1952–53 NHL season

1952–53 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 9, 1952 – April 16, 1953
Number of games	70
Number of teams	6
Regular season
Season champion	Detroit Red Wings
Season MVP	Gordie Howe(Red Wings)
Top scorer	Gordie Howe (Red Wings)
Stanley Cup
Finals champions	Montreal Canadiens
Runners-up	Boston Bruins
NHL seasons
← 1951–52 1953–54 →

The 1952–53 NHL season was the 36th season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Boston Bruins four games to one in the final series.

League business

The NHL almost had a seventh franchise, as the Cleveland Barons applied for a franchise. They were accepted with the proviso that they deposit $425,000 to show good faith, and prove they had sufficient working capital to consort with the other NHL teams. They could not come up with the working capital and transfer of applicants stock to Cleveland residents. As a result, Cleveland was told to apply at a later date.

A big deal was made between Toronto and Chicago as the Maple Leafs shipped Al Rollins, Gus Mortson and Cal Gardner for goaltender Harry Lumley.

Sid Abel was signed by Chicago to be player-coach.

What was rumour became fact in September when Arthur M. Wirtz and James D. Norris became the new owners of the near bankrupt Chicago Black Hawks.

James E. Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings since 1932 and father of James D. Norris, Chicago owner, died of a heart attack December 4, 1952, and his daughter Marguerite became the first female owner of an NHL franchise since Ida Querrie owned the Toronto St. Patricks in 1923 when her husband Charlie transferred his stock in the team to her to avoid paying Eddie Livingstone any money in Livingstone's lawsuit against him

NHL on-ice officials changed to orange-coloured uniforms in March 1953. The officials had worn cream-coloured uniforms which were not distinguishable from some team's home-ice uniforms.

Regular season

For the fifth straight season the Detroit Red Wings lead the league in points. Gordie Howe won the Hart Trophy over Al Rollins, but on the strength of Rollins' goaltending, Chicago made the playoffs for the first time since 1946.

The first NHL game broadcasted in Canada on television occured on 9 October of this year. It was played between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings with the Canadiens winning 2-1. The French language telecast was produced by 24 year old Gerald Renaud. In April of this same season, Toronto Maple Leafs games started being broadcasted with Foster Hewitt calling the action. Conn Smythe, the Leaf's managing director, sold the Leaf's television rights for a paltry $100 a game. In comparison, Leaf games are currently sold for over $700,000 a game.

Highlights

Gump Worsley made his NHL debut October 9, 1952 in goal for the New York Rangers at the Detroit Olympia and lost 5-3, as Ted Lindsay scored in a tip-in on the power play for Worsley's first goal against him. The Production line scored 3 goals that night as Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe also had goals. Marty Pavelich scored what proved to be the winning goal.

On November 8, 14,562 fans were in attendance at the Montreal Forum when the Canadiens beat Chicago 6-4. Elmer Lach scored his 200th career goal. Fifty seconds later, after Butch Bouchard fed him the puck, Rocket Richard rifled a puck past Al Rollins for his 325th goal, breaking Nels Stewart's unbeatable-record for career goals. "Old Poison" sent the following telegram: "Congratulations on breaking record. Hope you will hold it for many seasons. Best of luck to you and rest of team."

When Terry Sawchuk was injured in practice, the Red Wings brought up Glenn Hall and he made his NHL debut December 27 and played well in a 2-2 tie with Montreal. He then picked up his first career shutout January 7, blanking Boston 4-0.

Red Wings General Manager Jack Adams got into some trouble January 18 when, after a 3-2 loss to Montreal, he entered the officials room and argued with referee Red Storey. Dick Irvin, coach of Montreal, was very upset over this and NHL president Clarence Campbell agreed, fining Adams $500.

The Gumper got his first career shutout January 11 in a rare Ranger pounding of his hometown Habs, 7-zip.

Butch Bouchard Night was held February 28 and he was presented with a car and a TV set. Detroit spoiled the night with a 4-3 victory.

There was consternation in Toronto when Max Bentley suddenly vanished and was reported back at his home in Delisle, Saskatchewan. Conn Smythe convinced him to return and he did, playing the remaining games of the schedule.

Ted Lindsay scored 4 goals March 2 as Detroit pummelled Boston again, 10-2.

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
Detroit Red Wings	70	36	16	18	90	222	133	645
Montreal Canadiens	70	28	23	19	75	155	148	777
Boston Bruins	70	28	29	13	69	152	172	528
Chicago Black Hawks	70	27	28	15	69	169	175	736
Toronto Maple Leafs	70	27	30	13	67	156	167	812
New York Rangers	70	17	37	16	50	152	211	548

Playoffs

In a major upset, first-place Detroit was defeated in the semi-final by the Boston Bruins in six games. In the other semi-final, the fourth-place Chicago Black Hawks, making their first playoff appearance in seven years, took a 3–2 series lead after losing the first two games to the second-place Montreal Canadiens, but could not finish the job, losing in seven games.

Semifinals

Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins Date Away Team Home Team Notes 24. March Boston 0 7 Detroit 26. March Boston 5 3 Detroit 29. March Detroit 1 2 Boston OT 31. March Detroit 2 6 Boston 2. April Boston 4 6 Detroit 5. April Detroit 2 4 Boston Boston won series 4:2.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks Date Away Team Home Team Notes 24. March Chicago 1 3 Montreal 26. March Chicago 3 4 Montreal 29. March Montreal 1 2 Chicago OT 31. March Montreal 1 3 Chicago 2. April Chicago 4 2 Montreal 4. April Montreal 3 0 Chicago 7. April Chicago 1 4 Montreal Montreal won series 4:3.

Final

Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
Date	Away Team		Home Team		Notes
9. April	Boston	2	4	Montreal
11. April	Boston	4	1	Montreal
12. April	Montreal	3	0	Boston
14. April	Montreal	7	3	Boston
16. April	Boston	0	1	Montreal	OT
Montreal won series 4:1.

In the final, the Bruins could not continue their winning ways, and lost to Montreal in five games.

After the Final, the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League applied to play a Stanley Cup challenge. The NHL governors turned down the challenge, stating that the Cleveland club operated in a league of lower standing.

Playoff bracket

	Semifinals					Stanley Cup Final
	1	Detroit Red Wings	2
	3	Boston Bruins	4
						3	Boston Bruins	1
						2	Montreal Canadiens	4
	2	Montreal Canadiens	4
	4	Chicago Black Hawks	3

Awards

• Prince of Wales Trophy: Detroit Red Wings
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
• Calder Memorial Trophy: Lorne "Gump" Worsley, New York Rangers
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• Vezina Trophy: Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings

All-Star teams

First team	Position	Second team
Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings	G	Gerry McNeil, Montreal Canadiens
Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings	D	Bill Quackenbush, Boston Bruins
Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens	D	Bill Gadsby, Chicago Black Hawks
Fleming MacKell, Boston Bruins	C	Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings	RW	Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings	LW	Bert 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
Gordie Howe	Detroit Red Wings	70	49	46	95	57
Ted Lindsay	Detroit Red Wings	70	32	39	71	111
Maurice Richard	Montreal Canadiens	70	28	33	61	112
Wally Hergesheimer	New York Rangers	70	30	29	59	10
Alex Delvecchio	Detroit Red Wings	70	16	43	59	28
Paul Ronty	New York Rangers	70	16	38	54	20
Metro Prystai	Detroit Red Wings	70	16	34	50	12
Red Kelly	Detroit Red Wings	70	19	27	46	8
Bert Olmstead	Montreal Canadiens	69	17	28	45	83
Fleming Mackell	Boston Bruins	65	27	17	44	63

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
Terry Sawchuk	Detroit Red Wings	63	3780	120	1.90	32	15	16	9
Gerry McNeil	Montreal Canadiens	66	3960	140	2.12	25	23	18	10
Harry Lumley	Toronto Maple Leafs	70	4200	167	2.39	27	30	13	10
Jim Henry	Boston Bruins	70	4200	142	2.46	28	29	13	7
Al Rollins	Chicago Black Hawks	70	4200	175	2.50	27	28	15	6
Chuck Rayner	New York Rangers	20	1200	58	2.90	4	8	8	1
Lorne Worsley	New York Rangers	50	3000	153	3.06	13	29	8	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. 
• (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 (1969), 50 Years Of Hockey, Winnipeg, MAN: Greywood Publishing, ISBN B000GW45S0 
• McFarlane, Brian (1973). The Story of the National Hockey League. New York, NY: Pagurian Press. ISBN 0-684-13424-1. * Mouton, Claude (1987). Montreal Canadiens. Key Porter Books. ISBN 1-55013-051-X. 

Notes

External links

• Hockey Database for NHL 52–53
• NHL.com

National Hockey League seasons

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