1963–64 NHL season

1963–64 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 8, 1963 – April 25, 1964
Number of games	70
Number of teams	6
Regular season
Season champion	Montreal Canadiens
Season MVP	Jean Beliveau (Canadiens)
Top scorer	Stan Mikita (Black Hawks)
Stanley Cup
Finals champions	Toronto Maple Leafs
Runners-up	Detroit Red Wings
NHL seasons
← 1962–63 1964–65 →

The 1963–64 NHL season was the 47th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs won their third consecutive Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings four games to three in the final series.

Offseason

The biggest trade of the offseason took place in June, 1963, with the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens swapping starting goaltenders. Ranger Gump Worsley went to Montreal, along with Dave Balon, Leon Rochefort and minor-leaguer Len Ronson, for six-time Vezina Trophy winner Jacques Plante – whose relationship with Canadiens' coach Toe Blake had seriously soured – along with Don Marshall and Phil Goyette. Among other noteworthy transactions was the Boston Bruins drafting former Norris Trophy winner Tom Johnson from Montreal. Howie Young of the Red Wings, who'd likewise worn out his welcome in Detroit, was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks for goaltender Roger Crozier, who would make an immediate impact in Detroit. Billy Reay, the former coach of the Maple Leafs who had been coaching the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, was named coach of the Black Hawks, a position he would hold for a record thirteen seasons.

At the league meeting on June 5, the governors noted the death of William Northey, who had died in April at age 92, and established a memorial on behalf of Montreal Children's Hospital in Northey's name. It was announced at the league's October 4 meeting that Ron Andrews would replace Ken McKenzie, whose work as publisher and editor of The Hockey News was taking priority, as the NHL's director of publicity. Furthermore, the waiver rules were liberalized, so that a player not on the 20-man protected list submitted in June could be dispatched to the minors without clearing waivers.

The 17th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on October 5 in Toronto and resulted in a 3–3 tie between the Stanley Cup champion Maple Leafs and the NHL All-Stars. Frank Mahovlich, who scored on two of Toronto's goals and assisted on the third, was named Most Valuable Player. Stan Mikita of the Black Hawks, the First Team All-Star center, at the time unsigned, was not permitted to play. Unusually, six All-Stars were named from the Boston Bruins – John Bucyk, Leo Boivin, Murray Oliver, Dean Prentice, Doug Mohns and Tom Johnson – the most of any other team, although the Bruins had finished the 1963 season in last place.

Regular season

acques Plante made his debut as a Ranger October 9th in Chicago and it was a rough game for him, losing 3-1 and being cut by an elbow of Johnny McKenzie.

Gordie Howe scored two goals in Detroit's opener as the Red Wings beat Chicago 5-3. Howe was now only two goals shy of Maurice Richard's all-time career goal scoring record.

Montreal handed the Rangers a 6-2 pasting in their opener at the Forum. The fans both cheered and jeered Jacques Plante, now a Ranger.

Montreal defeated Detroit 6-4 in Detroit, but the highlight of the game was Gordie Howe scoring his 544th goal to tie Maurice Richard and he drew a five minute ovation. Worsley was the victim of the goal.

Toronto defeated Montreal 6-3 at the Forum October 30th in a penalty-filled game. The main event was put on by Terry Harper and Bob Pulford who drew majors. Gump Worsley badly pulled his hamstring and would be replaced by Charlie Hodge for the season.

The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 November 10th. While the Wings were a man short, Gordie Howe scored on Charlie Hodge for his 545th career goal, breaking Maurice Richard's record. Yet another record was tied by Terry Sawchuk when he recorded his 94th career NHL shutout, tying him with George Hainsworth as the all-time NHL shutout leader.

Chicago defeated Toronto 2-0 November 28th, and Johnny McKenzie was severely injured when sandwiched by Bobby Baun and Carl Brewer. He was taken to hospital and an operation was performed on his spleen.

There was a lengthy delay in the start of a game between Detroit and Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens November 30th while the ice surface was repaired. A rodeo had been held and the cleaning job took longer than expected. Despite a terrible ice surface, a ragged game was played that ended in a 1-1 tie. Roger Crozier was hit with a slap shot by Frank Mahovlich but returned after a ten minute rest. The plucky goalkeeper had sustained a double fracture of the cheekbone and was unable to play the next night. The game was delayed for 20 minutes while Hank Bassen was located to replace Crozier. Toronto won the game 4-1.

December 7, 1963 brawl

Toronto blanked Chicago 3-0 December 7th in a wild brawl. Three minutes before the end of the game, Reg Fleming speared Eddie Shack, and after the Chicago player entered the penalty box, Bobby Baun decided to drag him out. Both benches emptied and a free-for-all started, and seven major penalties, six misconducts, three game misconducts and $25 fines were assessed against 22 players who left the benches. The game was completed with each team two men short. NHL president Clarence Campbell fined coaches Billy Reay and Punch Imlach $1000 for allowing their players to fight. Fleming was fined $200, Baun $150, Larry Hillman $150, Murray Balfour $100, and Carl Brewer $50. The 22 players that left the bench were fined $100 each.

Johnny Bower got his third consecutive shutout January 4th with a 3-0 win over Chicago. Mahovlich scored two goals in the win. During the game, the Black Hawks got a bench penalty and Reg Fleming was chosen to serve it. Fleming mocked referee Vern Buffey by applauding which led to a misconduct penalty, after which Fleming bumped Buffey and was given a game misconduct.

On January 18th, Terry Sawchuk broke George Hainsworth's record of career NHL shutouts with his 95th in a 2-0 win over Montreal. Hainsworth still held the major league record with 104, 10 in the Western Hockey League. That same night, Boston, the laughing stock of the league, had some laughs of their own when they walked right into Toronto and clobbered the Leafs 11-0, Andy Hebenton and Dean Prentice each scoring hat tricks. Next, the Bruins walked right into the Forum in Montreal January 25th and whitewashed the Canadiens 6-0, and then shut out Toronto 2-0 the next night.

On February 1st, Bobby Rousseau joined the elite who have scored five goals in a game when he scored five against Detroit in a 9-3 trouncing of Detroit.

On February 5th, the Rangers had a 2-1 lead late in the third period when Andy Hebenton and Orland Kurtenbach scored 27 seconds of each other to give the Bruins a 3-2 win.

A trade that was rumoured most of the season finally took place when the New York Rangers traded Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney to Toronto in exchange for Dick Duff, Bob Nevin, Arnie Brown, Bill Collins and Rod Seiling. Ranger fans did not like the deal and in the next game chants of "Muzz must go!" were heard(referring to Muzz Patrick, Rangers general manager.)

Wildor Larochelle, a former Canadiens player of the early 1930's, died March 23rd at age 58.

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

National Hockey League	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Montreal Canadiens	70	36	21	13	85	209	167	982
Chicago Black Hawks	70	36	22	12	84	218	169	1116
Toronto Maple Leafs	70	33	25	12	78	192	172	928
Detroit Red Wings	70	30	29	11	71	191	204	771
New York Rangers	70	22	38	10	54	186	242	715
Boston Bruins	70	18	40	12	48	170	212	858

Playoffs

This playoffs saw exactly the same match-ups as the previous season with the two Canadian teams, Toronto and Montreal, and the two American teams, Detroit and Chicago, matching up. As with last season, the Maple Leafs ousted the Canadiens and the Red Wings again defeated the Black Hawks. For the first time since the league began using the best-of-seven playoff format in 1939, all three series went the full seven games.

Semifinals

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Date Away Team Home Team Notes March 26 Toronto 0 2 Montreal March 28 Toronto 2 1 Montreal March 31 Montreal 3 2 Toronto [April 2 Montreal 3 5 Toronto April 4 Toronto 2 4 Montreal April 7 Montreal 0 3 Toronto April 9 Toronto 3 1 Montreal Toronto won series 4:3.

Chicago Black Hawks vs. Detroit Red Wings Date Away Team Home Team Notes March 26 Detroit 1 4 Chicago March 28 Detroit 5 4 Chicago March 31 Chicago 0 3 Detroit April 2 Chicago 3 2 Detroit OT April 4 Detroit 2 3 Chicago April 7 Chicago 2 7 Detroit April 9 Detroit 4 2 Chicago Detroit won series 4:3.

Stanley Cup final

The 1964 Stanley Cup final series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings was exciting — possibly one of the most exciting and memorable ones ever. Toronto won the first game by one goal, 3–2, and the second game was won by Detroit by one goal in overtime. The third game saw Detroit win, again by one goal, and take a two games to one series lead. The Leafs came back in game four with a 4–2 victory to tie the series. But game five was won, again by one goal, by Detroit giving the Wings a three games to two lead. Game six saw the second overtime of the series, but before the game went into overtime, Toronto defenceman Bobby Baun stopped a hard shot and was taken off the ice with a broken ankle. He later returned to the game in overtime, with the broken ankle, and scored the game-winning goal. After six close games, game seven was anticlimactic as Toronto handily won 4–0 for the Stanley Cup, their third in a row.

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
April 11	Detroit	2	Toronto	3
April 14	Detroit	4	Toronto	3	OT
April 16	Toronto	3	Detroit	4
April 18	Toronto	4	Detroit	2
April 21	Detroit	2	Toronto	1
April 23	Toronto	4	Detroit	3	OT
April 25	Detroit	0	Toronto	4

Toronto wins Stanley Cup four games to three

Awards

Mid-season

Awards

• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Jacques Laperriere
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Jean Beliveau
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: Pierre Pilote
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Ken Wharram
• Vezina Trophy: Glenn Hall

All-star teams

First Team	Position	Second Team
Glenn Hall, Chicago Blackhawks	G	Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Blackhawks	D	Moose Vasko, Chicago Blackhawks
Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs	D	Bob Baun, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens	C	Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
Kenny Wharram, Chicago Blackhawks	RW	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks	LW	Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Maple Leafs Dave Balon, Montreal Canadiens (tie)

Second Half

Awards

• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Jacques Laperriere
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Jean Beliveau
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: Pierre Pilote
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Ken Wharram
• Vezina Trophy: Charlie Hodge

All-star teams

First Team	Position	Second Team
Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens	G	Glenn Hall, Chicago Blackhawks
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Blackhawks	D	Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens
Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs	D	Moose Vasko, Chicago Blackhawks
Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks	C	Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
Kenny Wharram, Chicago Blackhawks	RW	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks	LW	Camille Henry, New York Rangers

End of season

Awards

• Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Stan Mikita
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Jacques Laperriere
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Jean Beliveau
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: Pierre Pilote
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Ken Wharram
• Vezina Trophy: Charlie Hodge

First All-Star Team

Second All-Star Team

All-Star teams

First team	Position	Second team
Glenn Hall, Chicago Black Hawks	G	Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks	D	Moose Vasko, Chicago Black Hawks
Tim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs	D	Jacques Laperrière, Montreal Canadiens
Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks	C	Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
Kenny Wharram, Chicago Black Hawks	RW	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks	LW	Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Maple Leafs

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
Stan Mikita	Chicago Black Hawks	70	39	50	89	146
Bobby Hull	Chicago Black Hawks	70	43	44	87	50
Jean Beliveau	Montreal Canadiens	68	28	50	78	42
Andy Bathgate	New York Rangers / Toronto Maple Leafs	71	19	58	77	34
Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings	69	26	47	73	70
Kenny Wharram	Chicago Black Hawks	70	39	32	71	18
Murray Oliver	Boston Bruins	70	24	44	68	41
Phil Goyette	New York Rangers	67	24	41	65	15
Rod Gilbert	New York Rangers	70	24	40	64	62
Dave Keon	Toronto Maple Leafs	70	23	37	60	6

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	SO
Johnny Bower	Toronto Maple Leafs	51	3009	106	2.11	24	16	11	5
Charlie Hodge	Montreal Canadiens	62	3720	140	2.26	33	18	11	8
Glenn Hall	Chicago Black Hawks	65	3860	148	2.30	34	19	11	7
Terry Sawchuk	Detroit Red Wings	53	3140	138	2.64	25	20	7	5
Eddie Johnston	Boston Bruins	70	4200	211	3.01	18	40	12	6
Don Simmons	Toronto Maple Leafs	21	1191	63	3.17	9	9	1	3
Jacques Plante	N.Y. Rangers	65	3900	220	3.38	22	36	7	3
Roger Crozier	Detroit Red Wings	15	900	51	3.40	5	6	4	2

Team Photos

• 

  Boston Bruins

• 

  Chicago Black Hawks

• 

  Detroit Red Wings

• 

  Montreal Canadiens

• 

  New York Rangers

• 

  Toronto Maple Leafs

References

• Coleman, Charles L. (1976), Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol III, Sherbrooke, QC: Progressive Publications 
• (1994) in Diamond, Dan: Years of glory, 1942–1967: the National Hockey League's official book of the six-team era. Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-2817-2. 
• (2000) in Diamond, Dan: Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X. 
• (2011) The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5. 
• Dowbiggin, Bruce (2008), The Meaning Of Puck: How Hockey Explains Modern Canada, Toronto: Key Porter Books,  
• (2000) Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd.. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9. 
• Duplacey, James (2008), Hockey’s Book of Firsts, North Dighton, MA: JG Press,  
• (2003) The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc.. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1. 
• McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York, NY: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1. 
• McFarlane, Brian (1969), 50 Years Of Hockey, Winnipeg, MAN: Greywood Publishing, ISBN B000GW45S0 

Notes

External links

• Hockey Database
• NHL.com

National Hockey League seasons

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