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1933–34 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationNovember 9, 1933 – April 10, 1934
Number of games48
Number of teams9
Regular season
Season championsToronto Maple Leafs
Season MVPAurel Joliat (Canadiens)
Top scorerCharlie Conacher (Maple Leafs)
Canadian Division championsToronto Maple Leafs
American Division championsDetroit Red Wings
Stanley Cup
ChampionsChicago Black Hawks
  Runners-upDetroit Red Wings
NHL seasons

The 1933–34 NHL season was the 17th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nine teams each played 48 games. The Chicago Black Hawks were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Detroit Red Wings three games to one.

League business

The New York Americans introduced new sweaters. The team's home uniform uses the word 'Americans' across the front with white stars over a blue area around the shoulders with red and white stripes below the wording. The road uniform is white with a shield logo. There are sleeves and shoulders are blue with a horizontal red stripe at the bottom of the sweater. The team is the second NHL team to have two sets of uniforms, after the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Regular season

The Ottawa Senators, having enough problems, now had to deal with holdout Cooney Weiland. He was sold to Detroit, strengthening the Red Wings. The Senators continued to lose, but won a few games when they signed an amateur named Max Kaminsky to centre the Roche brothers Desse and Earl. A defenceman, Ralph "Scotty" Bowman, gave Ottawa fans a little to cheer about. But the handwriting was on the wall, and in the last NHL game to be played in Ottawa until the NHL returned to that city in 1992, the Senators let the New York Americans use goaltender Alex Connell when Roy Worters was hurt. He helped the Americans beat his club.

A major trade was a swap of goaltenders as Lorne Chabot was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for George Hainsworth. The Canadiens also loaned Wilf Cude to Detroit and he led the Red Wings to first place. Chabot did not do badly either, leading the Canadian Division in goaltending, helping the goal-strapped Canadiens to second place. Aurel Joliat of the Canadiens won the Hart Trophy.

Final standings

American Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Detroit Red Wings 48 24 14 10 113 98 58
Chicago Black Hawks 48 20 17 11 88 83 51
New York Rangers 48 21 19 8 120 113 50
Boston Bruins 48 18 25 5 111 130 41
Canadian Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Toronto Maple Leafs 48 26 13 9 174 119 61
Montreal Canadiens 48 22 20 6 99 101 50
Montreal Maroons 48 19 18 11 117 122 49
New York Americans 48 15 23 10 104 132 40
Ottawa Senators 48 13 29 6 115 143 32

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

NHL All-Star Game

Participants of Ace Bailey Benefit game

On February 14, 1934, the first NHL All-Star Game, albeit an unofficial one, was held to benefit Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ace Bailey, who suffered a career-ending injury. On December 12, 1933, near the end of the second period of a game between the Leafs and the Boston Bruins in the Boston Garden, Bailey was hit from behind by Bruins defenceman Eddie Shore, in retaliation for a check that Toronto defenceman King Clancy had delivered to Shore. Bailey was not the intended target of the check; Shore wanted to hit Clancy instead. Bailey was badly hurt, unconscious and bleeding. The Leafs' Red Horner took offence to the hit, and subsequently knocked out Shore with a punch. Shore was forgiven after the game when both players regained consciousness, with Bailey saying that it was "all part of the game." However, Bailey passed out and lapse into convulsions. Bailey was not expected to live after a single night in the hospital after suffering from severe hemorrhaging. It was made well known that Shore would have been charged with manslaughter were Bailey to die. He gradually recovered, but his hockey career was over. For his actions, Shore received a 16-game suspension, a third of the 48-game schedule of the time, while Horner was suspended for the remainder of the 1932–33 season.[1]

The game itself was proposed by Walter Gilhooley, the sports editor of the Journal in Montreal. This proposal became a reality on January 24, 1934, in a meeting of the NHL's Board of Governors in 1934. The game was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, during which Bailey's #6 uniform was retired by the Leafs. It was the first number to be retired in the NHL. The game saw the Leafs battle against an All-Star team made of players from the other eight teams, which the Leafs won 7–3. One of the more memorable moments before the game was when Bailey presented Shore with his All-Star jersey, showing to the public that Bailey had clearly forgiven him for his actions. Bailey also presented a trophy to NHL President Frank Calder before a game in the hope that the trophy would go to the winner of an annual All-Star Game for the benefit of injured players.[1]

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

First roundSemifinalsFinal
C1Toronto2
A1Detroit3
A1Detroit1
C2Mtl Canadiens3G
A2Chicago3
A2Chicago4G
A2Chicago6G
C3Mtl Maroons2G
C3Mtl Maroons2G
A3NY Rangers1G

Quarterfinals

(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (C2) Montreal Canadiens

March 22 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Johnny Gottselig (1) – sh – 03:04 First period 13:40 – shHowie Morenz (1)
17:15 – Wildor Larochelle (1)
Lionel Conacher (1) – 10:15 Second period No scoring
Johnny Gottselig (2) – 04:34 Third period No scoring
Charlie Gardiner Goalie stats Lorne Chabot
March 25 Montreal Canadiens 1–1 OT Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Johnny Gagnon (1) – 15:07 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 11:05 – Mush March (1)
Lorne Chabot Goalie stats Charlie Gardiner
Chicago won series on total goals 4–3


(A3) New York Rangers vs. (C3) Montreal Maroons

March 20 New York Rangers 0–0 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Andy Aitkenhead Goalie stats Dave Kerr
March 25 Montreal Maroons 2–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden III Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Earl Robinson (1) – 16:36 Second period 04:25 – Vic Ripley (1)
Earl Robinson (2) – 12:09 Third period No scoring
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Andy Aitkenhead
Montreal won series on total goals 2–1


Semifinals

(C1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A1) Detroit Red Wings

March 22 Detroit Red Wings 2–1 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 08:33 – ppCharlie Conacher (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Ebbie Goodfellow (1) – 15:40 Third period No scoring
Herbie Lewis (1) – pp – 01:33 First overtime period No scoring
Wilf Cude Goalie stats George Hainsworth
March 24 Detroit Red Wings 6–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Ebbie Goodfellow (2) – pp – 03:49 First period No scoring
Herbie Lewis (2) – 08:19
Ebbie Goodfellow (3) – 13:30
Second period No scoring
Ted Graham (1) – 12:49
Larry Aurie (1) – 13:01
Herbie Lewis (3) – pp – 18:08
Third period 11:12 – Hec Kilrea (1)
12:16 – Charlie Conacher (2)
17:31 – ppRed Horner (1)
Wilf Cude Goalie stats George Hainsworth
March 26 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Ken Doraty (1) – pp – 18:46 First period No scoring
Ken Doraty (2) – pp – 18:54 Second period 14:59 – ppHerbie Lewis (4)
Hec Kilrea (2) – 19:35 Third period No scoring
George Hainsworth Goalie stats Wilf Cude
March 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Joe Primeau (1) – pp – 14:09 First period No scoring
Charlie Conacher (3) – pp – 16:47 Second period No scoring
Joe Primeau (2) – pp – 05:44
Charlie Sands (1) – 08:25
Busher Jackson (1) – 19:29
Third period 09:37 – Cooney Weiland (1)
George Hainsworth Goalie stats Wilf Cude
March 30 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 15:03 – ppEbbie Goodfellow (4)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
George Hainsworth Goalie stats Wilf Cude
Detroit won series 3–2


(A2) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (C3) Montreal Maroons

March 28 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Montreal Maroons Montreal Forum Recap  
Doc Romnes (1) – 00:43 First period No scoring
Paul Thompson (1) – 01:00
Don McFadyen (1) – 03:25
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Charlie Gardiner Goalie stats Dave Kerr
April 1 Montreal Maroons 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Baldy Northcott (1) – 11:22 First period 00:25 – Paul Thompson (2)
No scoring Second period 05:30 – Don McFadyen (2)
Baldy Northcott (2) – 01:40 Third period 07:55 – Tom Cook (1)
Dave Kerr Goalie stats Charlie Gardiner
Chicago won series on total goals 6–2


Stanley Cup Finals

The Chicago Black Hawks beat the Detroit Red Wings three games to one with the fourth game going into double overtime. After regulation time in the fourth game, Black Hawks star goaltender and two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Charlie Gardiner, left the game because he wasn't feeling well. He died two months later of a brain hemorrhage.


April 3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 2OT Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Lionel Conacher (2) – 17:50 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 04:40 – Herbie Lewis (5)
Paul Thompson (3) – 01:10 Second overtime period No scoring
Charlie Gardiner Goalie stats Wilf Cude
April 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium Recap  
Rosario Couture (1) – 17:51 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 09:58 – Herbie Lewis (6)
Doc Romnes (2) – 01:28
Art Coulter (1) – 05:34
Johnny Gottselig (3) – 18:02
Third period No scoring
Charlie Gardiner Goalie stats Wilf Cude
April 8 Detroit Red Wings 5–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Gord Pettinger (1) – 06:07
Larry Aurie (2) – 08:40
First period 00:28 – Paul Thompson (4)
No scoring Second period 18:07 – Johnny Gottselig (4)
Doug Young (1) – 13:50
Cooney Weiland (2) – 18:20
Larry Aurie (3) – 19:53
Third period No scoring
Wilf Cude Goalie stats Charlie Gardiner
April 10 Detroit Red Wings 0–1 2OT Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 10:05 – Mush March (2)
Wilf Cude Goalie stats Charlie Gardiner
Chicago won series 3–1


Awards

Rookie of the Year: Russ Blinco, Montreal Maroons
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)
Aurel Joliat, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)
Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
O'Brien Cup:
(Canadian Division champion)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(American Division champion)
Detroit Red Wings
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)
Charlie Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks

All-Star teams

First Team   Position   Second Team
Charlie Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks G Roy Worters, New York Americans
King Clancy, Toronto Maple Leafs D Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins
Lionel Conacher, Chicago Black Hawks D Ching Johnson, New York Rangers
Frank Boucher, New York Rangers C Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple Leafs
Charlie Conacher, Toronto Maple Leafs RW Bill Cook, New York Rangers
Busher Jackson, Toronto Maple Leafs LW Aurel Joliat, Montreal Canadiens
Lester Patrick, New York Rangers Coach Dick Irvin, 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
Charlie Conacher Toronto Maple Leafs 42 32 20 52 38
Joe Primeau Toronto Maple Leafs 45 14 32 46 8
Frank Boucher New York Rangers 48 14 30 44 4
Marty Barry Boston Bruins 48 27 12 39 12
Nels Stewart Boston Bruins 48 22 17 39 68
Cecil Dillon New York Rangers 48 13 26 39 10
Busher Jackson Toronto Maple Leafs 38 20 18 38 38
Aurel Joliat Montreal Canadiens 48 22 15 37 27
Hooley Smith Montreal Maroons 47 18 19 37 58
Paul Thompson Chicago Black Hawks 48 20 16 36 17

Source: NHL.[2]

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Mins GA SO GAA
Wilf Cude Montreal, Detroit 30 1920 47 5 1.47
Charlie Gardiner Chicago Black Hawks 48 3050 83 10 1.63
Roy Worters New York Americans 36 2240 75 4 2.01
Lorne Chabot Montreal Canadiens 47 2928 101 8 2.07
Andy Aitkenhead New York Rangers 48 2990 76 7 2.27

Source: NHL.[3]

Coaches

American Division

Canadian Division

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1933–34 (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 1933–34 (listed with their last team):

See also

References

  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. 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. Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1.
  • Podnieks, Andrew (2000). The NHL All-Star Game: 50 years of the great tradition. Toronto: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-200058-X.
Notes