# 1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 38th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a second-place finish in 1962–63, as Chicago won a team record 32 games and also set a club record with 81 points. The Hawks would then be defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL-semi finals, making it the first time since 1960 that Chicago did not play in the Stanley Cup finals.
During the off-season, the Blackhawks decided not to bring back head coach Rudy Pilous, and hired former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Billy Reay to replace him, where he coached from 1957 to 1959, posting a record of 26–50–14. Reay had most recently been the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL.
Chicago started the year off on a hot streak, as they opened the season off with a 15–2–6 record in their first 23 games. The Hawks cooled down, but remained in a battle with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the NHL. The Hawks and Maple Leafs played a wild game on December 7, which resulted in a bench clearing brawl after Leafs player Bobby Baun dragged Blackhawk Reg Fleming out of the penalty box, as Fleming was about to serve a penalty for spearing Toronto player Eddie Shack. A total of seven major penalties, six misconducts, three game misconducts and $25 fines were issued against 22 players who left the bench. Hawks head coach Billy Reay and Leafs head coach Punch Imlach were fined $1000, while Reg Fleming received a $200 fine, and Murray Balfour was hit for a $100 fine for Chicago, while Bobby Baun ($150), Larry Hillman ($150) and Carl Brewer ($50) received fines on the Maple Leafs. The other 22 players who left the bench also had an additional $100 fine for their role in the brawl.
The Black Hawks continued the season playing very good hockey, and ended the season finished in second place for the second consecutive season, finishing with a club record 36 wins and 84 points, as they finished one point behind the Montreal Canadiens for top spot in the NHL.
Offensively, the Hawks were led by Stan Mikita, who led the league with 89 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy for the first time in his career. Mikita also led the team with 146 penalty minutes. He became the first player to lead the league in scoring and in penalty minutes. Bobby Hull scored a league high 43 goals, and finished just behind Mikita with 87 points, while Kenny Wharram scored 39 goals and 71 points. Wharram also was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy. Pierre Pilote led the defense, scoring 7 goals and 53 points, while earning his second consecutive Norris Trophy.
In goal, Glenn Hall once again played the majority of the games, winning a club record 34 games, while posting a 2.30 GAA, and earning 7 shutouts along the way.
The Hawks would face the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL semi-finals, as Detroit finished fourth in the NHL with a record of 30–29–11, earning 71 points, which was 13 less than Chicago. The series opened up at Chicago Stadium for the opening two games, and the Black Hawks won the series opener, defeating the Red Wings 4–1, however, Detroit evened up the series in the second game with a 5–4 win. The series shifted to the Detroit Olympia for the next two games, and Detroit took a 2–1 series lead, shutting out the Hawks 3–0, however, Chicago evened the series up in the fourth game, winning 3–2 in overtime. Chicago took a series lead in the fifth game at home, holding off the Wings for a 3–2 victory, however, Detroit once again even the series up in the sixth game at the Olympia, hammering the Black Hawks 7–2, setting up a seventh and final game of the series. The Black Hawks, who had lost only five times at home all season long, were stunned by the underdog Red Wings, as Detroit won the game 4–2, and eliminated the Black Hawks for the second straight season.

## Season standings

National Hockey League vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 36 | 21 | 13 | 209 | 167 | +42 | 85 |
| 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 70 | 36 | 22 | 12 | 218 | 169 | +49 | 84 |
| 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 33 | 25 | 12 | 192 | 172 | +20 | 78 |
| 4 | Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 30 | 29 | 11 | 191 | 204 | −13 | 71 |
| 5 | New York Rangers | 70 | 22 | 38 | 10 | 186 | 242 | −56 | 54 |
| 6 | Boston Bruins | 70 | 18 | 40 | 12 | 170 | 212 | −42 | 48 |

### Record vs. opponents

1963–64 NHL Records :
| Team | BOS | CHI | DET | MTL | NYR | TOR |
| Boston | — | 3–9–2 | 3–10–1 | 2–7–5 | 5–7–2 | 5–7–2 |
| Chicago | 9–3–2 | — | 5–6–3 | 7–5–2 | 9–3–2 | 7–5–2 |
| Detroit | 10–3–1 | 6–5–3 | — | 5–7–2 | 6–6–2 | 3–8–3 |
| Montreal | 7–2–5 | 5–7–2 | 7–5–2 | — | 10–3–1 | 7–5–2 |
| New York | 7–5–2 | 3–9–2 | 6–6–2 | 3–10–1 | — | 3–8–3 |
| Toronto | 7–5–2 | 5–7–2 | 8–3–3 | 5–7–2 | 8–3–3 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 9 | New York Rangers | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–0–0 | 2 |
| 2 | October 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–1–0 | 2 |
| 3 | October 13 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1–0 | 4 |
| 4 | October 16 | Boston Bruins | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1–0 | 6 |
| 5 | October 20 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1–0 | 8 |
| 6 | October 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–1–1 | 9 |
| 7 | October 26 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 | Montreal Canadiens | 4–1–2 | 10 |
| 8 | October 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | New York Rangers | 5–1–2 | 12 |
| 9 | October 29 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–1–2 | 14 |
| 10 | November 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–0 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 7–1–2 | 16 |
| 11 | November 5 | New York Rangers | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–1–2 | 18 |
| 12 | November 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens | 8–1–3 | 19 |
| 13 | November 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 8–1–4 | 20 |
| 14 | November 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | Boston Bruins | 8–2–4 | 20 |
| 15 | November 13 | Boston Bruins | 4–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–2–4 | 22 |
| 16 | November 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–2 | Montreal Canadiens | 10–2–4 | 24 |
| 17 | November 17 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 11–2–4 | 26 |
| 18 | November 20 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 12–2–4 | 28 |
| 19 | November 24 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 13–2–4 | 30 |
| 20 | November 28 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–2–4 | 32 |
| 21 | November 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 | New York Rangers | 15–2–4 | 34 |
| 22 | December 1 | New York Rangers | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 15–2–5 | 35 |
| 23 | December 4 | Boston Bruins | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 15–2–6 | 36 |
| 24 | December 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 15–3–6 | 36 |
| 25 | December 8 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–3–6 | 38 |
| 26 | December 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–2 | New York Rangers | 17–3–6 | 40 |
| 27 | December 12 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | Boston Bruins | 17–4–6 | 40 |
| 28 | December 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 17–5–6 | 40 |
| 29 | December 15 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–5–7 | 41 |
| 30 | December 18 | Boston Bruins | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–6–7 | 41 |
| 31 | December 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 17–7–7 | 41 |
| 32 | December 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Boston Bruins | 18–7–7 | 43 |
| 33 | December 25 | Montreal Canadiens | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 19–7–7 | 45 |
| 34 | December 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | New York Rangers | 19–8–7 | 45 |
| 35 | December 29 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–8–7 | 47 |
| 36 | January 1 | New York Rangers | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–9–7 | 47 |
| 37 | January 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 20–10–7 | 47 |
| 38 | January 5 | Boston Bruins | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 21–10–7 | 49 |
| 39 | January 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 21–11–7 | 49 |
| 40 | January 11 | Detroit Red Wings | 3–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 22–11–7 | 51 |
| 41 | January 12 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 22–12–7 | 51 |
| 42 | January 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–1 | Montreal Canadiens | 22–13–7 | 51 |
| 43 | January 18 | New York Rangers | 1–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 23–13–7 | 53 |
| 44 | January 19 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 23–14–7 | 53 |
| 45 | January 23 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1 | Boston Bruins | 24–14–7 | 55 |
| 46 | January 23 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 24–15–7 | 55 |
| 47 | January 26 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–15–8 | 56 |
| 48 | January 29 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–15–9 | 57 |
| 49 | February 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | New York Rangers | 24–15–10 | 58 |
| 50 | February 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–2 | Boston Bruins | 25–15–10 | 60 |
| 51 | February 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 26–15–10 | 62 |
| 52 | February 6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4 | Detroit Red Wings | 26–16–10 | 62 |
| 53 | February 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 26–16–11 | 63 |
| 54 | February 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 27–16–11 | 65 |
| 55 | February 12 | New York Rangers | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 28–16–11 | 67 |
| 56 | February 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 28–17–11 | 67 |
| 57 | February 16 | Boston Bruins | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 29–17–11 | 69 |
| 58 | February 19 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–2 | New York Rangers | 30–17–11 | 71 |
| 59 | February 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 30–18–11 | 71 |
| 60 | February 23 | Boston Bruins | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 31–18–11 | 73 |
| 61 | February 27 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 32–18–11 | 75 |
| 62 | February 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 32–19–11 | 75 |
| 63 | March 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 33–19–11 | 77 |
| 64 | March 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | New York Rangers | 33–20–11 | 77 |
| 65 | March 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4 | Boston Bruins | 33–20–12 | 78 |
| 66 | March 8 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 34–20–12 | 80 |
| 67 | March 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 34–21–12 | 80 |
| 68 | March 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 34–22–12 | 80 |
| 69 | March 17 | New York Rangers | 0–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 35–22–12 | 82 |
| 70 | March 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–3 | Boston Bruins | 36–22–12 | 84 |

### Detroit Red Wings 4, Chicago Black Hawks 3

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | March 26 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–0 |
| 2 | March 29 | Detroit Red Wings | 5–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 |
| 3 | March 31 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 | Detroit Red Wings | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 |
| 6 | April 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–7 | Detroit Red Wings | 3–3 |
| 7 | April 9 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 |

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Stan Mikita | 70 | 39 | 50 | 89 | 146 |
| Bobby Hull | 70 | 43 | 44 | 87 | 50 |
| Kenny Wharram | 70 | 39 | 32 | 71 | 18 |
| Bill Hay | 70 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 30 |
| Pierre Pilote | 70 | 7 | 46 | 53 | 84 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Glenn Hall | 65 | 3860 | 34 | 19 | 11 | 148 | 7 | 2.30 |
| Denis DeJordy | 6 | 340 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 3.35 |

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Stan Mikita | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Pierre Pilote | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Bobby Hull | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Bill Hay | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Kenny Wharram | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Glenn Hall | 7 | 408 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 3.24 |
| Denis DeJordy | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6.00 |

## Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 5 | Art Hampson | Canada | Trenton Midgets |
| 2 | 11 | Wayne Davison | Canada | Georgetown Midgets |
| 3 | 16 | Bill Carson | Canada | Brampton Midgets |