1966–67 NHL season

The 1966–67 NHL season was the 50th season of the National Hockey League. This was the last season of only six teams in the NHL, as six more teams were added for the 1967–68 season. This season saw the debut of one of the greatest players in hockey history, defenceman Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens four games to two in the 1967 Stanley Cup Finals to win their thirteenth Stanley Cup in franchise history; to date this was the Leafs' last Stanley Cup victory.

1966–67 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 19, 1966 – May 2, 1967
Number of games70
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)CBC, CTV, SRC (Canada)
CBS, RKO General (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickBarry Gibbs
Picked byBoston Bruins
Regular season
Season championChicago Black Hawks
Season MVPStan Mikita (Black Hawks)
Top scorerStan Mikita (Black Hawks)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPDave Keon (Maple Leafs)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsToronto Maple Leafs
  Runners-upMontreal Canadiens

League business

President David Molson of the Canadian Arena Company announced that the Montreal Forum would undergo major alterations in a $5 million work program commencing in April 1968.

NHL president Clarence Campbell and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) president Fred Page announced a new five-year professional-agreement effective on July 1, 1967. The direct sponsorship of junior ice hockey teams by the NHL was to be phased out in the upcoming year, and no new sponsored players could be registered or be required to sign a contract restricting movement between teams.[1] The agreement eliminated the A, B and C forms, which had angered the parents of amateur players and were the source of legal action threats when the professional team refused to release a player.[2] Page succeeded in getting junior-aged players to be eligible for the NHL Amateur Draft once they graduate from junior hockey, or to be signed as a free agent in the year the player reaches his 20th birthday. The NHL agreed to pay development fees to the CAHA for the drafted players, and it allowed the CAHA to distribute the fees. The new agreement came at a time that also leveled the playing field for new NHL clubs in the 1967 NHL expansion.[1]

Regular season

Bobby Orr made his NHL debut on October 19, with an assist in a 6–2 win over Detroit.

On November 9, poor Ed Giacomin was subjected to one of the cruelest displays of fan abuse when the Boston Bruins came back to tie the Rangers 3-3. The fans pelted him with garbage and booed him viciously. From there, however, the Rangers began to win and the fans began to cheer for him. At one point, the Rangers were in first place, but slumped later and finished fourth.

Terry Sawchuk got his 99th shutout when Toronto blanked Detroit 4–0 on February 25. He got his 100th career shutout on March 4, when Toronto defeated Chicago 4–0.

Bobby Hull scored his 50th goal of the season when Chicago lost to Toronto 9–5 on March 18 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Another superlative for the Black Hawks was Stan Mikita, who tied the league scoring record with 97 points in claiming the Art Ross Trophy for the third time. Mikita was also awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player.

The Chicago Black Hawks, who had won three Stanley Cups, finished first overall in the standings for the first time in their history, a full seventeen points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and nineteen ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Boston Bruins missed the playoffs, their last time before their record 29-season playoff streak.

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Chicago Black Hawks 70 41 17 12 264 170 +94 94
2 Montreal Canadiens 70 32 25 13 202 188 +14 77
3 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 32 27 11 204 211 7 75
4 New York Rangers 70 30 28 12 188 189 1 72
5 Detroit Red Wings 70 27 39 4 212 241 29 58
6 Boston Bruins 70 17 43 10 182 253 71 44

Record vs. opponents

1966–67 NHL Records [3]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston 2–11–16–6–25–7–22–8–42–11–1
Chicago 11–2–110–45–2–77–5–28–4–2
Detroit 6–6–24–104–107–76–6–2
Montreal 7–5–22–5–710–47–5–26–6–2
New York 8–2–45–7–27–75–7–25–5–4
Toronto 11–2–14–8–26–6–26–6–25–5–4

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals
      
1 Chicago 2
3 Toronto 4
3 Toronto 4
2 Montreal 2
2 Montreal 4
4 New York 0

(1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Despite Chicago's impressive regular season marks, it was the third seed Toronto Maple Leafs who beat the Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

April 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Frank Mahovlich (1) – pp – 07:12 First period 05:21 – ppKenny Wharram (1)
11:49 – Pierre Pilote (1)
No scoring Second period 01:57 – ppBobby Hull (1)
13:44 – Stan Mikita (1)
Jim Pappin (1) – pp – 19:52 Third period 09:41 – Lou Angotti (1)
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Denis DeJordy
April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Pete Stemkowski (1) – 08:07
Dave Keon (1) – sh – 18:33
First period No scoring
George Armstrong (1) – pp – 08:24 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 08:45 – Stan Mikita (2)
Terry Sawchuck Goalie stats Denis DeJordy
April 11 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 11:10 – Ron Ellis (1)
No scoring Second period 10:22 – ppFrank Mahovlich (2)
19:15 – Jim Pappin (2)
Bobby Hull (2) – pp – 16:30 Third period No scoring
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
April 13 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Kenny Wharram (2) – 00:09
Pierre Pilote (2) – 08:32
First period 03:42 – Dave Keon (2)
10:14 – ppTim Horton (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Mike Walton (1) – 17:37 Third period 02:31 – Eric Nesterenko (1)
08:42 – Bobby Hull (3)
Glenn Hall
Denis DeJordy
Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
April 15 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Mike Walton (2) – pp – 06:16
Frank Mahovlich (3) – pp – 14:14
First period 09:31 – Lou Angotti (2)
11:01 – Bobby Hull (4)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Pete Stemkowski (2) – 02:11
Jim Pappin (3) – 17:14
Third period No scoring
Terry Sawchuck
Johnny Bower
Goalie stats Denis DeJordy
April 18 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Pat Stapleton (1) – sh – 14:38 First period 05:06 – Brian Conacher (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 04:47 – Brian Conacher (2)
13:06 – Pete Stemkowski (3)
Glenn Hall Goalie stats Terry Sawchuck
Toronto won series 4–2

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) New York Rangers

Montreal swept the Rangers in four games.

April 6 New York Rangers 4–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Bernie Geoffrion (1) – pp – 03:46
Rod Gilbert (1) – pp – 16:06
Second period 09:34 – Ralph Backstrom (1)
Rod Gilbert (2) – pp – 01:49
Vic Hadfield (1) – 05:18
Third period 09:12 – Claude Provost (1)
09:34 – J.C. Tremblay (1)
11:03 – John Ferguson (1)
14:55 – Ralph Backstrom (2)
18:07 – Jean Beliveau (1)
Ed Giacomin Goalie stats Rogie Vachon
April 8 New York Rangers 1–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 08:55 – ppDick Duff (1)
Bernie Geoffrion (2) – pp – 12:03 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 07:46 – ppJohn Ferguson (2)
13:25 – Ralph Backstrom (3)
Ed Giacomin Goalie stats Rogie Vachon
April 11 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
Claude Larose (1) – 00:13
Jean Beliveau (2) – 03:09
First period 15:51 – ppJim Neilson (1)
Bobby Rousseau (1) – pp – 02:05 Second period 04:34 – Earl Ingarfield (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Rogie Vachon Goalie stats Ed Giacomin
April 13 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
J.C. Tremblay (2) – 10:46 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 17:56 – ppPhil Goyette (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
John Ferguson (3) – 06:28 First overtime period No scoring
Rogie Vachon Goalie stats Ed Giacomin
Montreal won series 4–0

Stanley Cup Finals

April 20 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Larry Hillman (1) – 06:40 First period 06:25 – ppYvan Cournoyer (1)
11:19 – Henri Richard (1)
Jim Pappin (4) – pp – 12:59 Second period 05:03 – ppYvan Cournoyer (2)
06:36 – Jean Beliveau (3)
No scoring Third period 04:53 – Henri Richard (2)
08:21 – Henri Richard (3)
Terry Sawchuck
Johnny Bower
Goalie stats Rogie Vachon
April 22 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–0 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Pete Stemkowski (4) – pp – 12:14 First period No scoring
Mike Walton (3) – pp – 09:12
Tim Horton (2) – 16:57
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Johnny Bower Goalie stats Rogie Vachon
April 25 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 2OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Jean Beliveau (4) – pp – 02:27 First period 08:39 – ppPete Stemkowski (5)
John Ferguson (4) – 19:10 Second period 10:34 – Jim Pappin (5)
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 08:26 – Bob Pulford (1)
Rogie Vachon Goalie stats Johnny Bower
April 27 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Ralph Backstrom (4) – 12:25
Jean Beliveau (5) – pp – 13:08
First period No scoring
Henri Richard (4) – 02:26
Jean Beliveau (6) – 13:41
Ralph Backstrom (5) – 15:58
Second period 02:09 – ppMike Walton (4)
12:16 – Tim Horton (3)
Jimmy Roberts (1) – 15:17 Third period No scoring
Rogie Vachon Goalie stats Johnny Bower
April 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Jim Pappin (6) – pp – 15:06 First period 06:03 – Leon Rochefort (1)
Brian Conacher (3) – 03:07
Marcel Pronovost (1) – sh – 12:02
Dave Keon (3) – 19:27
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Johnny Bower Goalie stats Rogie Vachon
Gump Worsley
May 2 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 06:25 – Ron Ellis (2)
19:24 – Jim Pappin (7)
Dick Duff (2) – 05:28 Third period 19:13 – George Armstrong (2)
Gump Worsley Goalie stats Terry Sawchuk
Toronto won series 4–2

Awards

1966–1967 NHL awards
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Regular season champion)
Chicago Black Hawks
Art Ross Trophy:
(Top scorer)
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe Trophy:
(Most valuable player, playoffs)
Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player, season)
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Best defenceman)
Harry Howell, New York Rangers
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
Vezina Trophy:
(Goaltender(s) of team with the best goals-against average)
Glenn Hall & Denis DeJordy, Chicago Black Hawks
Lester Patrick Trophy:
(Outstanding service to U.S. hockey)
Gordon Howe, Charles F. Adams, James E. Norris

All-Star teams

Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers G Glenn Hall, Chicago Black Hawks
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks D Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs
Harry Howell, New York Rangers D Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks C Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings
Kenny Wharram, Chicago Black Hawks RW Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks LW Don Marshall, New York Rangers

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Stan MikitaChicago Black Hawks7035629712
Bobby HullChicago Black Hawks6652288052
Norm UllmanDetroit Red Wings6826447026
Ken WharramChicago Black Hawks7031346521
Gordie HoweDetroit Red Wings6925406553
Bobby RousseauMontreal Canadiens6819446358
Phil EspositoChicago Black Hawks6921406140
Phil GoyetteNew York Rangers701249616
Doug MohnsChicago Black Hawks6125356058
Henri RichardMontreal Canadiens6521345528
Alex DelvecchioDetroit Red Wings7017385510

Source: NHL.[4]

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
Glenn HallChicago Black Hawks321664662.3819552
Denis DeJordyChicago Black Hawks4425361042.46221274
Charlie HodgeMontreal Canadiens372055882.60111573
Ed GiacominNew York Rangers6839811732.613027119
Johnny BowerToronto Maple Leafs271431632.6412932
Terry SawchukToronto Maple Leafs281409662.8115542
Roger CrozierDetroit Red Wings5832561823.35222944
Eddie JohnstonBoston Bruins3418801163.7082120

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1966–67 (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 1966–67 (listed with their last team):

Broadcasting

Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games. HNIC also produced Wednesday night regular season game telecasts for CTV. Games were typically not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season, and were typically joined in progress.

This was the first season under a new U.S. rights agreement with CBS. Due to prior programming commitments for this season only, CBS sub-licensed its Sunday afternoon regular season games to RKO General. CBS still aired selected playoff games.

See also

References

  • 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.
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • 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 (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York, NY: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1.
Notes
  1. "Sweeping Changes In Pro-Am Hockey Pact". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. August 19, 1966. p. 22.icon of an open green padlock
  2. Gross, George (August 30, 1966). "CAHA Becomes Bonus Baby Sitter". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. p. 8.icon of an open green padlock
  3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. Dinger 2011, p. 150.
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