continue playing with a variety of clubs in the IHL until a serious concussion suffered on April 14, 1999 (playing with the Fort Wayne Komets) led to his retirement.

In all, between Bawa's start in pro hockey and its conclusion (both with the Fort Wayne Komets), he played in 61 NHL regular season games for four franchises, 159 games in the AHL (for Baltimore and Hamilton), and 540 games in the IHL (for Fort Wayne, Milwaukee, Kansas City, San Diego, and Kalamazoo).

Bawa, a native of Duncan, British Columbia, was the first person of Indian descent to play in the NHL.

On this day in Caps history...

Three Years Ago Yesterday...A Great Day in Caps History


Well...maybe. It depends on your perspective. On July 30, 2005, a fellow with nothing but a keyboard, a passion, and a song in his heart (or maybe gas) decided to start a blog on the Caps.

Here is its first ever entry into the blogosphere.

It isn't much.

We started this as the next step from the game day sketches we used to post on The Official. An example... (you'll note it's fiction -- Mike Grier scores on a breakaway).

It's been a lot of fun (and no, we're not done yet), and we have a lot of people to thank, most notably our readers and fellow blogging wizards. They keep us honest with the facts and challenge us with their opinions (including The Boss, who apparently checks in from time to time). We have to thank the Caps, for giving us a lot to work with over the past three years -- the trials, the tribulations, the triumphs.

We don't pretend to be deep, and we don't pretend to be a journalist (we don't even pretend to be "we"...it's just The Peerless here). We just write as a fan -- frustrated from time to time, happy occasionally, looking for something to do at 3 a.m. when last night's pepperoni and double cheese is exacting revenge.

We hope you'll keep reading us, as well as our fellow wizards, who you will find over there on the right. Given the lack of coverage the Caps get (although bless Tarik and Katie at the Post, and Corey and Tim at the Times, and others on the local beat for doing a great job in a tough place to cover hockey), those blogs over there are some of the best info you'll find on all things Caps.

Thanks, everyone.