1942–43 NHL season

The 1942–43 NHL season was the 26th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Brooklyn Americans were dropped, leaving six teams to play a schedule of 50 games. This is the first season of the "Original Six" era of the NHL. The league's long-time president Frank Calder died due to heart disease. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

1942–43 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 31, 1942 – April 8, 1943
Number of games50
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season championDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPBill Cowley (Bruins)
Top scorerDoug Bentley (Black Hawks)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDetroit Red Wings
  Runners-upBoston Bruins

League business

The NHL and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) agreed in principle that a junior-aged player could become a professional whenever he wanted, to make a living under wartime conditions. They expected that NHL clubs would rely on junior-aged players as replacements due to military enlistments.[1] In October 1942, a new professional-amateur agreement was reached by NHL president Frank Calder, and CAHA president Frank Sargent. NHL teams were permitted to sign junior-aged players if the junior club was contacted first, and agreed not to sign any other junior-eligible players who had not yet played for the CAHA. The NHL continued to pay the CAHA for developing players.[2]

The Brooklyn Americans franchise was dropped, as Madison Square Garden turned down a lease agreement with team owner Red Dutton. Dutton argued that the other teams would be weakened by the war, but the other owners pointed out the number of American players serving in the armed forces was such that the Americans could not operate. A despondent Dutton left the league meeting, but was to return to the NHL sooner than he thought.

With the suspension of the Americans, this was the inaugural season of the so-called Original Six era, with the NHL consisting of six teams (the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs). This arrangement would last until the 1966–67 season, after which the league doubled in size.

Death of Frank Calder

The league's meeting of January 25, 1943, was to have been a non-event. The only news that was supposed to come out of the meeting was that the playoffs would begin on March 20, and that all series would be best-of-seven affairs. This was resolved in the morning session.

The afternoon session had just begun and Calder had informed Red Dutton of the reserve status of his suspended franchise, when Toronto coach Hap Day noticed that Calder appeared to be in pain. Two league governors came up to his aid, but he assured them he was all right. Then Calder's face contracted as if he were in pain. He took a few steps and exclaimed "My God, there IS something wrong!" He was taken to his hotel room and a doctor diagnosed a heart attack. A specialist convinced him, despite his protests, to check into St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, where he suffered a second heart attack. In a week, Calder felt well enough to return to Montreal and checked into Montreal General Hospital. After eating a light breakfast surrounded by his family and friends, he was looking over the league books when he slipped back on the pillows of his bed and died of a third heart attack. He died on February 4, 1943, at the age of 65 years. Red Dutton was chosen as the new president, on an "interim" basis.[3]

Regular season

Due to war-time travel restrictions, the NHL ceased playing overtimes to decide tie games on November 21 partway through the season. The last regular season overtime game was November 10, 1942, between the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers, won by New York 5–3. Regular season overtime would not be re-introduced until the 1983–84 NHL season.

Highlights

Detroit finished first, partly due to the six shutouts of goaltender Johnny Mowers, who won the Vezina Trophy. During the season, Jimmy Orlando got into a stick-swinging incident with Toronto rookie Gaye Stewart and came out of it on the short end, badly cut in the face and bleeding profusely. Both players were suspended for the incident.

The Montreal Canadiens were still making progress, and coach Dick Irvin put together the first "Punch Line" of Elmer Lach, Toe Blake and Joe Benoit. Maurice Richard showed promise, but broke his leg, and Canadiens' manager Tommy Gorman began to look at him as brittle. Benoit became the first Canadien to hit the 30 goal plateau since Howie Morenz did it in 1929–30 (40 goals) scoring an even 30. Gordie Drillon also added some scoring power. The Canadiens made the playoffs by one slim point and lost to Boston in the playoffs' first round.

In contrast to the 1941–42 season, the Rangers felt the full impact of World War II and lost Art Coulter, Alex Shibicky, the Colville brothers, and Bill Juzda to the Armed Forces. Only Ott Heller was left of their defence. Babe Pratt was traded to Toronto for Hank Goldup and Dudley "Red" Garrett. Garrett proved to be an excellent replacement for Pratt. However, he only played 21 games, then gave his life in the Armed Forces. Goaltending was the Rangers problem as Steve Buzinski, Jimmy Franks, and old veteran Bill Beveridge all had to face lots of rubber as the Rangers went from first to worst.

Final standings
National Hockey League[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Detroit Red Wings50251411169124+4561
2Boston Bruins5024179195176+1957
3Toronto Maple Leafs5022199198159+3953
4Montreal Canadiens50191912181191−1050
5Chicago Black Hawks50171815179180−149
6New York Rangers5011318161253−9230

Playoffs

Playoff bracket
Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals
      
1 Detroit 4
3 Toronto 2
1 Detroit 4
2 Boston 0
2 Boston 4
4 Montreal 1

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit won series 4–2

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens

This was the last time that Boston defeated Montreal in a postseason series until 1988.

Boston won series 4–1

Stanley Cup Finals
Main article: 1943 Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit won series 4–0

Awards
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Best first-year player)		Gaye Stewart, Toronto Maple Leafs
Hart Trophy:
(Most valuable player)		Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins
Lady Byng Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		Max Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks
O'Brien Cup:
(Stanley Cup runner-up)		Boston Bruins
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(Best regular-season record)		Detroit Red Wings
Vezina Trophy:
(Fewest goals allowed)		Johnny Mowers, Detroit Red Wings

All-Star teams
First team  Position  Second team
Johnny Mowers, Detroit Red Wings G Frank Brimsek, Boston Bruins
Earl Seibert, Chicago Black Hawks D Jack Crawford, Boston Bruins
Jack Stewart, Detroit Red Wings D Flash Hollett, Boston Bruins
Bill Cowley, Boston Bruins C Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lorne Carr, Toronto Maple Leafs RW Bryan Hextall, New York Rangers
Doug Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks LW Lynn Patrick, New York Rangers
Jack Adams, Detroit Red Wings Coach Art Ross, Boston Bruins

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
Doug BentleyChicago Black Hawks5033407318
Bill CowleyBoston Bruins4827457210
Max BentleyChicago Black Hawks472644702
Lynn PatrickNew York Rangers5022396128
Lorne CarrToronto Maple Leafs5027336015
Billy TaylorToronto Maple Leafs501842602
Bryan HextallNew York Rangers5027325928
Toe BlakeMontreal Canadiens4823365926
Elmer LachMontreal Canadiens4518405814
Buddy O'ConnorMontreal Canadiens501543582

Source: NHL[5]

Leading goaltenders

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

Player Team GP Mins GA W L T SO GAA
Johnny MowersDetroit Red Wings50301012425141162.47
Turk BrodaToronto Maple Leafs5030001592219913.18
Frank BrimsekBoston Bruins5030001762417913.53
Bert GardinerChicago Black Hawks50302018017181513.58
Paul BibeaultMontreal Canadiens50301019119191213.81
Jimmy FranksNew York Rangers231380103514404.48
Bill BeveridgeNew York Rangers17102089410315.24

Coaches

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1942–43 (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 1942–43 (listed with their last team):

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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Notes
  1. "Young Players For N.H.L. Clubs?". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. August 22, 1942. p. 19.
  2. "New Agreement Between Pros and Amateurs". Brandon Daily Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. October 26, 1942. p. 3.
  3. Diamond(1994), p. 10
  4. "1942–1943 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. Dinger 2011, p. 148.
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