1961–62 NHL season

The 1961–62 NHL season was the 45th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Toronto Maple Leafs were the Stanley Cup champions as they defeated the Chicago Black Hawks four games to two.

1961–62 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 11, 1961 – April 22, 1962
Number of games70
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)CBC, SRC (Canada)
None (United States)
Regular season
Season championMontreal Canadiens
Season MVPJacques Plante (Canadiens)
Top scorerBobby Hull (Black Hawks)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsToronto Maple Leafs
  Runners-upChicago Black Hawks

League business

At a meeting of the owners and governors, Conn Smythe resigned as Toronto's governor, to be replaced by his son, Stafford Smythe. Thereupon, Conn Smythe was appointed honorary governor.

Pre-season

A big trade took place between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers with Doug Harvey and Albert Langlois going to the Rangers for Lou Fontinato. Harvey was named player-coach of the Rangers.

In an exhibition game in Trail, British Columbia, Jean Beliveau tore knee ligaments and would be unavailable for some time. This followed a knee injury to Dickie Moore.

Several holdouts on the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Black Hawks were reported. Stan Mikita, Reg Fleming and Dollard St. Laurent refused to sign their contracts, but they eventually came to terms.

Regular season

Glenn Hall received one of the greatest standing ovations in NHL history just before the NHL All-star game began. He had difficulty suppressing his emotions at the tremendous welcome he received. The All-stars defeated the Black Hawks 3–1.

Doug Harvey scored a goal in his debut as player-coach of the Rangers when they trounced the Boston Bruins 6–2 right at Boston Garden. The Rangers downed the Bruins again at Madison Square Garden 6–3 as Andy Bathgate had the hat trick and Camille Henry had two goals.

Montreal downed the Rangers 3–1 in their home opener as Henri Richard led the way with two goals playing with Beliveau and Moore, two cripples who were not expected to play. Doug Harvey was given an ovation by the crowd as he skated out in a Ranger uniform. The new defence pair of Al MacNeil and Lou Fontinato turned in a good game.

Earl Ingarfield, Sr. had a hat-trick on November 19 as the Rangers beat the Maple Leafs 5–3. The Broadway Blueshirts were showing some power, and three nights later, Doug Harvey picked up three assists and Gump Worsley picked up a shutout as the Rangers blanked the Red Wings 4–0. The win put the Rangers into first place and the following night they beat the Bruins 4–3 as Harvey scored the winner.

Ab McDonald had the hat trick December 6, as Chicago drubbed the Rangers 8–3 right at Madison Square Garden. Bill Hay had four assists for the Black Hawks.

Toronto took over first place January 10 when they beat the Bruins 7–5. Frank Mahovlich scored two goals on his 24th birthday and Dave Keon also had two goals.

Glenn Hall played his 500th consecutive game January 17, but was beaten 7–3 by Montreal. In a losing cause, Bobby Hull scored two goals, including his 20th of the season. Glenn Hall received a car from James D. Norris, president of the Black Hawks.

Percy LeSueur, famous Ottawa goaltender in the old NHA, died on January 28, 1962, at age 79.

Bobby Hull scored four goals February 1 as the Black Hawks defeated Detroit 7–4.

The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 3–2 at home March 14, but the two highlights were Gordie Howe's 500th goal on Gump Worsley and a penalty shot for the Rangers Andy Bathgate. Howe took a pass from Alex Delvecchio and made a nice move to get by Doug Harvey. Howe switched to a left-handed shot and beat Worsley with a backhander for the 500th goal. Midway through the third period, Dean Prentice had a breakaway and was skating toward the Detroit goal, when Hank Bassen, the Detroit goalkeeper, slid his stick to break up the play. Referee Eddie Powers awarded a penalty shot, but somehow forgot that the rules had been changed that season to read that the offended player must take the shot, not one of his teammates, and Powers permitted Andy Bathgate to take the shot. Bathgate gave Bassen some of his slick dekes and Bassen flopped on his face, allowing Bathgate to fire the puck into the open net for the winning goal. From there, the Rangers held on and made the playoffs for the first time since 1958.

Bobby Hull joined the 50 goal club when he scored his 50th goal at about the five-minute mark of the first period as the Chicago Black Hawks beat the New York Rangers 4–1 at Madison Square Garden in the final game of the season.

Hall and Jacques Plante of the Canadiens played every minute of every game in goal; other than Eddie Johnston of the Bruins two seasons later in 1964, they were the last major professional goaltenders to do so.

The first 43 seasons saw only one 50 goal scorer, Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Then last season, 1960–61, Bernie Geoffrion scored 50. This season saw another 50 goal scorer in Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks. From this point onwards until the new century, far more seasons than not would see at least one player score fifty in a season.

Final standings

National Hockey League[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Montreal Canadiens70421414259166+9398
2Toronto Maple Leafs70372211232180+5285
3Chicago Black Hawks70312613217186+3175
4New York Rangers70263212195207−1264
5Detroit Red Wings70233314184219−3560
6Boston Bruins7015478177306−12938

Record vs. opponents

1961–62 NHL Records [2]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston 2–10–24–8–23–10–12–10–24–9–1
Chicago 10–2–27–3–43–9–27–6–14–6–4
Detroit 8–4–23–7–43–8–36–5–33–9–2
Montreal 10–3–19–3–28–3–38–1–57–4–3
New York 10–2–26–7–15–6–31–8–54–9–1
Toronto 9–4–16–4–49–3–24–7–39–4–1

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals
      
1 Montreal 2
3 Chicago 4
3 Chicago 2
2 Toronto 4
2 Toronto 4
4 New York 2

Semifinals

The Black Hawks returned to the Finals, by defeating the first-place Canadiens four games to two in the semifinal. In the other, the second-place Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers, also in six games to advance to the Finals.

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) Chicago Black Hawks

March 27 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Stan Mikita (1) – sh – 18:06 Third period 01:32 – Dickie Moore (1)
05:38 – ppJean Beliveau (1)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Jacques Plante
March 29 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Bobby Hull (1) – pp – 05:26 First period 15:10 – ppDickie Moore (2)
Stan Mikita (2) – 05:15 Second period No scoring
Bobby Hull (2) – 05:15 Third period 11:04 – ppDickie Moore (3)
12:45 – Jean-Guy Talbot (1)
14:05 – Claude Provost (1)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 1 Montreal Canadiens 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 09:05 – Bronco Horvath (1)
18:06 – Stan Mikita (3)
No scoring Second period 19:17 – ppBill Hay (1)
Red Berenson (1) – 14:27 Third period 02:15 – Kenny Wharram (1)
Jacques Plante Goalie stats Glenn Hall
April 3 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 01:51 – ppBobby Hull (3)
08:28 – ppBronco Horvath (2)
Jean Beliveau (2) – pp – 03:36
Dickie Moore (4) – 16:04
Second period No scoring
Gilles Tremblay (1) – 08:46 Third period 04:39 – Ab McDonald (1)
05:16 – ppBill Hay (2)
12:56 – pp – Ab McDonald (2)
Jacques Plante Goalie stats Glenn Hall
April 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Bobby Hull (4) – 02:55
Bronco Horvath (3) – 17:27
First period 06:13 – Phil Goyette (1)
13:08 – Claude Provost (2)
Kenny Wharram (2) – 19:14 Second period No scoring
Bill Hay (3) – 01:39 Third period 10:26 – Red Berenson (2)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 8 Montreal Canadiens 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 04:02 – Ab McDonald (3)
No scoring Second period 13:39 – Kenny Wharram (3)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jacques Plante Goalie stats Glenn Hall
Chicago won series 4–2

(2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) New York Rangers

March 27 New York Rangers 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 06:53 – Dave Keon (1)
Ken Schinkel (1) – 11:56
Earl Ingarfield (1) – 19:25
Second period 00:24 – ppRed Kelly (1)
14:42 – shTim Horton (1)
No scoring Third period 19:19 – George Armstrong (1)
Gump Worsley Goalie stats Johnny Bower
March 29 New York Rangers 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Earl Ingarfield (2) – pp – 12:42 Second period 09:37 – ppGeorge Armstrong (2)
18:08 – Bob Pulford (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Gump Worsley Goalie stats Johnny Bower
April 1 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–5 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Tim Horton (2) – pp – 05:59 First period No scoring
George Armstrong (3) – 06:46 Second period 01:25 – Jean-Guy Gendron (1)
07:05 – Johnny Wilson (1)
19:50 – Johnny Wilson (2)
Red Kelly (2) – pp – 04:47
Bob Pulford (2) – 13:43
Third period 05:02 – ppAndy Hebenton (1)
08:17 – Dave Balon (1)
Johnny Bower Goalie stats Gump Worsley
April 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period 00:41 – Rod Gilbert (1)
15:26 – Rod Gilbert (2)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Bob Pulford (3) – sh – 11:59
Bob Nevin (1) – 16:22
Third period 14:03 – Dave Balon (2)
19:30 – Jean-Guy Gendron (2)
Johnny Bower Goalie stats Gump Worsley
April 5 New York Rangers 2–3 2OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 07:46 – Ron Stewart (1)
Jean-Guy Gendron (3) – 13:42 Second period 12:21 – Frank Mahovlich (1)
Earl Ingarfield (3) – 12:31 Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 04:23 – Red Kelly (3)
Gump Worsley Goalie stats Johnny Bower
April 7 New York Rangers 1–7 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Andy Bathgate (1) – 18:21 First period 09:36 – George Armstrong (4)
12:43 – Bob Pulford (4)
17:52 – Dave Keon (2)
No scoring Second period 03:17 – Dick Duff (1)
05:01 – Frank Mahovlich (2)
17:34 – pp – Dick Duff (2)
No scoring Third period 09:53 – pp – Dave Keon (3)
Gump Worsley Goalie stats Johnny Bower
Toronto won series 4–2

Stanley Cup Finals

In the Finals, the Maple Leafs defeated the defending champions in six games. It was the first of three consecutive Stanley Cup wins by the Maple Leafs.

April 10 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Bobby Hull (5) – pp – 03:35 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 01:32 – Dave Keon (4)
13:54 – ppFrank Mahovlich (3)
No scoring Third period 06:03 – George Armstrong (5)
14:32 – Tim Horton (3)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Johnny Bower
April 12 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 02:35 – ppBilly Harris (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Stan Mikita (4) – 08:47
Stan Mikita (5) – 18:27
Third period 09:47 – Frank Mahovlich (4)
16:08 – George Armstrong (6)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Johnny Bower
April 15 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 04:35 – Stan Mikita (6)
08:33 – ppAb McDonald (4)
No scoring Third period 19:21 – Bronco Horvath (4)
Johnny Bower Goalie stats Glenn Hall
April 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Red Kelly (4) – pp – 18:08 First period 10:35 – Bobby Hull (6)
15:41 – Reg Fleming (1)
No scoring Second period 00:46 – pp – Bobby Hull (7)
07:31 – Reg Fleming (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Johnny Bower, Don Simmons Goalie stats Glenn Hall
April 19 Chicago Black Hawks 4–8 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Murray Balfour (1) – 18:05 First period 00:17 – Bob Pulford (5)
17:45 – Bob Pulford (6)
Ab McDonald (5) – 00:59
Ab McDonald (6) – pp – 03:07
Second period 08:31 – Billy Harris (2)
09:50 – ppDave Keon (5)
13:24 – Frank Mahovlich (5)
Bob Turner (1) – sh – 10:31 Third period 04:41 – George Armstrong (7)
06:31 – Frank Mahovlich (6)
13:51 – pp – Bob Pulford (7)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Don Simmons
April 22 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Bob Nevin (2) – 10:29
Dick Duff (3) – pp – 14:14
Third period 08:56 – Bobby Hull (8)
Don Simmons Goalie stats Glenn Hall
Toronto won series 4–2

Awards

1961–62 NHL awards
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)
Montreal Canadiens
Art Ross Trophy:
(Top scorer)
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)
Bobby Rousseau, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy:
(Most valuable player)
Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Best defenceman)
Doug Harvey, New York Rangers
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)
Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
Vezina Trophy:
(Goaltender of team with the best goals-against average)
Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens

All-Star teams

First Team  Position  Second Team
Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens G Glenn Hall, Chicago Black Hawks
Doug Harvey, New York Rangers D Carl Brewer, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jean-Guy Talbot, Montreal Canadiens D Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks C Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers RW Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks LW Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Maple Leafs

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player Team GP G A PTS PIM
Bobby HullChicago Black Hawks7050348435
Andy BathgateNew York Rangers7028568444
Gordie HoweDetroit Red Wings7033447754
Stan MikitaChicago Black Hawks7025527797
Frank MahovlichToronto Maple Leafs7033387187
Alex DelvecchioDetroit Red Wings7026436918
Ralph BackstromMontreal Canadiens6627386529
Norm UllmanDetroit Red Wings7026386454
Bill HayChicago Back Hawks6011526334
Claude ProvostMontreal Canadiens7033296222

[3]

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SO
Jacques PlanteMontreal Canadiens7042001662.374214144
Johnny BowerToronto Maple Leafs5935401512.563118102
Glenn HallChicago Black Hawks7042001852.643126139
Hank BassenDetroit Red Wings271620752.7891263
Lorne WorsleyNew York Rangers6035311732.94222792
Terry SawchukDetroit Red Wings4325801413.28142185
Don HeadBoston Bruins3822801614.2492632
Bruce GambleBoston Bruins2816801214.3261841

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1961–62 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1961–62 (listed with their last team):

Broadcasting

Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games. Games were not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season, and were typically joined in progress, while the radio version of HNIC aired games in their entirety.

This was the second consecutive season that the NHL did not have an American national broadcaster until the 1965–66 season.

See also

References

  • Coleman, Charles L. (1976), Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol III, Sherbrooke, QC: Progressive Publications
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (1994). Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era. Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-2817-2.
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Dowbiggin, Bruce (2008), The Meaning Of Puck: How Hockey Explains Modern Canada, Toronto: Key Porter Books, ISBN 978-1-55470-041-7
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • Duplacey, James (2008), Hockey's Book of Firsts, North Dighton, MA: JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1969), 50 Years Of Hockey, Winnipeg, MAN: Greywood Publishing, ASIN B000GW45S0
  • McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York, NY: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1.
Notes
  1. "1961–1962 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. Dinger 2011, p. 149.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.