1964-65 NHL season

The 1964-65 NHL season was the 48th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. Jean Beliveau was the winner of the newly introduced Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup since 1960 as they were victorious over the Chicago Black Hawks in a seven game final series.
===Individual Predictions===
Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions	Canadian magazine 's experts' pre-season predictions
Rank 	Red Burnett(Toronto) 	Pat Curran(Montreal) 	Jack Griffin(Chicago) 	Dave Anderson(New York) 	Leo Monahan(Boston) 	Jack Berry(Detroit) 	 	
1. 	Toronto 	Toronto 	Chicago 	Chicago 	Chicago 	Chicago 	 	
2. 	Montreal 	Montreal 	Montreal 	Toronto 	Montreal 	Toronto 	 	
3. 	Chiacgo 	Chicago 	Toronto 	Montreal 	Toronto 	Detroit 	 	
4. 	Boston 	Boston 	Detroit 	Boston 	Boston 	Montreal 	 	
5. 	Detroit 	Detroit 	Boston 	Detroit 	New York 	Boston 	 	
6. 	Mew York 	New York 	New York 	New York 	Detroit 	New York 	 	
Stanley Cup 	Toronto 	Montreal 	Chicago 	Toronto 	Chicago 	Detroit 	 	
===Combined Predictions===
On the basis of 6 points for a 1st place, 5 for a second, etc.
*1. Chicago Black Hawks (32 points)
*2. Toronto Maple Leafs (30 points)
*3. Montreal Canadiens (27 points)
*4. Boston Bruins (16 points)
*4. Detroit Red Wings (14 points)
*6. New York Rangers ( 7 points)
==Regular Season==
Important new additions by Chicago were Bobby Hull's brother Dennis Hull and defenceman
Doug Jarrett, and they traded Reg Fleming, Ab McDonald, and Murray Balfour to Boston in exchange for Doug Mohns.
Frank Selke had retired as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens and a man who was
showing all the signs of being more capable than Selke, Sam Pollock, took over as general manager. Pollock had been doing an outstanding job as director of the Canadiens farm system the past few seasons and the Habs were deep in talent.
Ted Lindsay decided to make a comeback with Detroit and though Toronto beat Detroit in the
opener 5-3, the Olympia fans gave him an ovation.
Muzz Patrick resigned as general manager of the New York Rangers and Emile Francis, assistant general manager, took his place.
Ron Ellis was proving to be a find and he scored two goals when the Leafs downed Chicago 5-1
October 31st.
Frank Mahovlich entered a hospital for psychiatric treatment under great stress from fans and his manager Punch Imlach who expected more of him than he was delivering. He could not stand the pressure of playing.
After stopping a shot with his foot, Marcel Pronovost missed a few games and Detroit sorely
missed him, as on December 5th, Toronto clobbered the Red Wings 10-2. Bob Pulford was clipped by Gordie Howe's when it was knocked upward and it hit Pulford in the eye.
Frank Mahovlich was back December 9th when Montreal downed Toronto 3-2 Three nights later, he had two goals and two assists when Toronto beat Boston 6-3.
Chicago defeated Boston 7-5 December 16th and Bobby Hull got two goals. He now had 25 goals in 26 games. The Black Hawks were now alternating Glenn Hall and Denis Dejordy in goal.
A trade took place between Montreal and the New York Rangers as the Canadiens sent Bill Hicke and Jean-Guy Morissette to the Rangers for Dick Duff and Dave McComb.
Bill Thoms, who played 12 years with Toronto and Chicago, died of a heart attack December 26th at the age of 54.
Toronto's Punch Imlach ruled with an iron hand and was really upset with the Leafs play.
Wholesale demotions were threatened if the team's play didn't improve. Toronto snapped out
of its decline when they beat Detroit 3-1 January 2nd. Tim Horton scored two goals playing
as a forward instead of his usual defence position. Roger Crozier was struck in the eye by
Jim Pappin's stick late in the game and was replaced by Carl Wetzel in goal. Ted Lindsay got into a heated argument with referee Vern Buffey over whether a penalty should be called against Pappin and received a ten minute misconduct penalty and a game misconduct. Lindsay stated to the press after the game that his advice to coach Sid Abel was not to pay the fines and that he would not sit still for NHL president Clarence Campbell's kangaroo court. All this was reported to Campbell who said Lindsay would pay the fines or not play. In due course, an appropriate signed apology and a cheque in the amount of the fines were handed over by Lindsay and he was reinstated January 6th.
Bill Hicke, who had been traded to the Rangers by the Canadiens, turned on his ex-teammates
with a hat trick at the Forum on January 9th as the Rangers won 6-5. However, the Rangers lost
defenceman Jim Neilson with a shoulder separation. The Rangers got walloped by the Leafs 6-0
the next night as Tim Horton had two goals. Despite the win, the fans were still chanting
"We want Shack!" (meaning Eddie Shack).
George Hayes, who had been an official in the NHL for 19 years, was suspended for refusing to take an eye test. Later, he had his contract terminated when he still refused. Referee-in-chief Carl Voss announced his intention to resign at the end of the season, and Hayes and ex-referee Eddie Powers greeted this with approval.
Chicago moved into first place with a 4-1 win February 3rd over the New York Rangers right at
Madison Square Garden. Bobby Hull didn't scored, but the highlight of the game was his fight
with Bob Plager.
Chicago beat Toronto 6-3 February 6th and Bobby Hull's chances of reaching 50 goals was in
trouble when he was checked heavily by Bobby Baun, and he limped from the ice with strained
knee ligaments. On the same weekend, Detroit moved into first place, beating Montreal twice.
The Leafs pulled into a tie with Montreal for second place when they pasted Montreal 6-2
in Toronto February 10th. This was the fifth straight loss for the Habs. Referee Bill Friday
had a busy time with a bench-clearing brawl that delayed the game for 20 minutes. The trouble
began when John Ferguson hooked Frank Mahovlich. Terry Harper, Ted Harris, 
Pete Stemkowski, and Kent Douglas moved in and then the benches emptied. Referee Friday assessed 66 minutes in penalties, including ten minute misconducts to Mahovlich and Ted Harris. President Campbell later assessed $925 in fines. Ten Leafs were fined $50 each and six Canadiens players were fined $50.
Red Kelly had the hat trick March 21st when Toronto pummeled the Rangers 10-1.
The Rangers beat the Black Hawks March 23rd 3-2. A great many fans were upset at plans for a closed circuit telecast of Chicago games and during the game there were shouts of "Norris is
a fink!" (referring to James D. Norris, part owner of the Black Hawks.).
Ulf Sterner of Sweden became the first European trained player to suit up for an NHL team when he played for the New York Rangers for 4 games.
Detroit finished first for the first time since 1956-57 when they beat the Rangers 7-4 on March 25th. Alex Delvecchio had a hat trick and Norm Ullman scored two goals.
===Final Standings===
===Scoring Leaders===
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	PTS	PIM
Stan Mikita 	Chicago Black Hawks	70	28	59	87 	154
Norm Ullman 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	42	41	83 	70
Gordie Howe 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	29	47	76 	104
Bobby Hull 	Chicago Black Hawks	61	39	32	71 	32
Alex Delvecchio	Detroit Red Wings 	68	25	42	67 	16
===Leading Goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
Player 	Team 	GP	MIN 	GA 	GAA 	W 	L 	T 	SO
Johnny Bower 	Toronto Maple Leafs	34	2040	81 	2.38	13	13	8 	3
Roger Crozier 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	4168	168	2.42	40	22	7 	6
Glenn Hall 	Chicago Black Hawks	41	2440	99 	2.43	18	17	5 	4
Denis DeJordy 	Chicago Black Hawks	30	1760	74 	2.52	16	11	3 	3
Terry Sawchuk 	Toronto Maple Leafs	36	2160	92 	2.56	17	13	6 	1
Charlie Hodge 	Montreal Canadiens 	53	3120	135	2.60	26	16	10	3
Jacques Plante	N.Y. Rangers 	33	1938	109	3.37	10	17	5 	2
Eddie Johnston	Boston Bruins 	47	2820	163	3.47	11	32	4 	3
Marcel Paille 	N.Y. Rangers 	39	2262	135	3.58	10	21	7 	0
Jack Norris 	Boston Bruins 	23	1380	85 	3.70	10	11	2 	1
==Stanley Cup Playoffs==
For the third straight playoffs, it was Montreal vs. Toronto and Detroit vs. Chicago in the first round. The Canadiens came out on top over the Leafs in six games, while the Hawks beat the Wings in seven.
===Playoff Bracket===
==Mid-season NHL Awards==
1964-65 Mid-season NHL awards	1964-65 Mid-season NHL awards
Prince of Wales Trophy: 	Montreal Canadiens
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: 	Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
Calder Memorial Trophy: 	Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings
Hart Memorial Trophy: 	Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
James Norris Memorial Trophy:	Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 	Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
Vezina Trophy: 	Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens
===Mid-season All-Star Teams===
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings 	G 	Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens
Harry Howell, New York Rangers 	D 	Bill Gadsby, Detroit Red Wings
Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens	D 	Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings 	C 	Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
Claude Provost, Montreal Canadiens 	RW 	Rod Gilbert, New York Rangers
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks 	LW 	Camille Henry, New York Rangers
==Second Half NHL Awards==
1964-65 Second Half NHL awards	1964-65 Second Half NHL awards
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: 	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Calder Memorial Trophy: 	Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings
Hart Memorial Trophy: 	Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings
James Norris Memorial Trophy: 	Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 	Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
Vezina Trophy: 	Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs
===Second Half All-Star Teams===
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings 	G 	Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks 	D 	Bill Gadsby, Detroit Red Wings
Marcel Pronovost, Detroit Red Wings 	D 	Bob Baun, Toronto Maple Leafs
Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings 	C 	Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings 	RW 	Claude Provost, Montreal Canadiens
Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Maple Leafs	LW 	Johnny Bucyk, Boston Bruins
==NHL Awards==
1964-65 NHL Awards 	1964-65 NHL Awards
Prince of Wales Trophy: 	Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: 	Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
Calder Memorial Trophy: 	Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings
Conn Smythe Trophy: 	Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy: 	Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
James Norris Memorial Trophy:	Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 	Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
Vezina Trophy: 	Johnny Bower & Terry Sawchuk, Toronto Maple Leafs
==All-Star Teams==
First Team 	  Position  	Second Team
Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings 	G 	Charlie Hodge, Montreal Canadiens
Pierre Pilote, Chicago Black Hawks 	D 	Bill Gadsby, Detroit Red Wings
Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens	D 	Carl Brewer, Toronto Maple Leafs
Norm Ullman, Detroit Red Wings 	C 	Stan Mikita, Chicago Black Hawks
Claude Provost, Montreal Canadiens 	RW 	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Bobby Hull, Chicago Black Hawks 	LW 	Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Maple Leafs
==Debuts==
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1964-65 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
*Joe Watson, Boston Bruins
*Bill Goldsworthy, Boston Bruins
*Wayne Cashman, Boston Bruins
*Dennis Hull, Chicago Black Hawks
*Ken Hodge, Chicago Black Hawks
*Brit Selby, Toronto Maple Leafs
==Last Games==
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1964-65 (listed with their last team):
*Tom Johnson, Boston Bruins
*Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings
==Gallery==
Oliver_goal-17Oct1964.gif|Murray Oliver scores on the power play, October 17, 1964.
29Oct1964-Green_Lindsay.jpg|Ted Green and Ted Lindsay joust, October 29, 1964.
10Nov1964-Boivin_Howe_Lindsay_Kurtenbach.jpg|Ted Lindsay, Orland Kurtenbach, Leo Boivin, Gordie Howe, Eddie Johnston, November 10, 1964.
Bucyk_penalty_shot_goal-12Dec1964.gif|John Bucyk scores on a penalty shot, December 12, 1964.
1965-Norris_Lindsay.jpg|Ted Lindsay scores the last goal of his career on Jack Norris, March 18, 1965.
1964-McCord_McKenney_Schock.jpg|Bob McCord, Leafs Don McKenney and Ron Schock in 1964-65 action.
==Video==
Over an hour of video from the 1964 All-Star game featuring all five goals.
1964 All Star game
Over ten minutes of silent clips from the 1964-65 season featuring Reg Fleming. The Bruins-Rangers game on December 5, 1964, in which a goal by #12 Wayne Maxner is shown, on #23 Marcel Paille. Next, the Bruins-Black Hawks game on December 10, 1964. Lastly, the Bruins-Canadiens game on December 13, 1964 in which Fleming fights with Henri Richard.
Reggie Fleming Boston Bruins Vintage Footage 1964-66
Red Wings-Black Hawks Game 2 of the 1965 Stanley Cup Semi-finals, April 4, 1965.
1965 Wings vs Black Hawks April 4th CBC orig Broadcast
==See Also==
* List of Stanley Cup champions
* 1964 NHL Amateur Draft
* National Hockey League All-Star Game
==References==
*Hockey Database
*NHL.com