1962-63 NHL season
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The 1962-63 NHL season was the 46th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second Stanley Cup in a row as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to one.
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[edit] Regular season
Some diversionary news hit the sports pages the day of the All-star game when it was reported that Frank Mahovlich had been sold to Chicago for $1 million and James D. Norris produced a cheque for the amount. On the advice of Conn Smythe, Punch Imlach declined the deal, Imlach stating that a million dollars doesn't score goals, and Mahovlich would remain a Maple Leaf.
A serious incident took place October 23rd between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks. A vicious stick-swinging duel took place between Gilles Tremblay and Reg Fleming that was said to be the worst since the Geoffrion-Murphy fight in 1953. Both players received match penalties and $100 fines. Tremblay emerged with a bad cut on his head that required many stitches. Coach Toe Blake had some caustic remarks for Fleming when he was leaving the ice which almost resulted in another fight. The Canadiens and Back Hawks played to a 4-4 tie. President Campbell suspended Tremblay and Fleming for three games.
Glenn Hall's consecutive game streak came to an end November 8th when he suffered a pinched nerve in his back and he was relieved by Denis DeJordy in the first period of a game Chicago tied Boston 3-3. DeJordy played well in the next game as the Black Hawks beat the Canadiens 3-1.
Chicago was improving ans moved into a first place tie with Detroit when they blanked Boston 5-0 November 29th. Mikita scored two goals and Bobby Hull had one. The same night, the Rangers shut out the Red Wings 5-0 as Gump Worsley played a fine game. Worsley was unlucky in his next game as Chicago beat the Rangers 5-1. Worsley badly injured his shoulder and had to be replaced by Marcel Pelletier. Gump went to the hospital where he would have his shoulder in traction for ten days.
Andy Hebenton had the hat trick December 16th as the Rangers beat Detroit 5-2 at Madison Square Garden. The game was spoiled by a brawl, the chief participants being Dave Balon, Bill Gadsby, Doug Barkley and Terry Sawchuk. All were fined.
Andy Bathgate got both goals when they tied Montreal 2-2 at the Forum January 5th. This was the tenth consecutive game in which he had scored. The streak was terminated when Jacques Plante blanked the Rangers 6-0 in New York.
Jean Beliveau scored his 300th NHL goal January 26th when the Rangers beat the Canadiens 4-2 at the Forum. Goals had not come very fast this year, and he hinted that this might be his last season. The writers didn't take him seriously, however. The next night, the Canadiens beat the Black Hawks 3-1 at Chicago Stadium and Beliveau scored a spectacular goal, giving a beautiful exhibition of stickhandling.
Bernie Geoffrion and Don Marshall were back January 31rst, but the Canadiens lost 6-3 to Toronto at the Forum. Coach Toe Blake was not pleased with the officiating and was quoted in a French newspaper that referee Eddie Powers handled the game as if he had bet on the outcome. This attracted the attention of NHL president Clarence Campbell who said the matter would be investigated. Later, Blake was fined $200 by Campbell. Powers considered the fine inadequate and submitted his resignation as a referee. He cited Red Storey when Campbell wouldn't support decisions he made. Powers then sued Blake for libel.
Bobby Hull scored all three goals as Chicago beat Boston 3-1 February 17th. On the same night, Montreal beat Detroit 6-1 and Howie Young established a penalty record when he high-sticked a Canadiens player and then commenced a tantrum which drew him a minor, major, moisconduct and game misconduct totalling 27 minutes. His season total was now 208 minutes in penalties. NHL president Campbell then tacked on a three game suspension.
Detroit ousted the Rangers from the playoffs March 3rd with a 3-2 win.
Bernie Geoffrion was in trouble for an incident during a game March 5th that Montreal won 4-3. Referee Vern Buffey had given Jacques Plante a penalty for slashing Howie Young and then a bench penalty when the Canadiens protested. Geoffrion threw his stick at Buffey and his gloves as well. Geoffrion was given a match penalty and president Campbell assessed Geoffrion a five game suspension.
Lou Fontinato's career came to a tragic end March 9th when he tried to check Vic Hadfield and instead was thrown headlong into the boards by the Ranger player. Fontinato lay motionless on the ice for some time before being carried off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Montreal General Hospital where the diagnosis was a fractured neck, a crushed cervical vertebra. He gradually recovered from his paralyzed condition, but would never play hockey again. Jacques Laperriere replaced Fontinato on the Canadiens defence.
It was quite a race for playoff positions as 5 points separated fourth and first. Gordie Howe lead the Red Wings and the NHL as he won his sixth and last Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy.
[edit] Final standings
GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties In Minutes
Teams that qualified for playoffs are highlighted in bold
| National Hockey League | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 35 | 23 | 12 | 82 | 221 | 180 | 816 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 70 | 32 | 21 | 17 | 81 | 194 | 178 | 906 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 28 | 19 | 23 | 79 | 225 | 183 | 751 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 32 | 25 | 13 | 77 | 200 | 194 | 964 |
| New York Rangers | 70 | 22 | 36 | 12 | 56 | 211 | 233 | 657 |
| Boston Bruins | 70 | 14 | 39 | 17 | 45 | 198 | 281 | 636 |
[edit] 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 | 38 | 48 | 86 | 100 |
| Andy Bathgate | New York Rangers | 70 | 35 | 46 | 81 | 54 |
| Stan Mikita | Chicago Black Hawks | 65 | 31 | 45 | 76 | 69 |
| Frank Mahovlich | Toronto Maple Leafs | 67 | 36 | 37 | 73 | 56 |
| Henri Richard | Montreal Canadiens | 67 | 23 | 50 | 73 | 57 |
[edit] Leading goaltenders
[edit] Stanley Cup playoffs
[edit] Playoff bracket
| Semifinals | Finals | |||||||
| 1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 | ||||||
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | 1 | ||||||
| 1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 | ||||||
| 4 | Detroit Red Wings | 1 | ||||||
| 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2 | ||||||
| 4 | Detroit Red Wings | 4 | ||||||
[edit] NHL awards
[edit] See also
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- 16th National Hockey League All-Star Game
- National Hockey League All-Star Game
- 1962 in sports
- 1963 in sports
[edit] References
| NHL seasons |
|---|
|
1958-59 | 1959-60 | 1960-61 | 1961-62 | 1962-63 | 1963-64 | 1964-65 | 1965-66 | 1966-67 |
