1962–63 NHL season

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.

Regular season

Some diversionary news hit the sports pages the day of the All-star game when it was reportedthat Frank Mahovlich had been sold to Chicago for $1 million and James D. Norris produced acheque for the amount. On the advice of Conn Smythe, Punch Imlach declined the deal, Imlachstating 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 ChicagoBlack 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 requiredmany 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 on November 8 when he suffered a pinchednerve in his back and he was relieved by Denis DeJordy in the first period of a game Chicagotied Boston 3–3. DeJordy played well in the next game as the Black Hawks beat the Canadiens3–1.

Chicago was improving and moved into a first place tie with Detroit when they blankedBoston 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 wasunlucky in his next game as Chicago beat the Rangers 5–1. Worsley badly injured his shoulderand had to be replaced by Marcel Pelletier. Gump went to the hospital where he would havehis shoulder in traction for ten days.

Andy Hebenton had the hat trick on December 16 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 Montreal Forum on January 5. 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 4–2at the Forum. Goals had not come very fast this year, and he hinted that this might be hislast season. The writers didn't take him seriously, however. The next night, the Canadiensbeat the Black Hawks 3–1 at Chicago Stadium and Beliveau scored a spectacular goal,giving a beautiful exhibition of stick-handling.

Bernie Geoffrion and Don Marshall were back on January 31, but the Canadiens lost 6–3 toToronto at the Forum. Coach Toe Blake was not pleased with the officiating and was quotedin a French newspaper that referee Eddie Powers handled the game as if he had bet on theoutcome. This attracted the attention of NHL president Clarence Campbell who said thematter would be investigated. Later, Blake was fined $200 by Campbell. Powers consideredthe fine inadequate and submitted his resignation as a referee. He cited Red Storey whenCampbell 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-stickeda Canadiens player and then commenced a tantrum which drew him a minor, major, misconductand 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 abench 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 assessedGeoffrion 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 toMontreal General Hospital where the diagnosis was a fractured neck, a crushed cervical vertebra. He gradually recovered from his paralyzed condition, but would never play hockeyagain. 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.

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"

All-Star teams

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1962–63 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
*Eddie Johnston, Boston Bruins
*Paul Henderson, Detroit Red Wings
*Claude Larose, Montreal Canadiens
*Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens
*Terry Harper, Montreal Canadiens
*Jim Neilson, New York Rangers
*Kent Douglas, Toronto Maple Leafs

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1962–63 (listed with their last team):
*Bob Turner, Chicago Black Hawks
*Jack Evans, Chicago Black Hawks
*Vic Stasiuk, Detroit Red Wings
*Lou Fontinato, Montreal Canadiens

See also

* List of Stanley Cup champions
* National Hockey League All-Star Game
* 1962 in sports
* 1963 in sports

References

* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/nhl1927.html Hockey Database]
* [http://nhl.com/ NHL.com]