# 1955–56 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1955–56 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 30th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off their second straight last place finish in 1954–55, when they had a record of 13–40–17, earning 43 points. The struggling franchise had finished in the NHL cellar for seven times in the past nine seasons.
The Black Hawks would not bring back head coach Frank Eddolls, as they hired Dick Irvin, who had previously coached the Black Hawks in 1928–29 and 1930–31. After leaving Chicago in 1931, Irvin would coach the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1931 to 1940, winning the 1932 Stanley Cup, then he went on to coach the Montreal Canadiens from 1940 to 1955, winning three Stanley Cups with the team in 1944, 1946 and 1953. Also, in the off-season, the Hawks acquired Johnny Wilson and Glen Skov from the Detroit Red Wings.
The team would get off to their best start in a few seasons, as they played .500 hockey in their opening 10 games, as Chicago had a record of 4–4–2. The team would hover around the .500 mark through the first 23 games before falling into a slump, in which they would go 11–30–6 in their remaining 47 games to finish the season in last place for the eighth time in ten seasons. Despite the last place finish, Chicago improved their win total to 19 games and their point total to 50, which represented their highest totals since the 1952–53 season.
Offensively, Chicago was led by Red Sullivan, who had a team high 40 points, as he scored 14 goals and added 26 assists. Newly acquired Johnny Wilson scored a team high 24 goals, becoming the first Black Hawk since 1953 to score over 20 goals, while Ed Litzenberger had a club best 29 assists, en route to a 39-point season. Allan Stanley led the defense with 14 assists and 18 points, while fellow blueliner Jack McIntyre scored a defense leading 10 goals, while adding 5 assists for 15 points. Team captain Gus Mortson also had 15 points from the blueline, along with 87 penalty minutes. Lee Fogolin Sr. led the team in that category though, accumulating 88 penalty minutes.
In goal, Al Rollins played the majority of games, leading the team in wins at 17, and GAA at 2.95. He also earned 3 shutouts.

## Season standings

National Hockey League vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 45 | 15 | 10 | 222 | 131 | +91 | 100 |
| 2 | Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 30 | 24 | 16 | 183 | 148 | +35 | 76 |
| 3 | New York Rangers | 70 | 32 | 28 | 10 | 204 | 203 | +1 | 74 |
| 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 24 | 33 | 13 | 153 | 181 | −28 | 61 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | 70 | 23 | 34 | 13 | 147 | 185 | −38 | 59 |
| 6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 70 | 19 | 39 | 12 | 155 | 216 | −61 | 50 |

### Record vs. opponents

1955–56 NHL Records :
| Team | BOS | CHI | DET | MTL | NYR | TOR |
| Boston | — | 3–8–3 | 3–8–3 | 5–8–1 | 7–5–2 | 5–5–4 |
| Chicago | 8–3–3 | — | 2–8–4 | 1–12–1 | 3–10–1 | 5–6–3 |
| Detroit | 8–3–3 | 8–2–4 | — | 4–8–2 | 5–6–3 | 5–5–4 |
| Montreal | 8–5–1 | 12–1–1 | 8–4–2 | — | 8–2–4 | 9–3–2 |
| New York | 5–7–2 | 10–3–1 | 6–5–3 | 2–8–4 | — | 9–5 |
| Toronto | 5–5–4 | 6–5–3 | 5–5–4 | 3–9–2 | 5–9 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–0–0 | 2 |
| 2 | October 7 | New York Rangers | 7–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1–0 | 2 |
| 3 | October 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1–0 | 4 |
| 4 | October 15 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2–0 | 4 |
| 5 | October 16 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2–1 | 5 |
| 6 | October 20 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–2–2 | 6 |
| 7 | October 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–6 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–3–2 | 6 |
| 8 | October 23 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–5 | New York Rangers | 2–4–2 | 6 |
| 9 | October 25 | Boston Bruins | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4–2 | 8 |
| 10 | October 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Montreal Canadiens | 4–4–2 | 10 |
| 11 | October 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–5–2 | 10 |
| 12 | November 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | Boston Bruins | 4–5–3 | 11 |
| 13 | November 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–5–4 | 12 |
| 14 | November 6 | New York Rangers | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–6–4 | 12 |
| 15 | November 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–6–5 | 13 |
| 16 | November 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–6–5 | 15 |
| 17 | November 13 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–7–5 | 15 |
| 18 | November 18 | Boston Bruins | 1–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–7–5 | 17 |
| 19 | November 19 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Detroit Red Wings | 6–8–5 | 17 |
| 20 | November 20 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–8–6 | 18 |
| 21 | November 24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–8–6 | 20 |
| 22 | November 26 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–7 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 7–9–6 | 20 |
| 23 | November 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–0 | Boston Bruins | 8–9–6 | 22 |
| 24 | November 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–6 | New York Rangers | 8–10–6 | 22 |
| 25 | December 2 | New York Rangers | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–11–6 | 22 |
| 26 | December 4 | Montreal Canadiens | 5–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–12–6 | 22 |
| 27 | December 9 | Boston Bruins | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–12–7 | 23 |
| 28 | December 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–12–8 | 24 |
| 29 | December 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | New York Rangers | 9–12–8 | 26 |
| 30 | December 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Boston Bruins | 9–13–8 | 26 |
| 31 | December 17 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–5 | Montreal Canadiens | 9–14–8 | 26 |
| 32 | December 18 | Boston Bruins | 1–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–14–8 | 28 |
| 33 | December 20 | Montreal Canadiens | 7–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–15–8 | 28 |
| 34 | December 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 10–16–8 | 28 |
| 35 | December 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | Boston Bruins | 11–16–8 | 30 |
| 36 | December 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | New York Rangers | 12–16–8 | 32 |
| 37 | December 31 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–7 | Montreal Canadiens | 12–17–8 | 32 |
| 38 | January 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 12–18–8 | 32 |
| 39 | January 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 12–19–8 | 32 |
| 40 | January 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 12–20–8 | 32 |
| 41 | January 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–3 | New York Rangers | 13–20–8 | 34 |
| 42 | January 12 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–0 | Boston Bruins | 14–20–8 | 36 |
| 43 | January 14 | Detroit Red Wings | 3–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–21–8 | 36 |
| 44 | January 15 | New York Rangers | 2–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–22–8 | 36 |
| 45 | January 17 | New York Rangers | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–22–9 | 37 |
| 46 | January 20 | Boston Bruins | 3–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–23–9 | 37 |
| 47 | January 22 | Montreal Canadiens | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–24–9 | 37 |
| 48 | January 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 14–25–9 | 37 |
| 49 | January 27 | Detroit Red Wings | 7–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–26–9 | 37 |
| 50 | January 29 | New York Rangers | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–27–9 | 37 |
| 51 | February 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Boston Bruins | 14–27–10 | 38 |
| 52 | February 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 15–27–10 | 40 |
| 53 | February 5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–27–10 | 42 |
| 54 | February 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–3 | Detroit Red Wings | 16–28–10 | 42 |
| 55 | February 10 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–29–10 | 42 |
| 56 | February 12 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–29–11 | 43 |
| 57 | February 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–6 | New York Rangers | 16–30–11 | 43 |
| 58 | February 17 | Boston Bruins | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–31–11 | 43 |
| 59 | February 19 | Detroit Red Wings | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–31–11 | 45 |
| 60 | February 24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–32–11 | 45 |
| 61 | February 26 | Boston Bruins | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–32–11 | 47 |
| 62 | March 2 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–33–11 | 47 |
| 63 | March 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 18–34–11 | 47 |
| 64 | March 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–3 | New York Rangers | 18–35–11 | 47 |
| 65 | March 8 | New York Rangers | 6–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–36–11 | 47 |
| 66 | March 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 18–37–11 | 47 |
| 67 | March 11 | Detroit Red Wings | 3–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–38–11 | 47 |
| 68 | March 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–5 | Montreal Canadiens | 18–39–11 | 47 |
| 69 | March 17 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 18–39–12 | 48 |
| 70 | March 18 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 | Boston Bruins | 19–39–12 | 50 |

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Red Sullivan | 63 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 58 |
| Nick Mickoski | 70 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 52 |
| Ed Litzenberger | 70 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 36 |
| Johnny Wilson | 70 | 24 | 9 | 33 | 12 |
| Hank Ciesla | 70 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 22 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Al Rollins | 58 | 3480 | 17 | 30 | 11 | 171 | 3 | 2.95 |
| Hank Bassen | 12 | 720 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 3.33 |