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1961 Stanley Cup Final
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1961 ice hockey championship series
August 2023
1961 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Ed Litzenberger Rudy Pilous Detroit Red Wings Detroit Gordie Howe Sid Abel 3 1 3 1 6 5 4 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 April 6–16, 1961197 Chicago: Chicago Stadium (1, 3, 5) Detroit: Olympia Stadium (2, 4, 6) 1 Ab McDonald (18:49, second) Black Hawks:Al Arbour (1996, builder)Glenn Hall (1975)Bill Hay (2015, builder)Bobby Hull (1983)Stan Mikita (1983)Pierre Pilote (1975)Red Wings:Alex Delvecchio (1977)Gordie Howe (1972)Marcel Pronovost (1978)Terry Sawchuk (1971)Norm Ullman (1982)Coaches:Sid Abel (1969, player)Rudy Pilous (1985)Officials:Neil Armstrong (1991)George Hayes (1988)Matt Pavelich (1987)Frank Udvari (1973)
The 1961 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1960–61 season, and the culmination of the 1961 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Black Hawks. Chicago was making its first Finals appearance since 1944, and Detroit its first appearance since 1956; both had lost to the Montreal Canadiens in those previous appearances. The Black Hawks won the best-of-seven series, four games to two, to win their third Stanley Cup, their first since 1938. This was the last time Chicago won the Cup until 2010, a 49-year drought.
This was the only title not won by the Canadiens, Red Wings or Toronto Maple Leafs during the Original Six era, and the only title won by a U.S. team between 1955 and 1970.
Paths to the Finals
Detroit defeated Toronto in five games and Chicago upset Montreal, the record five-time defending champion, in six, setting up the first all-American-team Finals since 1950, when the Wings beat the New York Rangers in a seven-game series.
Game summaries
This was the only Stanley Cup championship in the 1960s not to be won by either the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Montreal CanadiensCole Stephen The Best of Hockey Night in Canada 2004 McArthur & Company Toronto 1-55278-408-8 52 or feature either team.
Game one
Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium Olympia Stadium April 6 1 2–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-chi/1961/04/06/1960030211#game=1960030211,game_state=final
Bobby Hull scored two goals in game one, giving the Black Hawks a 3–2 victory and a 1–0 lead in the series.
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st CHI Bobby Hull (3) – pp Stan Mikita (2) and Murray Balfour (3) 09:39 1–0 CHI CHI Kenny Wharram (2) Ab McDonald (2) and Stan Mikita (3) 10:10 2–0 CHI CHI Bobby Hull (4) Pierre Pilote (7) and Murray Balfour (4) 13:15 3–0 CHI 2nd DET Len Lunde (2) – pp Gordie Howe (5) 16:14 3–1 CHI 3rd DET Al Johnson (2) Gordie Howe (6) and Norm Ullman (3) 19:18 3–2 CHI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st DET Howie Young Holding 07:54 2:00 2nd DET Howie Young Cross-checking 03:13 2:00 CHI Jack Evans Tripping 09:27 2:00 CHI Reg Fleming Boarding 09:55 2:00 DET Warren Godfrey Interference 13:28 2:00 CHI Bill Hay Holding 15:42 2:00 DET Vic Stasiuk High-sticking 17:29 2:00 3rd CHI Pierre Pilote Tripping 01:14 2:00 DET Warren Godfrey Holding 11:53 2:00 DET Pete Goegan Misconduct 14:03 10:00 CHI Bill Hay Holding 16:08 2:00 DET Howie Young Slashing 16:08 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Detroit 8 14 14 36 Chicago 10 13 8 31
Game two
Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks Detroit Olympia April 8 3–1 1 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-det/1961/04/08/1960030212/summary
With Terry Sawchuk being pulled in the first period of game one, Hank Bassen started the second game and provided the Red Wings with a win, making 26 saves in the victory. Alex Delvecchio also recorded two goals and an assist, and the Red Wings tied the series.
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st DET Howie Young (2) Vic Stasiuk (4) and Alex Delvecchio (3) 08:10 1–0 DET DET Alex Delvecchio (2) – pp Gordie Howe (7) and Al Johnson (1) 17:39 2–0 DET 2nd CHI Pierre Pilote (2) Unassisted 00:41 2–1 DET 3rd DET Alex Delvecchio (3) – en Vic Stasiuk (5) and Gordie Howe (8) 19:22 3–1 DET Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st DET Gerry Odrowski Tripping 00:33 2:00 CHI Kenny Wharram Hooking 00:45 2:00 DET Vic Stasiuk Holding 03:13 2:00 DET Howie Young Elbowing 08:27 2:00 CHI Kenny Wharram Tripping 12:15 2:00 DET Warren Godfrey Kneeing 15:16 2:00 CHI Dollard St. Laurent Kneeing 17:27 2:00 2nd CHI Jack Evans Hooking 02:42 2:00 CHI Jack Evans Tripping 10:50 2:00 DET Howie Young Slashing 15:31 2:00 CHI Jack Evans Charging 20:00 2:00 3rd CHI Bill Hay Roughing 04:55 2:00 DET Howie Young Roughing 04:55 2:00 DET Gordie Howe Holding 13:19 2:00 CHI Tod Sloan Tripping 19:33 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Detroit 9 12 17 38 Chicago 2 13 12 27
Game three
Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium April 10 1–3 2 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-chi/1961/04/10/1960030213
Glenn Hall was solid in game three for Chicago, making 35 saves in a 3–1 victory to take a 2–1 lead in the series.
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st None 2nd CHI Stan Mikita (4) Bobby Hull (6) and Pierre Pilote (8) 11:54 1–0 CHI CHI Ron Murphy (1) Ed Litzenberger (3) and Pierre Pilote (9) 14:19 2–0 CHI CHI Murray Balfour (3) Bobby Hull (7) and Bill Hay (3) 18:16 3–0 CHI 3rd CHI Gordie Howe (4) Alex Delvecchio (4) and Howie Young (2) 09:28 3–1 CHI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st DET Warren Godfrey Tripping 05:29 2:00 CHI Kenny Wharram Charging 11:12 2:00 CHI Stan Mikita High-sticking 19:09 2:00 2nd None 3rd CHI Murray Balfour Roughing 00:08 2:00 DET Gordie Howe Roughing 00:08 2:00 CHI Kenny Wharram Hooking 02:02 2:00 DET Warren Godfrey Hooking 02:02 2:00 DET Howie Young Tripping 05:33 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Detroit 14 14 8 36 Chicago 11 14 11 36
Game four
Chicago Black Hawks Detroit Red Wings Detroit Olympia April 12 1–2 2 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-det/1961/04/12/1960030214/summary
Terry Sawchuk started game four for Detroit and made 26 saves, while Bruce MacGregor scored the game-winning goal in the third period to help Detroit tie the series.
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st None 2nd CHI Bill Hay (2) Bobby Hull (8) and Murray Balfour (5) 07:34 1–0 CHI DET Alex Delvecchio (4) – pp Bruce MacGregor (1) and Gordie Howe (9) 08:48 1–1 3rd DET Bruce MacGregor (1) Val Fonteyne (2) and Warren Godfrey (2) 13:10 2–1 DET Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st CHI Murray Balfour Holding 07:12 2:00 DET Bruce MacGregor Tripping 12:22 2:00 CHI Eric Nesterenko Cross-checking 15:39 2:00 2nd CHI Bobby Hull High-sticking 08:12 2:00 DET Norm Ullman Holding 17:17 2:00 3rd None
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Chicago 6 11 10 27 Detroit 14 10 6 30
Game five
Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium April 14 3–6 2 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-chi/1961/04/14/1960030215
In a back and forth game five, Murray Balfour and Stan Mikita each scored twice for Chicago to give them a 6–3 victory and a 3–2 series lead.
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st DET Leo Labine (3) Al Johnson (2) and Norm Ullman (4) 02:14 1–0 DET CHI Murray Balfour (3) Bobby Hull (7) and Bill Hay (3) 09:36 1–1 CHI Ron Murphy (2) Dollard St. Laurent (2) and Eric Nesterenko (3) 10:14 2–1 CHI DET Howie Glover (1) – pp Bruce MacGregor (2) and Val Fonteyne (3) 15:35 2–2 2nd CHI Murray Balfour (5) Pierre Pilote (10) and Bill Hay (5) 16:25 3–2 CHI DET Vic Stasiuk (2) Gordie Howe (10) and Marcel Pronovost (3) 18:49 3–3 3rd CHI Stan Mikita (5) – pp Pierre Pilote (11) and Elmer Vasko (1) 02:51 4–3 CHI CHI Pierre Pilote (3) Kenny Wharram (5) and Stan Mikita (4) 07:02 5–3 CHI CHI Stan Mikita (6) Ron Murphy (1) 13:27 6–3 CHI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st CHI Elmer Vasko Tripping 13:44 2:00 2nd DET Howie Young Boarding 06:20 2:00 CHI Kenny Wharram Tripping 12:29 2:00 CHI Bill Hay Roughing 19:13 2:00 DET Pete Goegan Roughing 19:13 2:00 3rd DET Howie Young Tripping 02:22 2:00 CHI Elmer Vasko Tripping 04:17 2:00 DET Gerry Odrowski Tripping 08:15 2:00 CHI Elmer Vasko Boarding 16:27 2:00 DET Gordie Howe Holding 18:18 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Detroit 14 11 11 36 Chicago 8 12 24 44
Game six
Chicago Black Hawks Detroit Red Wings Detroit Olympia April 16 5–1 1 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-det/1961/04/16/1960030216
In game six, the Black Hawks defeated the Red Wings by a score of 5–1 to win their first Stanley Cup in 23 years.
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st DET Parker MacDonald (1) – pp Gordie Howe (11) and Alex Delvecchio (5) 15:24 1–0 DET 2nd CHI Reg Fleming (1) – sh Unassisted 06:45 1–1 CHI Ab McDonald (2) Bobby Hull (10) and Stan Mikita (5) 18:49 2–1 CHI 3rd CHI Eric Nesterenko (2) Tod Sloan (1) and Pierre Pilote (12) 00:57 3–1 CHI CHI Jack Evans (1) Unassisted 06:27 4–1 CHI CHI Kenny Wharram (3) Unassisted 18:00 5–1 CHI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st DET Gordie Howe Tripping 07:17 2:00 CHI Jack Evans Interference 11:16 2:00 CHI Al Arbour Interference 13:34 2:00 2nd DET Pete Goegan Interference 01:24 2:00 CHI Wayne Hicks Hooking 06:05 2:00 CHI Tod Sloan Hooking 14:17 2:00 3rd DET Bruce MacGregor Tripping 03:28 2:00 DET Bruce MacGregor Tripping 10:55 2:00 CHI Tod Sloan Tripping 18:23 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Chicago 4 10 11 25 Detroit 8 8 6 22
Stanley Cup engraving
The 1961 Stanley Cup was presented to Black Hawks captain Ed Litzenberger by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Black Hawks 5–1 win over the Red Wings in game six.
The following Black Hawks players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup:
1960–61 Chicago Black Hawks
*1 Glenn Hall
1 Denis DeJordy*
Allan Roy Edwards* *2 Al Arbour
3 Pierre Pilote (A)
4 Elmer Vasko
5 Jack Evans
18 Wayne Hillman
19 Dollard St. Laurent *9 Tod Sloan
11 Bill Hay
12 Ed Litzenberger (Captain)
17 Ken Wharram
21 Stan Mikita *6 Reg Fleming
8 Murray Balfour
8 Wayne Hicks
10 Ron Murphy (A)
14 Alvin Ab McDonald
15 Eric Nesterenko
16 Bobby Hull
18 Ronald Chico Maki*
20 Earl Balfour Did not play in the Finals. Arthur Wirtz Sr. (President/Owner), Arthur Wirtz Jr. (Vice President/Owner)
James D. Norris Jr. (Chairman/Owner), Tommy Ivan (Manager)
Rudy Pilous (Coach), Nick Garen (Trainer)
Walter Humeniuk (Asst. Trainer)
Michael Wirtz (Vice President) - left off the Stanley Cup. Roy Edwards was engraved as Allan R. Edwards. He never played in any games for Chicago; his first NHL game was during the 1967–68 season with Detroit. Denis DeJordy's first NHL game was during the 1962–63 season.
Ronald Chico Maki's name was included on the Stanley Cup for dressing for two games in the Finals, even though he did not get any ice time. Maki played his first regular-season NHL game during the 1961–62 season. He engraved as Robert Maki not Ronald Maki.
Ron Murphy was engraved as Robert Murphy. He was engraved as R. Murphy in 1970 with Boston.
Tod Sloan was engraved as Martin A. Sloan. He was engraved on the cup as Tod Sloan in 1951 with Toronto.
See also
1960–61 NHL season
Notes
References
Diamond Dan Total Stanley Cup 2000 Total Sports Canada Toronto 978-1-892129-07-9 registration https://archive.org/details/totalstanleycupo0000unse
http://www.nhl.com/info/all-time-nhl-playoff-results https://web.archive.org/web/20170724171920/https://www.nhl.com/info/all-time-nhl-playoff-results dead July 24, 2017 All-Time NHL Results
Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. 978-1-55168-261-7
Montreal Canadiens1960 Toronto Maple Leafs 1962 Chicago Black HawksStanley Cup champions 1961
Stanley Cup
Category:Stanley Cup Finals
1960
Category:Detroit Red Wings games
Category:April 1961 sports events in the United States
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Category:Ice hockey competitions in Chicago
Category:Ice hockey competitions in Detroit
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Category:Events at Chicago Stadium