The 1941–42 NHL season was the 25th

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pol ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

. Seven teams played 48 games each. The

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

would win the

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...

defeating the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

winning four straight after losing the first three in a best-of-seven series, a feat only repeated three times in NHL history (

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

, 2014) and once in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

( 2004) as of 2021.

League business

This season was the last season for the

Brooklyn Americans The New York Americans, colloquially known as the Amerks, were a professional ice hockey team based in New York City from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the second to play i ...

who had changed their name from the New York Americans in an attempt to build a civic relationship with those from the Flatbush area of New York. Due to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

travel restrictions on adults, the NHL demanded more junior-aged players who were free of the travel restrictions. NHL president

Frank Calder Frank Sellick Calder (November 17, 1877 – February 4, 1943) was a British-born Canadian ice hockey executive, journalist, and athlete. Calder was the first president of the National Hockey League (NHL), from 1917 until his death in 1943. He ...

reported there was a general agreement with the amateur leagues that a junior-aged player should be able to determine his own financial future due to the war.

Regular season

The Americans started the season without Harvey "Busher" Jackson who refused to sign. He was then sold to Boston. But the Amerks had two positive notes: two defencemen, Tommy Anderson and

Pat Egan Martin Joseph "Pat" Egan (April 25, 1918 – June 3, 2008) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman, most notably for the Boston Bruins and New York Americans of the National Hockey League. He went on to coach the Springfield Indians of the Ameri ...

, were now All-Star calibre. That did not prevent them from finishing last, though. On December 9, 1941, the Chicago Black Hawks-Boston Bruins game would be delayed for over a half-hour as United States President

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

declared that the United States was at war.Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.71, James Duplacey, JG Press, Frank Patrick suffered a heart attack and had to sell his interest in the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

, and the Habs almost had to move to Cleveland. But

Tommy Gorman Thomas Patrick Gorman (June 9, 1886 – May 15, 1961), known as "T.P." or "Tommy", was a Canadian ice hockey executive, sports entrepreneur and athlete. Gorman was a founder of the National Hockey League (NHL), a winner of seven Stanley Cups a ...

kept the team alive. They added Emile "Butch" Bouchard to start his great career on defence and another very good player,

Buddy O'Connor Herbert William "Buddy" O'Connor (June 21, 1916 – August 24, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League between 1941 and 1951. He won the Hart Tro ...

, at centre. Montreal had goaltending problems as

Bert Gardiner Wilbert Homer Gardiner (March 25, 1913 – August 28, 2001) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 144 games in the National Hockey League between 1935 and 1944. He played with the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks, Boston ...

slumped, and rookie

Paul Bibeault Joseph Arsine Paul Emile Albert "Babe" Bibeault (April 12, 1919 – August 2, 1970) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He played in the NHL from 1941 to 1947. Playing career Born in Montreal, Quebec, Bibeault started his National Hockey Leagu ...

replaced him. He showed flashes of brilliance, but his inexperience showed.

Joe Benoit Joseph Benoit (February 27, 1916 – October 19, 1981) was a National Hockey League right wing. He played for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1940s. He missed the 1943–44 season while serving with the Canadian Forces in World War II, and t ...

starred with 20 goals, the first Canadien to do that since 1938–39, when

Toe Blake Toes are the digits (fingers) of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being ''digitigrade''. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being ''plant ...

did it. The

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...

had a new goaltender as

Sugar Jim Henry Samuel James "Sugar Jim" Henry (October 23, 1920 — January 21, 2004) was a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey player. A goaltender, Henry played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks and the ...

replaced the retired

Dave Kerr David Alexander Kerr (January 11, 1909 – May 11, 1978) was a Canadian NHL goaltender who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and New York Rangers. Playing career He played amateur hockey before joining the NHL, winning the Al ...

. Henry was one of the reasons the Rangers finished first, something they would not again do for the next 50 years.

Final standings

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals

(3) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Chicago Black Hawks

(5) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens

Semifinals

(1) New York Rangers vs. (2) Toronto Maple Leafs

(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup Finals

Awards

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

''Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes'' Source: NHL

Leading goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; Mins – Minutes Played; GA = Goals against; GAA =

Goals against average Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending on s ...

; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts''

Coaches

*Boston Bruins: Art Ross *Brooklyn Americans:

Art Chapman John Arthur Chapman (May 29, 1905 – December 31, 1962) was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Chapman started his National Hockey League career with the Boston Bruins in 1930. He would also play for the New Yor ...

*Chicago Black Hawks: Paul Thompson *Detroit Red Wings:

Jack Adams John James Adams (June 14, 1894 – May 1, 1968) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach and general manager in the National Hockey League and Pacific Coast Hockey Association. He played for the Toronto Arenas, Vancouver Millionair ...

*Montreal Canadiens:

Dick Irvin James Dickinson "Dick" Irvin Jr. (or II) (July 19, 1892 – May 16, 1957) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played for professional teams in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, the Western Canada Hockey League, and th ...

*New York Rangers:

Frank Boucher François Xavier Boucher (October 7, 1901 – December 12, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

*Toronto Maple Leafs:

Hap Day Clarence Henry "Happy" Day (June 14, 1901 – February 17, 1990), later known as Hap Day, was a Canadian professional hockey player who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans. Day enjoye ...

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1941–42 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): *

Kenny Mosdell Kenneth "Kenny" Mosdell (July 13, 1922 – January 5, 2006) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. Mosdell played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1941 to 1942, and 1944 to 1959, with the Brooklyn Americans, Montreal Canadiens, ...

, Brooklyn Americans * Harry Watson, Brooklyn Americans * Bill Mosienko, Chicago Black Hawks * Adam Brown, Detroit Red Wings *

, Montreal Canadiens * James Haggarty, Montreal Canadiens * Emile "Butch" Bouchard, Montreal Canadiens *

Grant Warwick Grant David "Knobby" Warwick was a professional ice hockey right winger who played 9 seasons in the National Hockey League. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1942. Grant is the brother of Bill Warwick. Playing career NHL career Born in Regi ...

, New York Rangers * Jim Henry, New York Rangers *

Bob Goldham Robert John "Golden Boy" Goldham (May 12, 1922 – September 6, 1991) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and broadcaster. He played two seasons for the Toronto Marlboros earning the name "Golden Boy". He was later called the "Second Goalie" be ...

, Toronto Maple Leafs *

Gaye Stewart James Gaye Stewart (June 28, 1923 – November 18, 2010) was a professional ice hockey forward. He played nine seasons as a left winger in the National Hockey League. Playing career Born in Fort William, Ontario, Stewart was called from the min ...

*, Toronto Maple Leafs

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1941–42 (listed with their last team): *

Eddie Wiseman Edward Randall Wiseman (December 28, 1911 – May 6, 1977) was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He was born in Newcastle, New Brunswick, but grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan. Wiseman started his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red ...

, Boston Bruins * Tommy Anderson, Brooklyn Americans *

Art Coulter Arthur Edmund Coulter (May 31, 1909 – October 14, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks in the National Hockey League. Coulter, a two time Stanley Cup Champion, help ...

, New York Rangers * Pete Langelle, Toronto Maple Leafs

References

* * * * * ;Notes

External links

Hockey Database

NHL.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1941-42 NHL season 1941–42 in Canadian ice hockey by league 1941–42 in American ice hockey by league