The 1959–60 NHL season was the
43rd 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 axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
. Six teams played 70 games each. The
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
were the
Stanley Cup winners as they defeated 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. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
four games to none for their fifth straight
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () 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, and the International Ic ...
.
Regular season
This regular season, like the two preceding it and the two following it, belonged to the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
, who were in the midst of five straight first overall finishes and at the tail end of five straight
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () 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, and the International Ic ...
victories. 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 ...
, who were dead last and missed the playoffs the previous season, squeaked into the playoffs by riding a
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...
performance by their ageless star right-winger,
Gordie Howe.
The season was marked by important changes in the NHL, as Canadiens goaltender
Jacques Plante, like
Clint Benedict before him, began to wear a mask in hockey games. Plante, who had
asthma
Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...
-related problems throughout his career, first began wearing a mask in practice shortly after a sinus operation in
1957
Events January
* January 1 – The Saarland joins West Germany.
* January 3 – Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch.
* January 5 – South African player Russell Endean becomes the first batsman to be Dismissal (cricke ...
. On November 1, 1959, Plante's nose was broken by a shot from
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
right-winger
Andy Bathgate. After being stitched up, Plante insisted on wearing a mask for the remainder of the game. Montreal coach
Toe Blake
Joseph Hector "Toe" Blake (August 21, 1912 – May 17, 1995) was a Canadian ice hockey Player (game), player and Coach (ice hockey), coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). Blake played in the NHL from 1935 to 1948 with the Montreal Maroons a ...
was bitterly opposed to the idea, but did not have a backup goaltender and relented after Plante said he would not return to the ice without a mask. Although many in the NHL disapproved of Plante's decision due to NHL tradition at the time, many followed suit after Plante went undefeated in ten games with the mask on.
Phil Watson suffered an ulcer and was quietly dismissed as Ranger coach and replaced by
Alf Pike.
Gump Worsley was demoted to the
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were two separate minor professional ice hockey franchises, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The original Indians were founding members of the American Hockey Leagu ...
of the
AHL and Worsley screamed he was finished with hockey, but reported to Springfield anyway. Indians owner
Eddie Shore, known for his criticism of his players, gave Worsley a surprise vote of confidence. Gump played well for the Indians.
There was trouble brewing for Rangers right-winger
Andy Bathgate, who had ripped open Plante's nose on the night of the goalie mask's official NHL debut. In a January 1960 True Magazine article ghosted by
Dave Anderson, the defending league MVP listed the names of players whom he considered guilty of the dangerous act of spearing. This was brought to the attention of NHL President
Clarence Campbell
Clarence Sutherland Campbell, (July 9, 1905 – June 24, 1984) was a Canadian ice hockey executive, referee, and soldier. He refereed in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1930s, served in the Canadian Army during World War II, then s ...
, who fined Bathgate $500 and Ranger general manager
Muzz Patrick $100 on the grounds the article was prejudicial to and against the welfare of the league.
After being demoted to Springfield, Gump Worsley was brought back up as
Marcel Paille was even worse in goal for New York. Gump and the Rangers beat the Canadiens 8–3 in his first game back on January 3, but on January 21, Montreal bombed Worsley 11-2. Later against the
Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, Worsley suffered an injury that finished him for the season; Hawks' winger
Bobby Hull
Robert Marvin Hull (January 3, 1939 – January 30, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His blond hair, skating speed, end-to-end rushes, and ability to shoot t ...
skated over his catching glove and severed two tendons in his fingers.
Al Rollins was called up to replace him. Later, Olympic hero
Jack McCartan played a few games for the Rangers, acquitting himself very well.
The
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
narrowly missed the playoffs despite a flurry of offense, sparked by the "Uke Line" of
Johnny Bucyk,
Vic Stasiuk, and
Bronco Horvath. Horvath finished a close second to Chicago's Bobby Hull in the scoring race and was named to the Second All-Star Team. Slick centre
Don McKenney led the NHL in assists while winning the
Lady Byng Trophy and versatile
Doug Mohns also contributed. 1959–60 saw two veteran Bruins, centre
Fleming MacKell and goaltender
Harry Lumley, play their last campaigns before retirement.
This season marked the first season of the
Original Six era during which every active player had played for Original Six teams only.
Ken Mosdell, the last player to play for another team, retired the previous season.
Final standings
Stanley Cup playoffs
Montreal played the minimum number of games, 8, to win the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () 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, and the International Ic ...
and in the process, became the last Cup winners in NHL history to go undefeated in the playoffs to date. After winning the Stanley Cup,
Maurice Richard
Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard ( , ; August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL his ...
retired from the NHL as a champion.
Playoff bracket
The top four teams in the league qualified for the playoffs. In the semifinals, the first-place team played the third-place team, while the second-place team faced the fourth-place team, with the winners advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. In both rounds, teams competed in a
best-of-seven series (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series).
Semifinals
(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (3) Chicago Black Hawks
(2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings
Stanley Cup Finals
Awards
Gordie Howe won the Hart Trophy to become the first five-time winner of the Hart. In voting, he received 118 votes of a possible 180, twice as many as runner-up
Bobby Hull
Robert Marvin Hull (January 3, 1939 – January 30, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His blond hair, skating speed, end-to-end rushes, and ability to shoot t ...
.
Howe was the last winner of the original Hart Trophy. The trophy was retired to the
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame () is a museum and hall of fame located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) records, memorabilia and National Hockey Le ...
and the NHL began presenting a new trophy, which was dubbed the ''Hart Memorial Trophy'' in its place. Hull won the Art Ross Trophy for the scoring championship, his first.
Doug Harvey won the Norris Trophy for the fifth time, and the fifth time in the seven times it had been awarded. The Canadiens had the lowest goals against average, for the fifth consecutive time, and
Jacques Plante was awarded his fifth Vezina Trophy. The Black Hawks'
Glenn Hall was named to the First All-Star team as goaltender.
All-Star teams
Player statistics
Scoring leaders
''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points''
Leading goaltenders
''Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; AVG = Goals against average''
Coaches
*Boston Bruins:
Milt Schmidt
*Chicago Black Hawks:
Rudy Pilous
*Detroit Red Wings:
Sid Abel
*Montreal Canadiens:
Toe Blake
Joseph Hector "Toe" Blake (August 21, 1912 – May 17, 1995) was a Canadian ice hockey Player (game), player and Coach (ice hockey), coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). Blake played in the NHL from 1935 to 1948 with the Montreal Maroons a ...
*New York Rangers:
Phil Watson and
Alfred Pike
*Toronto Maple Leafs:
Punch Imlach
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1959–60 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
*
Dallas Smith, Boston Bruins
*
Bill Hay, Chicago Black Hawks
*
J. C. Tremblay, Montreal Canadiens
*
Dave Balon, New York Rangers
*
Ken Schinkel, New York Rangers
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1959–60 (listed with their last team):
*
Fleming MacKell, Boston Bruins
*
Maurice Richard
Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard ( , ; August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL his ...
, Montreal Canadiens
*
Al Rollins, New York Rangers
*
Harry Lumley, Boston Bruins
*
Dave Creighton, Toronto Maple Leafs
Broadcasting
''
Hockey Night in Canada
''Hockey Night in Canada'' (often abbreviated ''Hockey Night'' or ''HNiC'') is a long-running program of broadcast ice hockey play-by-play coverage in Canada. With roots in pioneering hockey coverage on private radio stations as early as 1923, ...
'' on
CBC Television
CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...
televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games. Games were not broadcast in their entirety until the
1968–69 season, and were typically joined in progress, while the radio version of ''HNIC'' aired games in their entirety.
In the U.S., this was final season of a four-year deal with
CBS to televise Saturday afternoon regular season games. This season, CBS aired games from January to March. CBS decided not the renew its agreement, and the NHL would not be able to attract another American national network until the
1965–66 season.
See also
*
1959–60 NHL transactions
*
List of Stanley Cup champions
The Stanley Cup is a trophy awarded annually to the Season structure of the NHL, playoff champion club of the National Hockey League (NHL). It was donated by the Governor General of Canada Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, Lord Stanley of Pr ...
*
13th National Hockey League All-Star Game
*
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game () is an exhibition ice hockey tournament that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many of the League's star players playing against each other. The ga ...
*
Ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics
*
1959 in sports
Events
January
* January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance.
* January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...
*
1960 in sports
References
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;Notes
External links
Hockey DatabaseNHL.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1959-60 NHL season
1959–60 in American ice hockey by league
1959–60 in Canadian ice hockey by league