The 1st National Hockey League All-Star Game took place at Maple Leaf Gardens, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, on October 13, 1947. The game saw the Maple Leafs play a team of NHL all-stars. The All-Stars won the game 4–3.

Founding

The NHL All-Star Game originated from the Players Committee and was approved on May 23, 1947. For the site of the All-Star Charity Game, it was applied for by Toronto and Chicago, with Chicago receiving the second game, in 1948. It was agreed that proceeds would be divided whereby one-third would go to Toronto charities, and two-thirds would go to the Players Emergency (Benevolent and Disability) Fund. At a later meeting in September 1947, the players agreed to set up a pension fund, with $900 from every player going into the fund and 25 cents from the sale of every playoff ticket and the two-thirds of the All-Star Game proceeds to go into the fund.

Pre-game festivities

The players selected for the game attended a Toronto Argonauts-

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football game on the day of the Game. That was followed by a dinner at the Royal York Hotel. The players were given miniature engraved gold pucks. There were extra gifts for the Maple Leafs, who had won the

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the previous spring. The Leafs received gold cufflinks from the Ontario government and a free lifetime pass from Conn Smythe. Sponsors gave each player a coat, a hat, a table lighter, golf balls, a tie, cigarette boxes, pocket knives, team photos, silver tea trays, engraved gold watches and silver watch chains.

Game description

The All-Stars wore red sweaters with white stars across the chest above a white and red NHL shield, and white and blue stripes running down the shoulders and sleeves. This uniform would be used through the 1955 All-Star Game, and later adapted for the Campbell Conference All-Stars in the 1992 game. The referees wore dark blue sweaters. The Leafs wore their white sweaters. The game was well-contested and was physical.

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was assessed a major penalty for cutting Bob Goldham on the head after a dirty cross-check. Reardon was involved in a stick-swinging incident between himself and Bill Ezinicki and Gus Mortson.

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was placed on a line with Ted Lindsay. The pair, who would often fight it out in regular games did not share a word, according to Richard.Podnieks(2000), p. 23

Summary

* Referee: King Clancy * Linesmen: Jim Primeau, Ed Mepham * Attendance: 14,169 Source: Podnieks(2000), p. 25.

Rosters

Source: Podnieks(2000), p. 25.

References

* {{1947–48 NHL season by team 01st National Hockey League All-Star Game All

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