According to Hockey Reference, only 13 NHL players were born on Christmas. Surprisingly, three former Atlanta and Calgary Flames players share the same birthday. Despite being born on Dec. 25, these three skaters never had the chance to play with one another.
Noel Picard (1938)
Noel Picard was born on Christmas day in 1938 in Montreal, QC. As an undrafted defenseman, he debuted with the Montreal Canadiens in 1964-65. During his only season with his hometown team, Picard would win the Stanley Cup.
After not playing in the NHL for two seasons, the St. Louis Blues selected him in the 1967 Expansion Draft. He helped the new team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1968, 1969, and 1970.
46 years ago today, in the 1970 Stanley Cup Final, Bobby Orr scored perhaps the most famous goal in hockey history. pic.twitter.com/FMT6hHi7y3
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) May 10, 2016
In November 1973, the Atlanta Flames selected Picard off waivers. He played the final 41 games of his career with the club, registering ten assists.
Picard may have passed away in 2017 at the age of 78. Still, he will forever be immortalized in hockey history for tripping Bobby Orr after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970, considered the most iconic goal in hockey history.
Dave Kryshow (1951)
Dave Kryskow was born in Edmonton, AB, on Dec. 25, 1951. He was a second-round pick (26th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1971.
Kryskow played two seasons with the Original Six franchise before moving on to Washington and Detroit. In June 1975, the Red Wings traded him to Atlanta for Bryan Hextall.
Related: Analyzing The Flames Christmas Break Records In Salary Cap Era
He played 79 games with the Flames in 1975-76, scoring 15 goals and 40 points, both career highs.
At 25, Kryskow left the NHL for the WHA, where he spent the 1976-77 season with the Calgary Cowboys. He retired after winning the Avco Cup with the Winnipeg Jets in 1977-78.
Jim Dowd (1968)
Jim Dowd was born in Brick, New Jersey, on Christmas Day in 1968. His hometown team, New Jersey Devils, drafted him in the eighth round (149th overall) at the 1987 Draft.
He would win the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995 before starting a 16-year career with ten franchises, including the Calgary Flames in 1997-98.
During his one season with the Flames, he would score six goals and 14 points in 48 games.
Dowd is one of 51 players to play for Calgary and Edmonton and just one of nine to dress with all three Western Canadiens teams, including Vancouver. He retired at the end of the 2007-08 season.
