January Dates In The Sports History Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

HARTFORD-TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — This monthly series on Patch sites in Hartford and Tolland counties recalls historic sporting events, dates and milestones which occurred in the region during that month.

Here is the January timeline, arranged by calendar date rather than chronologically by year:

Jan. 8, 1976 - Former Major League Baseball All-Star Carl Pavano was born in New Britain. He graduated from Southington High School before achieving the ultimate dream, winning the 2003 World Series with the Florida Marlins.

Jan. 11, 1975 - The New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association defeated the San Diego Mariners 4-3 in the first game played at the new Hartford Civic Center. Don Blackburn, later to become Whalers' coach, scored the first goal in the new building, and former Granby resident Garry Swain netted the game-winning score in overtime.

Jan. 14, 1963 - UConn basketball coach Hugh Greer died from a massive heart attack at age 58. He was the winningest coach in school history until being surpassed by Jim Calhoun.

Jan. 16, 1995 - In a nationally-televised showdown credited with "putting women's college basketball on the map," UConn toppled No. 1 ranked Tennessee 77-66, becoming the top-ranked team in the country for the first time days later.

Jan. 18, 1977 - The World Hockey Association played its annual All-Star Game at the Hartford Civic Center, with the East defeating the West 4-2. The Whalers' George Lyle scored the fourth goal, assisted by New England teammates Mike Rogers and Thommie Abrahamsson. Other Whalers on the East roster were defenseman Gordie Roberts and forward Ralph Backstrom.

Jan. 18, 1978 - Exactly a year after hosting the WHA All-Stars, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center collapsed in the early morning hours, not long after nearly 5,000 fans had attended a college basketball game between UConn and UMass.

Jan. 18, 2012 - After an NCAA-record 252-game unbeaten streak, the Trinity College squash team was defeated 5-4 by Yale.

Jan. 19, 1963 - Former NBA All-Star Michael Adams was born in Hartford. He starred at Hartford Public High School and Boston College before embarking on an 11-year NBA career.

Jan. 27, 1941 - A year after making its debut in New Haven (as the Hall of Fame dinner), the renamed Gold Key Dinner was organized by the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance. It was celebrated at the Hotel Bond on Asylum Street in Hartford, and featured the awarding of Gold Keys to baseball executive George Weiss, boxing champion Kid Kaplan and golfer Robert Pryde.

Jan. 27, 1990 - The Harry A. Gampel Pavilion opened on the campus of the University of Connecticut, replacing the Hugh Greer Field House as the home court for the Huskies' men's and women's basketball programs. The inaugural contest featured the men's team against St. John's, and resulted in a 72-58 victory for the Huskies. Center Rod Sellers netted the first basket at the new venue, and four UConn players scored in double figures: Chris Smith (20), Dan Cyrulik (13), John Gwynn (13) and Scott Burrell (12).