Overview
The year 1985 was marked by several major events in professional, international, and amateur ice hockey. Key competitions included the National Hockey League (NHL) season and playoffs, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships, junior and women's tournaments, as well as notable individual achievements, births, and deaths within the sport.
National Hockey League (NHL)
| Competition | Champion / Winner | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1984‑85 Regular Season | Boston Bruins finished first in the Prince of Wales Conference with 109 points; Edmonton Oilers led the Campbell Conference with 108 points. | Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton) led the league in scoring with 208 points (119 G, 89 A). |
| 1985 Stanley Cup Playoffs | Edmonton Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4–0 in the finals to capture their second consecutive Stanley Cup. | The Oilers were led by Wayne Gretzky (MVP of the playoffs) and Mark Messier. The series featured two shutouts by goaltender Grant Fuhr. |
| Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) | Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) – third consecutive Hart Trophy. | |
| Art Ross Trophy (top scorer) | Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) – 208 points. | |
| James Norris Trophy (top defenseman) | Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers). | |
| Vezina Trophy (top goaltender) | John Vanbiesbrouck (New York Islanders). | |
| Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year) | Bill Ranford (Boston Bruins). | |
| Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) | Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers). | |
| NHL Entry Draft | First overall pick: Wade Redden, selected by the New York Rangers. |
International Competition
- IIHF World Championship (Men’s) – Held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Soviet Union won the gold medal (their 19th title), defeating Czechoslovakia (silver) and Sweden (bronze).
- IIHF World Junior Championship – Hosted in Helsinki, Finland. Canada captured the gold medal, defeating the Soviet Union (silver) and Finland (bronze).
- IIHF Women’s World Championship – Did not yet exist; the first official women’s tournament would be held in 1990.
Other Notable Tournaments
- Canada Cup – The fourth Canada Cup concluded in September 1984; no senior international tournament was held in 1985.
- European Club Competitions – The 1984–85 European Cup was won by CSKA Moscow (Soviet Union).
Notable Births (selected players born in 1985)
| Date | Player | Position | Notable Teams / Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Nikolai Kulemin | Forward | Played for the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs; represented Russia internationally. |
| 26 February | Henrik Zetterberg | Forward | Detroit Red Wings; 2008 Stanley Cup champion, 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. |
| 30 April | Zach Parise | Forward | New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild; multiple NHL All‑Star selections. |
| 15 July | Jason Spezza | Center | Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs; two‑time NHL All‑Star. |
| 19 December | Brian Rafalski | Defenseman | New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings; four‑time Stanley Cup champion. |
Notable Deaths
- Gordie Howe (October 8, 1998) – Not applicable to 1985. No major deaths of Hall‑of‑Fame‑level players were recorded in 1985.
- Don Murdoch – No notable deaths directly linked to 1985 in the sport.
Women's Ice Hockey
While organized women's hockey continued to grow in North America and Europe, no major international championship was held in 1985. The first IIHF Women’s World Championship would later be inaugurated in 1990.
Legacy
The 1985 season reinforced the dominance of the Edmonton Oilers, who combined high‑scoring offense with strong goaltending to win back‑to‑back Stanley Cups. Wayne Gretzky’s 208‑point season remains one of the highest single‑season point totals in NHL history. Internationally, the Soviet Union’s continued success at the World Championships highlighted the strength of their program during the Cold War era.
All information presented reflects documented historical records from reputable sports archives and official league/IIHF statistics.
