# Erwin Chamberlain

Erwin Groves "Murph" Chamberlain (February 14, 1915 in Shawville, Quebec – May 8, 1986) was a Canadian ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Brooklyn Americans and Boston Bruins between 1937 and 1949. He won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1944 and 1946, both with Montreal.

## Playing career before NHL

Chamberlain, whose first name was spelled "Irwin" in his hometown newspaper, reportedly began his hockey career in Shawville, PQ. He was reportedly added to the Toronto Maple Leafs reserve list by 1937 after steadily improving his game while playing in Northern Ontario.
In April 1937 he scored 4 goals and 2 goals respectively for the Sudbury Tigers in a two-game Eastern Canada senior amateur hockey finals against the Hull Volants. The Tigers won the first game in Ottawa 9–4 in front of a "record-breaking" crowd before winning the second game in Toronto 14–2.
The Sudbury Tigers then travelled to Calgary, Alberta to play for the Allan Cup against the Western Canada senior champs, the North Battleford Beavers. Sudbury won the 5 game series 3 games to 2.
As the Allan Cup champions, the Sudbury Tigers earned a berth in the one and only Toronto International Tournament in April, 1937 which pitted them against the English National League champs (Wembley Lions), the USA Amateur Champions (Hershey Bears) and the Memorial Cup Champs (Winnipeg Monarchs). The Sudbury Tigers scored a sudden-death in the third game of a 3-game final against the Wembley Lions to win the tournament. The tournament was hampered by controversies and low crowds so was not continued in following years.

## NHL Playing career

Chamberlain began his NHL Career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1938 season and played for them until the end of the 1940 season. The next year, he played for the Montreal Canadiens. In the 1942 season, he spent time in the AHL with the Washington Lions. Later that season, he was called back to Montreal and then traded to the Brooklyn Americans. He spent the 1943 season with the Boston Bruins. After that season he returned to Montreal for the final six seasons of his career. He won the Stanley Cup twice with Montreal, in the 1944 season and the 1946 season. He retired from hockey after the 1949 season.

## Coaching career

Chamberlain was head coach of the Sudbury Wolves of the EPHL for two seasons 1960–61 and 1962–63.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1932–33 | Ottawa Primrose | OCJHL | 11 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 1933–34 | Ottawa New Edinburghs | OCHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1934–35 | Noranda Copper Kings | GBHL | 13 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1935–36 | South Porcupine Porkies | NOHA | 8 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 1936–37 | Sudbury Frood Miners | NBHL | 15 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1936–37 | Sudbury Frood Miners | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 37 |
| 1937–38 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 43 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1938–39 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 1939–40 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 40 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 63 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940–41 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 45 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 75 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 1941–42 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 26 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1941–42 | Brooklyn Americans | NHL | 11 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1941–42 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1942–43 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 45 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 67 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| 1943–44 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 47 | 15 | 32 | 47 | 85 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| 1944–45 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 32 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 1945–46 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 40 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 42 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 18 |
| 1946–47 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 49 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 97 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 19 |
| 1947–48 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 30 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1948–49 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 54 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 111 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 1949–50 | Sydney Millionaires | CBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 510 | 100 | 175 | 275 | 769 | 66 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 96 |

## Achievements

* Allan Cup champion – 1937
* Stanley Cup champion – 1944, 1946