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Dave Ritchie wore a lot of different uniforms during his NHL career, which certainly doesn't make him unique. He often wore more than one in the same season. Again, not all that unique.
However, it was the two different NHL uniforms that he wore during the 1925-26 season that were truly unique. Ritchie began that campaign on the defense of the Montreal Canadiens, joining the Habs for two games in January.
Within a week of his last game for Montreal and what would be the last NHL game of his playing career, Ritchie was joining a new NHL team. The league added him to its officiating staff. Ritchie made his debut working alongside veteran referee Cooper Smeaton in a January 30, 1926, game at the Montreal Forum between the visiting Boston Bruins and the Montreal Maroons.
In doing so, Ritchie became the first person in NHL history to play in and officiate a league game in the same season.
His work drew positive reviews. "What he did was well done, and he looks promising," the Montreal Star noted of Ritchie's debut as an arbiter.
Unfortunately, the harshest penalty the two officials meted out on the night went to their boss.
Following the first intermission, Smeaton and Ritchie exited the officials' room to return to the ice. Smeaton locked the door behind them, tucking the key into his pants pocket.
As the game progressed, Canadiens managing director Leo Dandurand heard a voice bellowing from behind the locked door of the officials' room.
"I am locked in here, and Cooper Smeaton has the key," the voice said. It was that of NHL President Frank Calder.
At a stoppage in play, Dandurand retrieved the key from Smeaton and freed Calder from his prison.
By the start of the 1926-27 season, Ritchie was a full-time member of the NHL officiating staff.
Plenty Of Firsts On Ritchie's Resume
The switch from player to referee in the same week was just one of many firsts on Ritchie's hockey resume.
The NHL was born on December 19, 1917, and it was Ritchie who scored the first goal in league history. Playing for the Montreal Wanderers, he tucked a shot past Toronto goalie Sammy Hebert following an end-to-end rush just a minute after the opening faceoff.
He didn't stop there, though. A minute later, Ritchie fed Jack McDonald for a goal, becoming the first NHLer to collect an assist in league history.
Ritchie finished the night with two goals and two assists as Montreal won 10-9. His second goal proved to be the game-winner in the NHL's inaugural game - another first for Ritchie.
An active player from 1917-26, Ritchie also played for the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Arenas, and Quebec Bulldogs.