The
1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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season was the team's
31st 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 the club was coming off their third consecutive last place finish in the league in 1955–56, as they had a 19–39–12 record, earning 50 points. The struggling Black Hawks had finished in last eight times in the past ten seasons, and only one playoff appearance since 1946.
On October 1, the Hawks announced that head coach
Dick Irvin resigned as head coach of the club due to ill health. Irvin was suffering from bone cancer and had been ill for the past two years, and was hospitalized in Montreal.
Tommy Ivan
Thomas Nathaniel Ivan (January 31, 1911 – June 25, 1999) was a Canadian ice hockey coach and general manager. He served as a National Hockey League (NHL) head coach for the Detroit Red Wings from 1947 to 1954 where he won three Stanley Cups, a ...
took over for Irvin. On May 15, 1957, Dick Irvin died at the age of 64.
The Black Hawks got off to a miserable start to the season, as they had a 2–12–1 record in their first 15 games, and sat in last place in the league. The team could never overcome their bad start, and slumped all season long, finishing the year with a 16–39–15 record, earning 47 points, and finishing in last place for the fourth straight season, and the ninth time in eleven years.
Offensively, Chicago was led by
Ed Litzenberger, who led the club in goals with 32, and assists with 32, recording 64 points, which was good for fifth in the NHL. His 32 goals was the team's highest total since 1943–44.
Johnny Wilson had a solid year, scoring 18 goals and 48 points, while
Glen Skov
Glen Frederick Skov (January 26, 1931 – September 10, 2013) was a professional ice hockey centre who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks and Montreal Canadiens. Skov won three Sta ...
also cracked the 40 point barrier, as he earned 42 points.
Jack McIntyre
John Archibald "Jack" McIntyre (September 8, 1930 in Brussels, Ontario – March 15, 1998) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League between 1950 and 1960.
Playing career
McIntyre played 499 National Hockey League ...
led the defense with 18 goals and 32 points, while fellow defenceman and team captain
Gus Mortson had 5 goals, 23 points, and a team high 147 penalty minutes.
In goal,
Al Rollins had all the playing time, winning 16 games, while posting a 3.20 GAA, and recording 3 shutouts.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Regular season
Season stats
Scoring leaders
Goaltending
References
Sources
Hockey-Reference* National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
{{DEFAULTSORT:1956-57 Chicago Black Hawks season
Chicago Blackhawks seasons
Chicago