The 1944–45

Chicago Black Hawks (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

season was the team's

19th 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics 19 is the eighth prime number, and forms a sexy prime with 13, a twin prime with 17, and a cousin prime with 23. It is the third full re ...

season in the

NHL 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 ...

, and they were coming off an appearance in the 1944

Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, french: Finale de la Coupe Stanley) is the National Hockey League's (NHL) championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, North America ...

, losing to the Montreal Canadiens in 4 games. The Black Hawks would lose their top scorer

Doug Bentley Douglas Wagner Bentley (September 3, 1916 – November 24, 1972) was a Canadian ice hockey left winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers as part of a senior and professiona ...

, who was given permission to stay home in Saskatchewan and tend the family farm by the Canadian Armed Forces officials, while his brother

Max Bentley Maxwell Herbert Lloyd Bentley (March 1, 1920 – January 19, 1984) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of a pr ...

would miss his 2nd season due to World War II. The club would name Clint Smith as team captain, and after the first game of the season, a loss of 11–5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach

Paul Thompson Paul Thompson may refer to: Education *Paul Thompson (professor) (born 1951), British management professor at the University of Strathclyde *Paul B. Thompson (philosopher) (born 1951), American philosopher at Michigan State University *Paul H. Tho ...

was replaced by former Black Hawk captain Johnny Gottselig. The Hawks would struggle to score goals, scoring a league low 141, while allowing 194, which ranked them 4th. The team would finish the season with a 13–30–7 record, and their 33 points was their lowest point total since 1938–39. Chicago would fail to make the post-season, as they would finish 3 points behind the Boston Bruins for 4th place. Midway through the season, the Black Hawks would be involved in a big trade with 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 ...

, as Chicago would trade Earl Seibert and

Fido Purpur Clifford Joseph "Fido" Purpur (September 26, 1914 – February 21, 2001) was an American ice hockey player who played five seasons in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Eagles, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings between 1934 an ...

to the Wings for

Butch McDonald Byron Russell "Butch" McDonald (November 21, 1916 – January 8, 2006) was a Canadian ice hockey left winger who played 66 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1939 and 1945. The rest of h ...

Don Grosso Donald Joseph Grosso (April 12, 1915 – May 14, 1985) was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Grosso started his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. He would also play with the Boston ...

, and

Cully Simon John Cullen Simon (May 8, 1918 – August 2, 1980) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 130 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1942 and 1945. He was born in Brockv ...

. Offensively, the Hawks were led by

Bill Mosienko William Mosienko (November 2, 1921 – July 9, 1994) was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks. He is best noted for recording the fastest hat trick in ...

, who led the team with 28 goals, Clint Smith with his team high 31 assists, and the two of them would tie for the team lead in points at 54. Pete Horeck would be the only other Black Hawk to score more than 10 goals, as he had 20. Joe Cooper would lead the defense all season long, earning 21 points and a team high 50 penalty minutes. In goal, the Hawks would bring back

Mike Karakas Michael George Karakas (November 13, 1910 – May 2, 1992) was an American professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the league's first American-born and -trained goaltender and the first player of Greek ...

, and he would lead the team with 12 wins and a 3.90 GAA, and earn 4 shutouts. Doug Stevenson would appear in a couple of games, getting a 1–1–0 record with a GAA of 3.50.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

References

SHRP SportsThe Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 ;Notes {{DEFAULTSORT:1944-45 Chicago Black Hawks season Chicago Blackhawks seasons Chicago Chicago