1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks season

NHL ice hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1953–54 1953 Chicago Black Hawks 6th 12–51–7 8–21–6 4–30–1 133 242 Bill Tobin Sid Abel Bill Gadsby Chicago Stadium Pete Conacher (19) Larry Wilson (33) Larry Wilson (42) Gus Mortson (132) Al Rollins (12) Al Rollins (3.23) The 1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 28th season in the NHL, and they were coming off of a successful season in 1952–53, in which the team set team records in wins (27) and points (69), while earning their first playoff berth since the 1945–46 season. The Hawks lost to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games in the NHL semi-finals. The Black Hawks were looking to build on their newfound success, however, the club would open the season with a record of 0–7–1 to quickly fall into last place in the NHL standings. Wins would be few and far between for the club, as they won consecutive games only thrice throughout the season, and finished the year dead last in the league with a 12–51–7 record, earning 31 points. The 12 wins was Chicago's fewest since the 1938–39 season, while the 31 points was their lowest total since the 1928–29 season. Their worst defeat of the season was a 12–1 away loss to the Canadiens at the Montréal Forum in which Bert Olmstead tied an NHL record with eight points (four goals and four assists) on January 9, 1954."Chicago crushed 12-1" Chicago Tribune, January 10, 1954, p. 43. Offensively, Chicago was led by Larry Wilson, who had a team high 33 assists and 42 points, while Pete Conacher scored a club best 19 goals. Defenceman and team captain Bill Gadsby had a career season, scoring 12 goals and 41 points, while getting 108 penalty minutes. Fellow defenceman Gus Mortson led the team with 132 penalty minutes. In goal, Al Rollins played in 66 games, winning 12 games, while posting a 3.23 GAA with seven shutouts and 47 losses. He was awarded the Hart Trophy for his efforts. Rollins finished first in voting for the award ahead of Detroit's Red Kelly and Montréal's Maurice Richard."Rollins wins Hart" Toronto Daily Star, May 4, 1954, p. 11. Season standings CHI Record vs. opponents CHI Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#000000 5px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 5px solid; 1953–54 regular season1953-54 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1954_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 29, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- | 1 || October 8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–3 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || October 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–2–0 || 0 |- | 3 || October 11 || New York Rangers || 5–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–3–0 || 0 |- | 4 || October 16 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–3–1 || 1 |- | 5 || October 17 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || Detroit Red Wings || 0–4–1 || 1 |- | 6 || October 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–5–1 || 1 |- | 7 || October 22 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–6–1 || 1 |- | 8 || October 25 || Boston Bruins || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–7–1 || 1 |- | 9 || October 28 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–1 || New York Rangers || 1–7–1 || 3 |- |10 || October 31 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–7–1 || 5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |11 || November 1 || Boston Bruins || 0–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–7–2 || 6 |- |12 || November 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–8–2 || 6 |- |13 || November 5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || 2–9–2 || 6 |- |14 || November 7 || New York Rangers || 3–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–10–2 || 6 |- |15 || November 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–11–2 || 6 |- |16 || November 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || New York Rangers || 2–12–2 || 6 |- |17 || November 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–13–2 || 6 |- |18 || November 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–13–2 || 8 |- |19 || November 15 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–13–3 || 9 |- |20 || November 18 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || New York Rangers || 3–14–3 || 9 |- |21 || November 20 || Boston Bruins || 2–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–15–3 || 9 |- |22 || November 22 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–16–3 || 9 |- |23 || November 26 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–17–3 || 9 |- |24 || November 28 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–9 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–18–3 || 9 |- |25 || November 29 || Detroit Red Wings || 9–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–19–3 || 9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |26 || December 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || New York Rangers || 3–19–4 || 10 |- |27 || December 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Boston Bruins || 3–20–4 || 10 |- |28 || December 5 || New York Rangers || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–20–4 || 12 |- |29 || December 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–0 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–20–4 || 14 |- |30 || December 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–21–4 || 14 |- |31 || December 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–22–4 || 14 |- |32 || December 13 || Boston Bruins || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–22–5 || 15 |- |33 || December 17 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–23–5 || 15 |- |34 || December 18 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–24–5 || 15 |- |35 || December 20 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–24–5 || 17 |- |36 || December 25 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || Boston Bruins || 6–25–5 || 17 |- |37 || December 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || New York Rangers || 7–25–5 || 19 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |38 || January 1 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–25–5 || 21 |- |39 || January 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–26–5 || 21 |- |40 || January 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–4 || New York Rangers || 8–27–5 || 21 |- |41 || January 9 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–12 || Montreal Canadiens || 8–28–5 || 21 |- |42 || January 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–5 || Boston Bruins || 8–29–5 || 21 |- |43 || January 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–30–5 || 21 |- |44 || January 14 || New York Rangers || 2–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–31–5 || 21 |- |45 || January 17 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–32–5 || 21 |- |46 || January 21 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–33–5 || 21 |- |47 || January 23 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 8–34–5 || 21 |- |48 || January 24 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–34–5 || 23 |- |49 || January 28 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || Boston Bruins || 9–35–5 || 23 |- |50 || January 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Detroit Red Wings || 9–36–5 || 23 |- |51 || January 31 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–37–5 || 23 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |52 || February 4 || New York Rangers || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–38–5 || 23 |- |53 || February 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 9–39–5 || 23 |- |54 || February 7 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–39–5 || 25 |- |55 || February 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–39–6 || 26 |- |56 || February 14 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–40–6 || 26 |- |57 || February 15 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || Detroit Red Wings || 10–41–6 || 26 |- |58 || February 19 || New York Rangers || 3–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–42–6 || 26 |- |59 || February 21 || Boston Bruins || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–43–6 || 26 |- |60 || February 25 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–44–6 || 26 |- |61 || February 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–45–6 || 26 |- |62 || February 28 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–45–6 || 28 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |63 || March 5 || New York Rangers || 0–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–45–7 || 29 |- |64 || March 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–6 || Boston Bruins || 11–46–7 || 29 |- |65 || March 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || New York Rangers || 11–47–7 || 29 |- |66 || March 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Detroit Red Wings || 11–48–7 || 29 |- |67 || March 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 11–49–7 || 29 |- |68 || March 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–50–7 || 29 |- |69 || March 19 || Boston Bruins || 0–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 12–50–7 || 31 |- |70 || March 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–9 || Boston Bruins || 12–51–7 || 31 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Season stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMLarry Wilson 66 9 33 42 22Bill Gadsby 70 12 29 41 108Bill Mosienko 65 15 19 34 17Pete Conacher 70 19 9 28 23Lou Jankowski 68 15 13 28 7 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAAAl Rollins 66 3960 12 47 7 213 5 3.23Jean Marois 2 120 0 2 0 11 0 5.50Jack Gelineau 2 120 0 2 0 18 0 9.00 References Sources Hockey-Reference National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons Chicago Black Hawks season, 1953-54 Category:1953 in Chicago Category:1954 in Chicago Category:1953 in sports in Illinois Category:1954 in sports in Illinois