1952–53 NHL season

National Hockey League season August 2023 1952–53 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey October 9, 1952 – April 16, 1953 Regular season 70 6 CBC, SRC (Canada)None (United States) Season champion Detroit Red Wings Gordie Howe (Red Wings) Hart Memorial Trophy Gordie Howe (Red Wings) Art Ross Trophy Stanley Cup 1953 Stanley Cup Finals Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins 1953–54 NHL season 1951–52 NHL season 1953–54 1951–52 NHL The 1952–53 NHL season was the 36th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams played 70 games each. The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Boston Bruins four games to one in the final series. League business The NHL almost had a seventh franchise, as the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League applied for a franchise. They were accepted with the proviso that they deposit $425,000 to show good faith, and prove they had sufficient working capital to consort with the other NHL teams. They could not come up with the working capital and transfer of applicants stock to Cleveland residents. As a result, the Barons were told to apply at a later date. A big deal was made between Toronto and Chicago as the Maple Leafs shipped Al Rollins, Gus Mortson, and Cal Gardner for goaltender Harry Lumley. Sid Abel was signed by Chicago to be player-coach. What was rumoured became fact in September when Arthur M. Wirtz and James D. Norris became the new owners of the near bankrupt Chicago Black Hawks. James E. Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings since 1932 and father of James D. Norris, Chicago owner, died of a heart attack on December 4, 1952, and his daughter Marguerite became the owner. She became the first female owner of an NHL franchise since Ida Querrie owned the Toronto St. Patricks in 1923 when her husband Charlie transferred his stock in the team to her to avoid paying Eddie Livingstone any money in Livingstone's lawsuit against him. NHL on-ice officials changed to orange-coloured uniforms in March 1953. The officials had worn cream-coloured uniforms which were not distinguishable from some team's home-ice uniforms. Regular season For the fifth straight season, the Detroit Red Wings lead the league in points. Gordie Howe won the Hart Trophy over Al Rollins, but on the strength of Rollins' goaltending, Chicago made the playoffs for the first time since 1946. The first television broadcast in Canada of an NHL game occurred on October 11, 1952. It was a French language broadcast of a game between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings with the Canadiens winning 2–1.CBC Archives. (May 29, 2009). " Hockey Night in Canada." CBC. Retrieved November 10, 2009. The French language telecast was produced by 24-year-old Gerald Renaud. On November 1, the first English language broadcast aired, with Foster Hewitt calling the action, starting in the second period because Conn Smythe was concerned that it would cut into the crowds at the arena.Dryden 2000 55 Highlights Gump Worsley made his NHL debut October 9, 1952, in goal for the New York Rangers at the Detroit Olympia and lost 5–3, as Ted Lindsay scored in a tip-in on the power play for Worsley's first goal against him. The Production line scored 3 goals that night as Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe also had goals. Marty Pavelich scored what proved to be the winning goal. On November 8, 14,562 fans were in attendance at the Montreal Forum when the Canadiens beat Chicago 6–4. Elmer Lach scored his 200th career goal. Fifty seconds later, after Emile "Butch" Bouchard fed him the puck, Rocket Richard rifled a puck past Al Rollins for his 325th goal, breaking Nels Stewart's record for career goals.Dryden 2000 55 It was ten years to the day since Richard had scored his first NHL goal.Dryden 2000 55 "Old Poison" sent the following telegram: "Congratulations on breaking record. Hope you will hold it for many seasons. Best of luck to you and rest of team." When Terry Sawchuk was injured in practice, the Red Wings brought up Glenn Hall and he made his NHL debut on December 27 and played well in a 2–2 tie with Montreal. Hall then picked up his first career shutout January 7, blanking Boston 4–0. Red Wings General manager Jack Adams got into some trouble on January 18 when, after a 3–2 loss to Montreal, he entered the officials room and argued with referee Red Storey. Dick Irvin, coach of Montreal, was very upset over this and NHL president Clarence Campbell agreed, fining Adams $500. Gump Worsley got his first career shutout January 11 when the New York Rangers defeated the Canadiens 7–0 in Montreal. Butch Bouchard Night was held on February 28 and he was presented with a car and a TV set. Detroit spoiled the night with a 4–3 victory.The Montreal Gazette 2 March 1953 24 Crowds Demonstrate as Canadiens Lose to Detroit 4–3 Ted Lindsay scored 4 goals on March 2 as Detroit pummeled Boston by a score of 10–2. Gordie Howe scored 49 goals to nearly tie Rocket Richard's record. Howe was held off the scoresheet in the final game of the season by Richard's Canadiens. Howe set a new points record for the season with 95 points and won the Art Ross and Hart trophies.Dryden 2000 55 Final standings Playoffs In a major upset, first-place Detroit was defeated in the semifinal by the Boston Bruins in six games. In the other semifinal, the fourth-place Chicago Black Hawks, making their first playoff appearance in seven years, took a 3–2 series lead after losing the first two games to the second-place Montreal Canadiens, but could not finish the job, losing in seven games. Playoff bracket The top four teams in the league qualified for the playoffs. In the semifinals, the first-place team played the third-place team, while the second-place team faced the fourth-place team, with the winners advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. In both rounds, teams competed in a best-of-seven series (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). Stanley Cup Finals Semifinals 1 Detroit 2 3 Boston 4 2 Montreal 4 4 Chicago 3 3 Boston 1 2 Montreal 4 Semifinals (1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (3) Boston Bruins Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings Boston Garden Olympia Stadium March 24 0–7 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1953/03/24/1952030111#game=1952030111,game_state=final No scoring 02:39 – Marty Pavelich (1)08:45 – Ted Lindsay (1)09:16 – Marty Pavelich (2) No scoring 08:52 – Alex Delvecchio (1) No scoring 05:54 – Metro Prystai (1)06:53 – Johnny Wilson (1)16:04 – Ted Lindsay (2) Jim Henry Terry Sawchuck March 26 5–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1953/03/26/1952030112#game=1952030112,game_state=final Fleming MacKell (1) – 07:56Dave Creighton (1) – 14:09 08:54 – pp – Gordie Howe (1) Joe Klukay (1) – 02:10 No scoring Johnny Peirson (1) – 10:04Dave Creighton (2) – 12:58 17:38 – Metro Prystai (2)18:08 – Metro Prystai (3) Jim Henry Terry Sawchuck March 29 1–2 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1953/03/29/1952030113#game=1952030113,game_state=final 11:27 – Ed Sandford (1) No scoring No scoring Tony Leswick (1) – 10:54 No scoring No scoring 12:29 – Jack McIntyre (1) No scoring Jim Henry Terry Sawchuck March 31 2–6 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1953/03/31/1952030114#game=1952030114,game_state=final 02:45 – Ed Sandford (2)13:12 – Jack McIntyre (2) No scoring 06:05 – pp – Milt Schmidt (1)10:37 – Jack McIntyre (3)11:22 – Dave Creighton (3) Metro Prystai (4) – 14:27Alex Delvecchio (2) – 15:48 12:55 – Ed Sandford (3) No scoring Jim Henry Terry Sawchuck April 2 4–6 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1953/04/02/1952030115#game=1952030115,game_state=final No scoring 00:23 – Ted Lindsay (3)00:55 – Bob Goldham (1)03:45 – Benny Woit (1) Ed Sandford (4) – 09:02 08:42 – Gordie Howe (2)11:32 – Johnny Wilson (2) Ed Sandford (5) – 01:54Milt Schmidt (2) – 11:57Milt Schmidt (3) – pp – 16:46 09:54 – Glen Skov (1) Jim Henry Terry Sawchuck April 5 2–4 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1953/04/05/1952030116#game=1952030116,game_state=final 03:41 – pp – Ed Sandford (6) No scoring 11:36 – Johnny Peirson (2) Reg Sinclair (1) – 18:05 11:19 – Fleming MacKell (2)17:36 – Leo Labine (1) Ted Lindsay (4) – 13:27 Jim Henry Terry Sawchuck Boston won series 4–2 (2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Black Hawks Montreal Canadiens Chicago Stadium Montreal Forum March 24 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1953/03/24/1952030121#game=1952030121,game_state=final No scoring No scoring Gerry Couture (1) – 13:34 14:55 – Bernie Geoffrion (1) No scoring 04:29 – Butch Bouchard (1)17:54 – Paul Meger (1) Al Rollins Gerry McNeil March 26 3–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1953/03/26/1952030122#game=1952030122,game_state=final Jim McFadden (1) – 02:35George Gee (1) – 05:29Jim McFadden (2) – 06:58 05:17 – Floyd Curry (1) No scoring 12:32 – Dickie Moore (1)18:08 – Bernie Geoffrion (2)19:02 – Dick Gamble (1) No scoring No scoring Al Rollins Gerry McNeil March 29 1–2 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1953/03/29/1952030123#game=1952030123,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring Bernie Geoffrion (3) – 14:53 18:03 – Bill Mosienko (1) No scoring 05:18 – Al Dewsbury (1) No scoring Al Rollins Gerry McNeil March 31 1–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1953/03/31/1952030124#game=1952030124,game_state=final No scoring Bert Olmstead (1) – pp – 11:12 02:57 – Bill Mosienko (2) No scoring 12:28 – Vic Lynn (1)19:56 – Jim McFadden (3) No scoring Al Rollins Gerry McNeil April 2 4–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1953/04/02/1952030125#game=1952030125,game_state=final Fred Hucul (1) – pp – 04:00Bill Mosienko (3) – 06:59Gus Bodnar (1) – 11:26 No scoring Gus Mortson (1) – 18:48 04:53 – Maurice Richard (1) No scoring 14:36 – Tom Johnson (1) Al Rollins Gerry McNeil April 4 3–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1953/04/04/1952030126#game=1952030126,game_state=final No scoring Bernie Geoffrion (4) – 05:59 No scoring Maurice Richard (2) – 03:23Ken Mosdell (1) – 16:20 No scoring No scoring Al Rollins Jacques Plante April 7 1–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1953/04/07/1952030127#game=1952030127,game_state=final No scoring 01:38 – pp – Bernie Geoffrion (5) Bill Mosienko (4) – 14:16 15:36 – Eddie Mazur (1) No scoring 04:51 – pp – Maurice Richard (3)13:55 – Eddie Mazur (2) Al Rollins Jacques Plante Montreal won series 4–3 Stanley Cup Finals 1953 Stanley Cup Finals In the finals, the Bruins could not continue their winning ways, and lost to Montreal in five games. After the finals, the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League applied to play a Stanley Cup challenge. The NHL governors turned down the challenge, stating that the Cleveland club operated in a league of lower standing.Mouton(1987), p. 117Dryden 2000 55 Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens Boston Garden Montreal Forum April 9 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1953/04/09/1952030211#game=1952030211,game_state=final Bob Armstrong (1) – pp – 02:08 13:42 – Dickie Moore (2) No scoring 02:37 – Ken Mosdell (2)16:05 – Floyd Curry (2) Johnny Peirson (3) – pp – 10:11 11:12 – Maurice Richard (4) Jim Henry, Gord Henry Jacques Plante April 11 4–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1953/04/11/1952030212#game=1952030212,game_state=final Leo Labine (2) – 03:53Ed Sandford (7) – 18:13 No scoring Ed Sandford (8) – 07:26 01:36 – Bert Olmstead (2) Milt Schmidt (4) – 15:43 No scoring Gord HenryJim Henry Jacques Plante April 12 3–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1953/04/12/1952030213#game=1952030213,game_state=final No scoring Tom Johnson (2) – 11:53 No scoring Paul Masnick (1) – 06:30 No scoring Ken Mosdell (3) – pp – 11:27 Gord Henry Gerry McNeil April 14 7–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1953/04/14/1952030214#game=1952030214,game_state=final 18:22 – Dave Creighton (4) Lorne Davis (1) – 03:23Maurice Richard (5) – 10:58Dickie Moore (3) – 16:40 No scoring Bernie Geoffrion (6) – pp – 18:56 07:23 – Milt Schmidt (5)16:25 – Jack McIntyre (4) Maurice Richard (6) – 05:33Calum MacKay (1) – 17:59Maurice Richard (7) – 18:27 Gord Henry Gerry McNeil April 16 0–1 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1953/04/16/1952030215#game=1952030215,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring 01:22 – Elmer Lach (1) Jim Henry Gerry McNeil Montreal won series 4–1 Awards Prince of Wales Trophy:(Best regular-season record) Detroit Red WingsArt Ross Trophy:(Top scorer) Gordie Howe, Detroit Red WingsCalder Memorial Trophy:(Top first-year player) Lorne "Gump" Worsley, New York RangersHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Gordie Howe, Detroit Red WingsLady Byng Memorial Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Red Kelly, Detroit Red WingsVezina Trophy:(Goaltender of team with best goals-against record) Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings All-Star teams First team   Position   Second teamTerry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings GGerry McNeil, Montreal CanadiensRed Kelly, Detroit Red Wings DBill Quackenbush, Boston BruinsDoug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens DBill Gadsby, Chicago Black HawksFleming MacKell, Boston Bruins CAlex Delvecchio, Detroit Red WingsGordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings RWMaurice Richard, Montreal CanadiensTed Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings LWBert Olmstead, Montreal Canadiens 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 Gordie Howe Detroit Red Wings 70 49 46 95 57 Ted Lindsay Detroit Red Wings 70 32 39 71 111 Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens 70 28 33 61 112 Wally Hergesheimer New York Rangers 70 30 29 59 10 Alex Delvecchio Detroit Red Wings 70 16 43 59 28 Paul Ronty New York Rangers 70 16 38 54 20 Metro Prystai Detroit Red Wings 70 16 34 50 12 Red Kelly Detroit Red Wings 70 19 27 46 8 Bert Olmstead Montreal Canadiens 69 17 28 45 83 Fleming Mackell Boston Bruins 65 27 17 44 63 Dinger 2011 149 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 SOTerry Sawchuk Detroit Red Wings 63 3780 120 1.90 32 15 16 9Gerry McNeil Montreal Canadiens 66 3960 140 2.12 25 23 18 10Harry Lumley Toronto Maple Leafs 70 4200 167 2.39 27 30 13 10Jim Henry Boston Bruins 70 4200 142 2.46 28 29 13 7Al Rollins Chicago Black Hawks 70 4200 175 2.50 27 28 15 6Chuck Rayner New York Rangers 20 1200 58 2.90 4 8 8 1Lorne Worsley New York Rangers 50 3000 153 3.06 13 29 8 2 Coaches Boston Bruins: Lynn Patrick Chicago Black Hawks: Sid Abel Detroit Red Wings: Tommy Ivan Montreal Canadiens: Dick Irvin New York Rangers: Bill Cook Toronto Maple Leafs: Joe Primeau Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1952–53 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Jerry Toppazzini, Boston Bruins Glenn Hall, Detroit Red Wings Marcel Bonin, Detroit Red Wings Ed Litzenberger, Montreal Canadiens Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens Harry Howell, New York Rangers Dean Prentice, New York Rangers Gump Worsley, New York Rangers Andy Bathgate, New York Rangers Ron Murphy, New York Rangers Ron Stewart, Toronto Maple Leafs Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1952–53 (listed with their last team): Pentti Lund, Boston Bruins Chuck Rayner, New York Rangers Pete Babando, New York Rangers Broadcasting The television version of Hockey Night in Canada made its debut on CBC Television. Regular season games were not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season, and were typically joined in progress at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, while the radio version of HNIC aired games in their entirety. Television coverage this season did not extend to the Stanley Cup playoffs. See also 1952–53 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 6th National Hockey League All-Star Game National Hockey League All-Star Game 1952 in sports 1953 in sports References Coleman Charles L. 1976 Sherbrooke, Quebec Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol III Progressive Publications Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era Diamond, Dan 1994 McClelland and Stewart Toronto, ON 0-7710-2817-2 Total Hockey Diamond, Dan Total Sports 2000 1-892129-85-X Kingston, New York Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 Toronto, ON registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 0-7710-4179-9 Duplacey James 2008 North Dighton, Massachusetts Hockey's Book of Firsts JG Press 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 Publications International Inc. 0-7853-9624-1 Lincolnwood, Illinois Fischler 2003 McFarlane Brian 1969 50 Years Of Hockey Winnipeg, MAN Greywood Publishing B000GW45S0 McFarlane Brian The Story of the National Hockey League Pagurian Press New York 1973 0-684-13424-1 registration https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa * Mouton Claude 1987 Montreal Canadiens Key Porter Books 1-55013-051-X Notes External links Hockey Database for NHL 52–53 NHL.com 1952 Category:1952–53 in American ice hockey by league Category:1952–53 in Canadian ice hockey by league