After Nine Years, First True 100 Degree Hockey Day Could Come This Week

(Credit: Christian Bonin/Toronto Marlies)

Nine years ago, I had the idea to start this site, but I needed a name. I threw around some names with a Canadian buddy at work, and he had the wonderful idea to play off the irony of ice hockey in city that regularly tops 100 degrees in the summer.

And so 100 Degree Hockey was born.

The Texas Stars have had the good fortune to play in the Calder Cup Finals three times in their history, the most times of any team in the 2010s. However, the average first day of 100 degree temperatures as measured at Austin Bergstrom isn't until July 11th.

The Texas Stars have never played true 100 degree hockey. They've gotten very close on a few occasions though.

In 2010, Austin didn't get to 100 officially until July. On June 11th, the final home game of the season, Texas fell to Hershey 2-1 in overtime and the official high at Bergstrom was only 93 degrees. 95 was the peak for the series on June 7th, Game 3.

Texas didn't make it out of April in 2011 or 2012. In 2011, Austin hit 100 in late May, so it would have been a match if Milwaukee hadn't knocked the Stars out in round one.

With a regular season Western Conference title on their resume, 2013 Texas looked to have a chance at 100 degrees. Oklahoma City snuffed out their chances in the second round. 95 was as good as it got.

Again, July was the first month of 100 degree temps in 2014. Even with the final home game of the season coming on June 9th, 95 was again the peak. Texas had a series of first round bounces and playoff misses over the next three seasons, giving them little to no shot at breaking the century mark: 91 (2015), 82 (2016) and 85 (2017).

And thus, it's never happened... maybe until this week.

This weekend saw 101 on Saturday, but Texas wasn't in town. They were in Toronto. Despite the weekend rain, Austin Bergstrom looks to hit 100 tomorrow. If it happens, we would have our first 100 Degree Hockey day ever.