1955–56 NHL season

National Hockey League season August 2023 1955–56 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey October 6, 1955 – April 10, 1956 Regular season 70 6 CBC, SRC (Canada)None (United States) Season champion Montreal Canadiens Jean Beliveau (Canadiens) Hart Memorial Trophy Jean Beliveau (Canadiens) Art Ross Trophy Stanley Cup 1956 Stanley Cup Final Montreal Canadiens Detroit Red Wings 1956–57 NHL season 1954–55 NHL season 1956–57 1954–55 NHL The 1955–56 NHL season was the 39th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams played 70 games each. The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup champions as they beat the Detroit Red Wings four games to one in the best-of-seven final series. League business At a governors' meeting in December, a discussion took place concerning the uniforms worn by officials. It was contended that the present orange and black uniforms were confusing to players and fans, particularly when red uniforms were worn by either of the participating teams. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the existing uniforms showed up black on television. It was unanimously agreed that officials' uniforms should be changed to black and white vertical stripes. The black and white uniforms were first worn on December 29, 1955. With Montreal frequently racking up two or three goals on any one power play, NHL President Clarence Campbell said he'd like the penalty rule revised to a penalized player returning to the ice when a power play goal is scored on a minor penalty. The Canadiens was the lone club to vote against the new legislation.Stubbs Dave 2020-06-06 Canadiens felt 1956 rule change doused their potent power play NHL.com https://www.nhl.com/news/montreal-felt-1956-rule-change-hurt-power-play-317110878 2024-06-28 www.nhl.com enAnderson Dave Dave Anderson (sportswriter) 2007-06-04 Canadiens of the 1950s Are Still the Kings of the Cup https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/sports/hockey/04anderson.html 2024-06-28 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Regular season The streak of seven straight seasons at the top of the NHL held by the Detroit Red Wings' dynasty came to an end as the Montreal Canadiens were tops. The Canadiens set a new record for wins in a season with 45. The Canadiens had a new coach, their one-time great former All-Star left-winger, Hector "Toe" Blake. Also in 1955, John Utendale became the first Black player to sign a contract directly with an NHL team, the Red Wings. Utendale practiced with the Red Wings but never played in an NHL game; instead, he played with the Edmonton Flyers, as they were the Red Wings' minor league affiliate. In 2006, Utendale's brother claimed that Red Wings coach Jack Adams had refused to give Utendale any playing time on the Red Wings because Adams objected to his relationship with a white woman whom Utendale later married.Korobanik John Hockey player tried to break NHL's colour barrier https://www.pressreader.com/canada/edmonton-journal/20060918/282441344572234 February 21, 2022 Edmonton Journal September 18, 2006 Dick Irvin, formerly the coach in Montreal, whom Habs' GM Frank Selke Sr. found a little truculent, took over as coach in Chicago, but could not get them out of the cellar, though they did improve. It was sort of a homecoming for Irvin as he started his coaching career with Chicago in 1930. Highlights When the Hawks went to the Montreal Forum on October 22, Irvin was presented with a set of silver flatware by William Northey, representing the Canadian Arena Company. In the game itself, rookie Henri Richard scored two goals as Montreal shut out Chicago 6–0. On November 5, Jean Beliveau scored three goals in 44 seconds as Montreal beat Boston 4–3. The record for the fastest hat trick still was held by Bill Mosienko with three goals in 21 seconds. On December 29, officials debuted the new "zebra" outfits in a game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs.Finger Scott This Day In Hockey History – December 29 http://www.hookedonhockeymagazine.com/this-day-in-hockey-history-december-29/ hookedonhockeymagazine.com 26 September 2015 On January 11, a crowd of 15,570 delighted fans at Madison Square Garden watched the Rangers trounce the Canadiens 6–1. Pete Conacher was a star for the Rangers with two goals. Lou Fontinato and Maurice Richard had a gala fight and Fontinato knocked out Richard with a punch that required several stitches above Richard's eye. Montreal routed the Rangers 9–4 on February 18 as Beliveau had the hat trick and Richard two. The Rocket was incensed when referee Louis Maschio gave his brother a misconduct penalty and his teammates had to cool him off. Beliveau set a record for goals by a center when he scored his 45th goal on March 15. Maurice Richard was hurt in this game when he fell over Hawk defenceman Pierre Pilote's skate and went headlong into the goal. He required stitches and was taken to hospital for X-rays. The Rocket was back in the lineup on St. Patrick's Day as the Canadiens trounced the Rangers 7–2 and Richard had the hat trick. Rookie Glenn Hall had 12 shutouts and a 2.11 goals-against average for the Detroit Red Wings. He received the Calder Memorial Trophy over Henri "Pocket Rocket" Richard. Final standings Playoffs 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 Final. 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). Semifinals Stanley Cup Final 1 Montreal 4 3 New York 1 2 Detroit 4 4 Toronto 1 1 Montreal 4 2 Detroit 1 Semifinals (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) New York Rangers New York Rangers Montreal Canadiens Madison Square Garden III Montreal Forum March 20 1–7 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mtl/1956/03/20/1955030111#game=1955030111,game_state=final No scoring 13:29 – Bernie Geoffrion (1) Jack Evans (1) – 06:45 04:17 – Maurice Richard (1)17:48 – pp – Bernie Geoffrion (2)18:30 – pp – Maurice Richard (2) No scoring 01:55 – Maurice Richard (3)14:33 – Dickie Moore (1)15:32 – Jean Beliveau (1) Gump Worsley 37 saves / 44 shots Jacques Plante 21 saves / 22 shots March 22 4–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mtl/1956/03/22/1955030112#game=1955030112,game_state=final Andy Hebenton (1) – 03:45Jean-Guy Gendron (1) pp – 14:41 07:38 – Jean Beliveau (2) No scoring 11:20 – pp – Claude Provost (1) Bronco Horvath (1) – pp – 00:42Dean Prentice (1) – 14:10 No scoring Gordie Bell 32 saves / 34 shots Jacques Plante 23 saves / 27 shots March 24 3–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-nyr/1956/03/24/1955030113#game=1955030113,game_state=final 16:02 – Jean-Guy Gendron (2) Ken Mosdell (1) – 14:42 No scoring Bert Olmstead (1) – 16:24 No scoring Bert Olmstead (2) – en – 19:48 Gump Worsley 21 saves / 23 shots Jacques Plante 9 saves / 10 shots March 25 5–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-nyr/1956/03/25/1955030114#game=1955030114,game_state=final 16:26 – Wally Hergesheimer (1)18:57 – pp – Bill Gadsby (1) Bert Olmstead (3) – pp – 02:11Bert Olmstead (4) – 13:33 No scoring Jean Beliveau (3) – pp – 02:22Claude Provost (2) – 03:22 15:04 – Andy Bathgate (1) Jean Beliveau (4) – 08:16 Gump Worsley 28 saves / 33 shots Jacques Plante 18 saves / 21 shots March 27 0–7 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-mtl/1956/03/27/1955030115#game=1955030115,game_state=final No scoring 08:24 – pp – Doug Harvey (1) No scoring 03:11 – Dickie Moore (2)06:10 – Henri Richard (1)13:00 – pp – Doug Harvey (2)15:35 – Jean Beliveau (5) No scoring 08:49 – Henri Richard (2)13:28 – Dickie Moore (3) Gordie Bell 29 saves / 36 shots Jacques Plante 29 saves / 29 shots Montreal won series 4–1 (2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings Maple Leaf Gardens Olympia Stadium March 20 2–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1956/03/20/1955030121#game=1955030121,game_state=final George Armstrong (1) – pp – 11:57 No scoring Ron Stewart (1) – 11:31 No scoring No scoring 00:58 – Gordie Howe (1)05:12 – Johnny Bucyk (1)05:56 – Alex Delvecchio (1) Harry Lumley 32 saves / 35 shots Glenn Hall 28 saves / 30 shots March 22 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1956/03/22/1955030122#game=1955030122,game_state=final George Armstrong (2) – 05:09 No scoring No scoring 05:40 – Alex Delvecchio (2)19:05 – Ted Lindsay (1) No scoring 14:39 – Lorne Ferguson (1) Harry Lumley 37 saves / 40 shots Glenn Hall 21 saves / 22 shots March 24 5–4 1 2 hwww.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1956/03/24/1955030123#game=1955030123,game_state=final 00:29 – George Armstrong (3)16:33 – pp – Brian Cullen (1) Red Kelly (1) – 12:27 13:20 – sh – Gerry James (1) No scoring 07:40 – pp – George Armstrong (4) Metro Prystai (1) – 02:46Gordie Howe (2) – 09:11Ted Lindsay (2) – 14:25 No scoring Ted Lindsay (3) – 04:22 Harry Lumley 33 saves / 38 shots Glenn Hall 39 saves / 43 shots March 27 0–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-tor/1956/03/27/1955030124#game=1955030124,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 10:58 – Billy Harris (1) No scoring 03:15 – Sid Smith (1) No scoring Harry Lumley 33 saves / 33 shots Glenn Hall 30 saves / 32 shots March 29 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/tor-vs-det/1956/03/29/1955030125#game=1955030125,game_state=final Dick Duff (1) – pp – 05:34 08:38 – pp – Alex Delvecchio (3)14:49 – Alex Delvecchio (4) No scoring No scoring No scoring 19:35 – en – Ted Lindsay (4) Harry Lumley 28 saves / 30 shots Glenn Hall 22 saves / 23 shots Detroit won series 4–1 Stanley Cup Final 1956 Stanley Cup Final Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Olympia Stadium Montreal Forum March 31 4–6 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-mtl/1956/03/31/1955030211#game=1955030211,game_state=final Alex Delvecchio (5) – pp – 08:17 No scoring Bill Dineen (1) – 03:45Ted Lindsay (5) – 08:11Alex Delvecchio (6) – pp – 11:20 03:00 – pp – Jean Beliveau (6)06:40 – Henri Richard (3) No scoring 05:20 – Jack LeClair (1)06:20 – Bernie Geoffrion (3)07:31 – Jean Beliveau (7)10:49 – Claude Provost (3) Glenn Hall 38 saves / 44 shots Jacques Plante 23 saves / 27 shots April 3 1–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-mtl/1956/04/03/1955030212#game=1955030212,game_state=final No scoring 07:23 – pp – Donnie Marshall (1) No scoring 11:37 – Henri Richard (4)14:38 – Bernie Geoffrion (4) Norm Ullman (1) – 00:31 02:48 – Jean Beliveau (8)19:21 – Maurice Richard (4) Glenn Hall 30 saves / 35 shots Jacques Plante 19 saves / 20 shots April 5 1–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-det/1956/04/05/1955030213#game=1955030213,game_state=final 14:27 – pp – Red Kelly (2) Jean Beliveau (9) – 19:20 No scoring No scoring 11:36 – Ted Lindsay (6)18:12 – Gordie Howe (3) No scoring Glenn Hall 20 saves / 21 shots Jacques Plante 22 saves / 25 shots April 8 3–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-det/1956/04/08/1955030214#game=1955030214,game_state=final No scoring Jean Beliveau (10) – 15:52 No scoring Jean Beliveau (11) – 11:39 No scoring Floyd Curry (1) – 11:34 Glenn Hall 27 saves / 30 shots Jacques Plante 24 saves / 24 shots April 10 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-mtl/1956/04/10/1955030215#game=1955030215,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 14:16 – pp – Jean Beliveau (12)15:08 – pp – Maurice Richard (5) Alex Delvecchio (7) – 00:35 00:13 – Bernie Geoffrion (5) Glenn Hall 27 saves / 30 shots Jacques Plante 25 saves / 26 shots Montreal won series 4–1 Awards + Award winnersPrince of Wales Trophy:(Regular season champion) Montreal CanadiensArt Ross Trophy:(Top scorer) Jean Beliveau, Montreal CanadiensCalder Memorial Trophy:(Best first-year player) Glenn Hall, Detroit Red WingsHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Jean Beliveau, Montreal CanadiensJames Norris Memorial Trophy:(Best defenceman) Doug Harvey, Montreal CanadiensLady Byng Memorial Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Earl Reibel, Detroit Red WingsVezina Trophy:(Goaltender of team with the best goals-against average) Jacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens All-Star teams First team   Position   Second teamJacques Plante, Montreal Canadiens GGlenn Hall, Detroit Red WingsDoug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens DRed Kelly, Detroit Red WingsBill Gadsby, New York Rangers DTom Johnson, Montreal CanadiensJean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens CTod Sloan, Toronto Maple LeafsMaurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens RWGordie Howe, Detroit Red WingsTed 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 Jean Beliveau Montreal Canadiens 70 47 41 88 143 Gordie Howe Detroit Red Wings 70 38 41 79 100 Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens 70 38 33 71 89 Bert Olmstead Montreal Canadiens 70 14 56 70 94 Tod Sloan Toronto Maple Leafs 70 37 29 66 100 Andy Bathgate New York Rangers 70 19 47 66 59 Bernie Geoffrion Montreal Canadiens 59 29 33 62 66 Earl Reibel Detroit Red Wings 68 17 39 56 10 Alex Delvecchio Detroit Red Wings 70 25 26 51 24 Dave Creighton New York Rangers 70 20 31 51 43 Source: NHLDinger 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 SOJacques Plante Montreal Canadiens 64 3840 119 1.86 42 12 10 7Glenn Hall Detroit Red Wings 70 4200 147 2.10 30 24 16 12Terry Sawchuk Boston Bruins 68 4080 177 2.60 22 33 13 9Harry Lumley Toronto Maple Leafs 59 3527 159 2.70 21 28 10 3Lorne Worsley New York Rangers 70 4200 199 2.84 32 28 10 4Al Rollins Chicago Black Hawks 58 3480 172 2.97 17 30 11 3 Coaches Boston Bruins: Milt Schmidt Chicago Black Hawks: Dick Irvin Detroit Red Wings: Jimmy Skinner Montreal Canadiens: Toe Blake New York Rangers: Phil Watson Toronto Maple Leafs: King Clancy Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1955–56 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings Henri Richard, Montreal Canadiens Claude Provost, Montreal Canadiens Bob Turner, Montreal Canadiens Bronco Horvath, New York Rangers Andy Hebenton, New York Rangers Jean-Guy Gendron, New York Rangers Billy Harris, Toronto Maple Leafs Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1955–56 (listed with their last team): Bill Quackenbush, Boston Bruins Ed Sandford, Chicago Black Hawks Bob Goldham, Detroit Red Wings Emile "Butch" Bouchard, Montreal Canadiens Don Raleigh, New York Rangers Joe Klukay, Toronto Maple Leafs Broadcasting This was the fourth season of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television. Coverage included selected Stanley Cup playoff games. Both regular season and playoff games were not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season, and were typically joined in progress, while the radio version of HNIC aired games in their entirety. See also 1955–56 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 9th National Hockey League All-Star Game National Hockey League All-Star Game Ice hockey at the 1956 Winter Olympics 1955 in sports 1956 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 Notes External links Hockey Database NHL.com 1955 Category:1955–56 in American ice hockey by league Category:1955–56 in Canadian ice hockey by league