1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 28th season in the NHL. The Hawks finished last in the league and did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Regular Season==
The Black Hawks were looking to build on their new found success, however, the club would open the season with a record of 0–7–1 to quickly fall into last place in the NHL standings. Wins would be few and far between for the club, as they managed to win consecutive games only twice throughout the season, and finished the year dead last in the league with a 12–51–7 record, earning 31 points. The 12 wins was Chicago's fewest since the 1938-39 season, while the 31 points was their lowest total since the 1928–29 season.
Offensively, Chicago was led by Larry Wilson, who had a team high 33 assists and 42 points, while Pete Conacher scored a club best 19 goals. Defenceman and team captain Bill Gadsby had a career season, scoring 12 goals and 41 points, while getting 108 penalty minutes. Fellow defenceman Gus Mortson led the team with 132 penalty minutes.
In goal, Al Rollins played in 66 games, winning 12 games, while posting a 3.23 GAA and 7 shutouts. He was awarded the Hart Trophy for his efforts.
There were persistent rumours that the Chicago Black Hawks would fold due to the poor performance of the team and fans staying away in droves. NHL president Clarence Campbell discussed the problems with Arthur M. Wirtz and it was announced that the rumours were without foundation. However, Wirtz decided to play several home games in other locations. Three games were played in Indianapolis at the State Fair Coliseum.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 8 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	0–1–0 	0
2 	October 10 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–6 	Toronto Maple Leafs	0–2–0 	0
3 	October 11 	New York Rangers 	5–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–3–0 	0
4 	October 16 	Detroit Red Wings 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–3–1 	1
5 	October 17 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	0–4–1 	1
6 	October 18 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–5–1 	1
7 	October 22 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–6–1 	1
8 	October 25 	Boston Bruins 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–7–1 	1
9 	October 28 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–1 	New York Rangers 	1–7–1 	3
10	October 31 	Montreal Canadiens 	0–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–7–1 	5
11	November 1 	Boston Bruins 	0–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–7–2 	6
12	November 4 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2–8–2 	6
13	November 5 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Boston Bruins 	2–9–2 	6
14	November 7 	New York Rangers 	3–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–10–2 	6
15	November 8 	Toronto Maple Leafs	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–11–2 	6
16	November 11	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3 	New York Rangers 	2–12–2 	6
17	November 12	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	2–13–2 	6
18	November 14	Chicago Black Hawks	3–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–13–2 	8
19	November 15	Montreal Canadiens 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–13–3 	9
20	November 18	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	New York Rangers 	3–14–3 	9
21	November 20	Boston Bruins 	2–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–15–3 	9
22	November 22	Toronto Maple Leafs	5–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–16–3 	9
23	November 26	Montreal Canadiens 	6–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–17–3 	9
24	November 28	Chicago Black Hawks	0–9 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–18–3 	9
25	November 29	Detroit Red Wings 	9–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–19–3 	9
26	December 2 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–3 	New York Rangers 	3–19–4 	10
27	December 3 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–3 	Boston Bruins 	3–20–4 	10
28	December 5 	New York Rangers 	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	4–20–4 	12
29	December 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–0 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–20–4 	14
30	December 10	Chicago Black Hawks	3–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	5–21–4 	14
31	December 12	Chicago Black Hawks	0–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	5–22–4 	14
32	December 13	Boston Bruins 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–22–5 	15
33	December 17	Chicago Black Hawks	1–5 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–23–5 	15
34	December 18	Detroit Red Wings 	5–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–24–5 	15
35	December 20	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	6–24–5 	17
36	December 25	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4 	Boston Bruins 	6–25–5 	17
37	December 27	Chicago Black Hawks	4–1 	New York Rangers 	7–25–5 	19
38	January 1 	Detroit Red Wings 	2–4 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–25–5 	21
39	January 2 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	8–26–5 	21
40	January 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–4 	New York Rangers 	8–27–5 	21
41	January 9 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–12 	Montreal Canadiens 	8–28–5 	21
42	January 10 	Chicago Black Hawks	3–5 	Boston Bruins 	8–29–5 	21
43	January 13 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	8–30–5 	21
44	January 14 	New York Rangers 	2–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–31–5 	21
45	January 17 	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–32–5 	21
46	January 21 	Boston Bruins 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	8–33–5 	21
47	January 23 	Chicago Black Hawks	1–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	8–34–5 	21
48	January 24 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–8 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–34–5 	23
49	January 28 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3 	Boston Bruins 	9–35–5 	23
50	January 30 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	9–36–5 	23
51	January 31 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–1 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–37–5 	23
52	February 4 	New York Rangers 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	9–38–5 	23
53	February 6 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–6 	Toronto Maple Leafs	9–39–5 	23
54	February 7 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–39–5	25
55	February 11	Montreal Canadiens 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–39–6	26
56	February 14	Detroit Red Wings 	5–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–40–6	26
57	February 15	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	10–41–6	26
58	February 19	New York Rangers 	3–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–42–6	26
59	February 21	Boston Bruins 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–43–6	26
60	February 25	Detroit Red Wings 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	10–44–6	26
61	February 27	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	10–45–6	26
62	February 28	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–2 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–45–6	28
63	March 5 	New York Rangers 	0–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–45–7	29
64	March 7 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–6 	Boston Bruins 	11–46–7	29
65	March 10 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4 	New York Rangers 	11–47–7	29
66	March 11 	Chicago Black Hawks	2–6 	Detroit Red Wings 	11–48–7	29
67	March 13 	Chicago Black Hawks	0–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	11–49–7	29
68	March 14 	Montreal Canadiens 	6–0 	Chicago Black Hawks	11–50–7	29
69	March 19 	Boston Bruins 	0–7 	Chicago Black Hawks	12–50–7	31
70	March 21 	Chicago Black Hawks	5–9 	Boston Bruins 	12–51–7	31
==Playoffs==
*The Black Hawks did not qualify for the post season.
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Larry Wilson 	66	9 	33	42 	22
Bill Gadsby 	70	12	29	41 	108
Bill Mosienko	65	15	19	34 	17
Pete Conacher	70	19	9 	28 	23
Lou Jankowski	68	15	13	28 	7
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA
Al Rollins 	66	3960	12	47	7	213	5 	3.23
Jean Marois 	2 	120 	0 	2 	0	11 	0 	5.50
Jack Gelineau	2 	120 	0 	2 	0	18 	0 	9.00
==Awards and Records==
*Hart Memorial Trophy: Al Rollins
*Bill Gadsby, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Farm Teams==
*Calgary Buffalos, Western Canada Junior League
*Galt Black Hawks, Ontario Junior A
*Jonquiere Marquis, Quebec Junior League
*Moose Jaw Canucks, Western Canada Junior League
==Game Ads==
53-54NHLExhChiBHQuebecGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Quebec City
==See Also==
*1953–54 NHL season
==References==
*Hockey-Reference
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons
Chicago Black Hawks season, 1953–54
Chicago Black Hawks season, 1953–54