1945–46 NHL season

Professional ice hockey league season August 2023 1945–46 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey October 24, 1945 – April 9, 1946 Regular season 50 6 Season champion Montreal Canadiens Max Bentley (Black Hawks) Hart Memorial Trophy Max Bentley (Black Hawks) Stanley Cup 1946 Stanley Cup Finals Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins 1946–47 NHL season 1944–45 NHL season 1946–47 1944–45 NHL The 1945–46 NHL season was the 29th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams played 50 games each. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Boston Bruins for the team's sixth championship. League business Since World War II had ended, the NHL and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) reverted to the pre-war agreement not to sign any junior ice hockey players without permission. CAHA secretary George Dudley stated that tryout contracts must be honoured, and junior-aged players on NHL reserve lists must be reinstated as amateurs to return to the CAHA. The wartime practice of the NHL borrowing amateur players for three games or less was discontinued.Pros Agree Not To Sign Juniors September 19, 1945 Medicine Hat Daily News Medicine Hat, Alberta 5 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-19-1945-1553012/ The NHL and the CAHA discussed updates to the financial terms of the agreement. The NHL offered a flat payment of $20,000 to signing amateurs, which Dudley felt was too low.C.A.H.A. Wants Best Deal Possible May 17, 1946 Lethbridge Herald Lethbridge, Alberta 11 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-17-1971-1526358/ The CAHA ultimately accepted the lump sum payment, preferring not to break its alliance with the NHL.C.A.H.A. and N.H.L. Reach Hockey Player Agreement June 20, 1946 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 16 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-20-1946-1553878/C.A.H.A. Not Satisfied December 30, 1946 Winnipeg Tribune Winnipeg, Manitoba 20 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-30-1946-1553933/ Synchronized red lights to signal goals were made obligatory for all NHL rinks.https://records.nhl.com/history/historical-rule-changes Historical Rule Changes NHL Enterprises, L. P. records.NHL.com June 17, 2024 It was rumoured in the press that Lester Patrick planned to retire as general manager of the New York Rangers. On February 22, 1946, he announced his retirement from the general manager position, however he would stay on as vice president of Madison Square Garden.Boucher Frayne 1973 192 The NHL and the International Ice Hockey Association agreed to mutually enforce suspensions for players not fulfilling a tryout contract.Allan Cup Finals Awarded To West January 2, 1946 Winnipeg Tribune Winnipeg, Manitoba 11 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-02-1946-1475539/ Regular season Veterans came back to their teams this year, as World War II ended, but many found they could not regain their form. One who did regain his form was the man formerly known as "Mr. Zero"—Boston Bruins' goaltender Frank Brimsek. He was shelled in an 8–3 contest with Chicago, but got better game by game. The Bruins had first place at one point, then finished second. Brimsek made the Second All-Star Team as a result. Max Bentley of Chicago led the league in scoring, and, because of the "Pony Line" that including him, his brother Doug and Bill Mosienko, the Black Hawks were in first place at one point. But misfortune hit the Hawks when Doug Bentley injured his knee in a January 23 game and the team sagged. Frank Patrick, former Pacific Coast Hockey Association president and former managing director for the NHL, suffered a heart attack and was not released from the hospital for several weeks. A bombshell exploded on January 30, 1946, when defenceman Babe Pratt was expelled from the NHL for betting on games. However, he only bet on his own team and appealed his expulsion. On his promise he would not bet on any more games, he was reinstated. Pratt missed 9 games during his suspension. Maple Leaf Gaye Stewart led the league in goals with 37, but Toronto finished fifth and missed the playoffs for the first time since playing at Maple Leaf Gardens. Bill Durnan equalled George Hainsworth's record of three consecutive Vezina Trophies and led the league in shutouts with 4. 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 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 Montreal 4 3 Chicago 0 2 Boston 4 4 Detroit 1 1 Montreal 4 2 Boston 1 Semifinals (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) Chicago Black Hawks The Montreal Canadiens finished first in the league with 61 points. The Chicago Blackhawks finished third with 53 points. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the six previous series. They last met in the 1944 Stanley Cup Finals where Montreal won in four games. Montreal won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points. Chicago Black Hawks Montreal Canadiens Chicago Stadium Montreal Forum March 19 2–6 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1946/03/19/1945030111#game=1945030111,game_state=final George Gee (1) – pp – 17:25 08:33 – Dutch Hiller (1) No scoring 08:32 – Elmer Lach (1)16:29 – pp – Billy Reay (1)16:48 – pp – Dutch Hiller (2) Bill Mosienko (1) – pp – 12:22 10:29 – Toe Blake (1)14:40 – Maurice Richard (1) Mike Karakas Bill Durnan March 21 1–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-mtl/1946/03/21/1945030112#game=1945030112,game_state=final Clint Smith (1) – 19:13 06:40 – Bob Fillion (1)09:14 – Jimmy Peters (1)09:45 – Maurice Richard (2) No scoring 10:02 – Ken Mosdell (1) No scoring 14:45 – Jimmy Peters (2) Mike Karakas Bill Durnan March 24 8–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1946/03/24/1945030113#game=1945030113,game_state=final 15:06 – Max Bentley (1)18:17 – pp – Clint Smith (2) Toe Blake (2) – 12:42Buddy O'Connor (1) – pp – 14:07 No scoring Buddy O'Connor (2) – 04:09Ken Mosdell (2) – 09:31Murph Chamberlain (1) – 15:36 No scoring Toe Blake (3) – 09:40Maurice Richard (3) – 10:36Bob Fillion (2) – 14:34 Mike Karakas Bill Durnan March 26 7–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-chi/1946/03/26/1945030114#game=1945030114,game_state=final 11:26 – Bill Mosienko (2) Toe Blake (4) – pp – 06:04Maurice Richard (4) – pp – 12:01 10:27 – Red Hamill (1) Toe Blake (5) – 10:54Murph Chamberlain (2) – sh – 18:05 No scoring Elmer Lach (2) – 09:55Toe Blake (6) – pp – 17:33Ken Reardon (1) – 18:42 Mike Karakas Bill Durnan Montreal wins 4–0 (2) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings The Boston Bruins finished second in the league with 56 points. The Detroit Red Wings finished fourth with 50 points. This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with Detroit winning the three of the four previous series. They last met in the previous year's Stanley Cup Semifinals where the Red Wings won in seven games. Boston won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points. Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins Olympia Stadium Boston Garden March 19 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1946/03/19/1945030121#game=1945030121,game_state=final No scoring 03:11 – sh – Pat Egan (1)19:05 – Bill Shill (1) Harry Watson (1) – 07:51 No scoring No scoring 11:43 – Bep Guidolin (1) Harry Lumley Frank Brimsek March 21 3–0 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1946/03/21/1945030122#game=1945030122,game_state=final Pat Lundy (1) – 07:32Jim Conacher (1) – 12:58 No scoring No scoring No scoring Harry Watson (2) – 19:22 No scoring Harry Lumley Frank Brimsek March 24 5–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1946/03/24/1945030123#game=1945030123,game_state=final No scoring Milt Schmidt (1) – 02:50 No scoring Woody Dumart (1) – 04:51 12:42 – Fern Gauthier (1)13:25 – Carl Liscombe (1) Pat Egan (2) – 00:25Milt Schmidt (2) – 01:51Woody Dumart (2) – 11:10 Harry Lumley Frank Brimsek March 26 4–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/1946/03/26/1945030124#game=1945030124,game_state=final No scoring Bobby Bauer (1) – 02:08Woody Dumart (3) – 14:54 No scoring No scoring 11:00 – Fern Gauthier (2) Bep Guidolin (2) – 04:08Terry Reardon (1) – 11:30 Harry Lumley Frank Brimsek March 28 3–4 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-bos/1946/03/28/1945030125#game=1945030125,game_state=final No scoring 07:04 – Bep Guidolin (3)14:03 – pp – Bobby Bauer (2) Fern Gauthier (3) – 11:00 No scoring Adam Brown (1) – 12:55Eddie Bruneteau (1) – 19:13 04:24 – Terry Reardon (2) No scoring 09:51 – Don Gallinger (1) Harry Lumley Frank Brimsek Boston won series 4–1 Stanley Cup Finals 1946 Stanley Cup Finals This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the four previous series. They last met in the 1943 Stanley Cup Semifinals where Boston won in five games. Montreal won this year's ten game regular season series earning eleven of twenty points. Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens Boston Garden Montreal Forum March 30 3–4 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1946/03/30/1945030211#game=1945030211,game_state=final No scoring No scoring Bep Guidolin (4) – 05:09Woody Dumart (4) – 08:02 00:21 – pp – Butch Bouchard (1)03:19 – Bob Fillion (3) Jack Crawford (1) – 14:04 16:23 – Murph Chamberlain (3) No scoring 09:08 – Maurice Richard (5) Frank Brimsek Bill Durnan April 2 2–3 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1946/04/02/1945030212#game=1945030212,game_state=final Pat Egan (3) – 10:55 01:06 – Elmer Lach (3) Bobby Bauer (3) – 03:04 No scoring No scoring 10:10 – Butch Bouchard (2) No scoring 16:55 – Jimmy Peters (3) Frank Brimsek Bill Durnan April 4 4–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1946/04/04/1945030213#game=1945030213,game_state=final 11:01 – Bep Guidolin (5) Elmer Lach (4) – 10:14Glen Harmon (1) – pp – 14:13 18:41 – Terry Reardon (3) No scoring No scoring Ken Mosdell (3) – 02:45Dutch Hiller (3) – 05:18 Frank Brimsek Bill Durnan April 7 2–3 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-bos/1946/04/07/1945030214#game=1945030214,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 08:05 – Murray Henderson (1) Maurice Richard (6) – 13:46 03:01 – Don Gallinger (2) Maurice Richard (7) – 04:04 15:13 – Terry Reardon (4) No scoring Frank Brimsek Bill Durnan April 9 3–6 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-mtl/1946/04/09/1945030215#game=1945030215,game_state=final Bill Cowley (1) – p – 05:42Bobby Bauer (4) – 14:01 09:55 – Bob Fillion (4)15:51 – Elmer Lach (5)18:28 – Ken Mosdell (4) Milt Schmidt (3) – 07:15 No scoring No scoring 11:06 – Toe Blake (7)14:05 – Murph Chamberlain (4)17:13 – Dutch Hiller (4) Frank Brimsek Bill Durnan Montreal won series 4–1 Awards The NHL changed the criteria for the Vezina Trophy to award it to the goaltender who plays the most games for the team which gives up the fewest goals in the season. + Award winners O'Brien Cup:(Stanley Cup runner-up) Boston BruinsPrince of Wales Trophy:(Regular season champion) Montreal CanadiensCalder Memorial Trophy:(Best first-year player) Edgar Laprade, New York RangersHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Max Bentley, Chicago Black HawksLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Toe Blake, Montreal CanadiensVezina Trophy:(Goaltender of team with lowest GAA) Bill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens +All-Star teams First team   Position   Second teamBill Durnan, Montreal Canadiens GFrank Brimsek, Boston BruinsJack Crawford, Boston Bruins DKen Reardon, Montreal CanadiensEmile "Butch" Bouchard, Montreal Canadiens DJack Stewart, Detroit Red WingsMax Bentley, Chicago Black Hawks CElmer Lach, Montreal CanadiensMaurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens RWBill Mosienko, Chicago Black HawksGaye Stewart, Toronto Maple Leafs LWToe Blake, Montreal CanadiensDick Irvin, Montreal Canadiens CoachJohnny Gottselig, Chicago Black Hawks 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 Max Bentley Chicago Black Hawks 47 31 30 61 6 Gaye Stewart Toronto Maple Leafs 50 37 15 52 8 Toe Blake Montreal Canadiens 50 29 21 50 2 Clint Smith Chicago Black Hawks 50 26 24 50 2 Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens 50 27 22 49 50 Bill Mosienko Chicago Black Hawks 40 18 30 48 12 Ab DeMarco New York Rangers 50 20 27 47 20 Elmer Lach Montreal Canadiens 50 13 34 47 34 Alex Kaleta Chicago Black Hawks 49 19 27 46 17 Billy Taylor Toronto Maple Leafs 48 23 18 41 14 Source: NHLDinger 2011 148 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 SOBill Durnan Montreal Canadiens 40 2400 104 2.60 24 11 5 4Harry Lumley Detroit Red Wings 50 3000 159 3.18 20 20 10 2Frank Brimsek Boston Bruins 34 2040 111 3.26 16 14 4 2Mike Karakas Chicago Black Hawks 48 2880 166 3.46 22 19 7 1Turk Broda Toronto Maple Leafs 15 900 53 3.53 6 6 3 0Frank McCool Toronto Maple Leafs 22 1320 81 3.68 10 9 3 0Chuck Rayner New York Rangers 40 2377 149 3.76 12 21 7 1Jim Henry New York Rangers 11 623 42 4.04 1 7 2 1 Coaches Boston Bruins: Dit Clapper Chicago Black Hawks: Johnny Gottselig Detroit Red Wings: Jack Adams Montreal Canadiens: Dick Irvin New York Rangers: Frank Boucher Toronto Maple Leafs: Hap Day Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1945–46 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Leo Reise Jr., Chicago Black Hawks George Gee, Chicago Black Hawks Jimmy Peters, Montreal Canadiens Cal Gardner, New York Rangers Edgar Laprade, New York Rangers Tony Leswick, New York Rangers Jimmy Thomson, Toronto Maple Leafs Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1945–46 (listed with their last team): Herb Cain, Boston Bruins (Last active Montreal Maroons player) Mike Karakas, Chicago Black Hawks Carl Liscombe, Detroit Red Wings Earl Seibert, Detroit Red Wings Flash Hollett, Detroit Red Wings (Last active Ottawa Senators player) Mud Bruneteau, Detroit Red Wings Syd Howe, Detroit Red Wings (last active Philadelphia Quakers player) Ott Heller, New York Rangers Lynn Patrick, New York Rangers Frank McCool, Toronto Maple Leafs Bob Davidson, Toronto Maple Leafs Sweeney Schriner, Toronto Maple Leafs Lorne Carr, Toronto Maple Leafs Mel Hill, Toronto Maple Leafs See also 1945–46 NHL transactions List of Stanley Cup champions 1945 in sports 1946 in sports References Boucher Frank Frank Boucher Frayne Trent When the Rangers Were Young 1973 Dodd, Mead & Company New York City 0-396-06852-9 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 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 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 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 1945 Category:1945–46 in American ice hockey by league Category:1945–46 in Canadian ice hockey by league