It may be the most recognized name in all of hockey, and it belongs to someone who never played the game. In fact Zamboni has become so ubiquitous, the name became the title for the theme song in last year's hockey movie, Mystery, Alaska.

The ice-cleaning device which bears the name of its inventor, Frank Zamboni, was developed in Southern California more than a half century ago in response to the growing popularity of ice skating. Zamboni and his family were involved in the refrigeration business, and had expanded their operations by opening a major skating rink in the Los Angeles area.

The problem Zamboni faced was resurfacing the ice in a way that would not shut down the facility to paying customers. Until then, the process involved three or four employees following a tractor that would pull a scraper, shaving the surface. The workers would spray water over the surface, squeegee it clean and allow the water to freeze, a process which could take more than an hour.

In 1942, Zamboni began experimenting with different devices, using modified tractors that could perform all the functions necessary to shave, scoop and refreeze the ice surfaces. After several modifications and 12 years, the first Zamboni that could be mass produced was introduced to the public.

One year later, it turned pro. On March 10, 1955, when the Toronto Maple Leafs lined up to play the Canadiens at the Forum, the Zamboni made its NHL debut. It was one of the memorable events in hockey history, and it took place during the week of March 6 -12.

March 6

Dale Hawerchuk had six 100-point seasons with Winnipeg.(Allsport)

When the Winnipeg Jets made Dale Hawerchuk the first choice overall in the 1981 draft, they anticipated getting a player who would be productive for years to come. They were right. The Toronto native went on to a standout 16-year career with the Jets, Buffalo, St. Louis and Philadelphia, scoring 518 goals and 1409 points overall. Still, his best years were with the Jets and one of his greatest games in their uniform came on this date in 1984 when he assisted on five second-period goals against the Kings to set a new NHL record.

March 7

Cam Neely set the standard for his position.(Allsport)

When teams talk about the need for 'power forward,' the prototype they have in mind is Cam Neely. Even though he was forced to retire prematurely in 1996 because of an unusual thigh injury, Neely defined the role during his 13 seasons with the Canucks and Boston Bruins. A player who had great scoring touch and the ability to rough it up when necessary, Neely had several great seasons in the NHL. He achieved a milestone on this date in 1994 when he scored his 50th goal of the season in his 44th game, tying Mario Lemieux for the second fewest games needed in a season to reach that mark. Wayne Gretzky holds the record for scoring 50 in 39 games.

March 8

Tim Kerr was an immovable object in front of the net.(Allsport)

Tim Kerr was an injury-prone player whose career was cut short because of his numerous stays on the sidelines. Still, Kerr played 13 seasons, 11 with the Flyers and one each with the Rangers and Hartford. He retired in 1993 with a goals-per-game ratio of .565, one of the highest in league history, and a reputation for being one of the best special-team players around. On this date in 1986, the Philadelphia right wing scored his 29th power play goal of the year, to set a new NHL record. Kerr finished the season scoring 34 times with a man advantage, a mark that has yet to be broken.

March 9

Theo Fleury was the heart of the Flames for a decade.(Allsport)

Theo Fleury was known for being a great two-way player during his years with the Calgary Flames, a skater who could be as effective on the penalty kill as on the power play. Fleury, who was traded last season to Colorado and then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers during the off-season, set several team records during his decade in Calgary. On this date in 1991, he established a league record when he notched three short-handed goals in an 8-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

March 10

Pat Lafontaine was the greatest American-born scorer ever.(Allsport)

There's no telling what kind of numbers Pat Lafontaine would have put up had his career not been cut short by a series of concussions. Lafontaine, who played for the Islanders, Sabres and Rangers over 14 seasons, was one of the greatest American-born players ever in the league, and on this date in 1993, he set a mark that remains the standard for his countrymen. Lafontaine had five assists in that game at Quebec, giving him 125 points for the season, passing Kevin Stevens' mark by two. Lafontaine finished the year with 148 points, 12 behind that season's leader, Mario Lemieux.

March 11

Randy Holt let his fists do the talking.(Provided to SportsLine)

Randy Holt was a journeyman defenseman who played for seven teams over 10 NHL seasons. The most notable statistic on his resume is 1438 penalty minutes, accumulated in only 395 games. Holt got used to spending extended periods of time in the 'sin bin,' but never more than in a game he played for the Kings on this date in 1979. During the fight-filled contest, Holt received a minor, 3 majors, two 10-minute misconducts, 3 game misconducts for a total of 67 penalty minutes, the most any player has ever received in one game.

March 12

Bobby Hull was the most dangerous scorer of his era.(None)

It is no longer an eyebrow-raising event when a player scores 50 goals in a season, but in Bobby Hull's era, the total represented a milestone of very significant proportions. That's why this date in 1966 is so memorable for the Blackhawks' great and his fans. Playing against the Rangers, Hull crossed the New York blueline in the third period an unleashed one of his patented wicked slapshots. The drive beat goaltender Cesare Maniago, giving Hull 51 goals for the year, more than any other player had scored up to that time.

Historical photos courtesy of Hockeyonline.com