1952–53 NHL season

The 1952–53 NHL season was the 36th season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Boston Bruins four games to one in the final series.
==League business==
The NHL almost had a seventh franchise, as the Cleveland Barons applied for a franchise. They were accepted with the proviso that they deposit $425,000 to show good faith, and prove they had sufficient working capital to consort with the other NHL teams. They could not come up with the working capital and transfer of applicants stock to Cleveland residents. As a result, Cleveland was told to apply at a later date.
A big deal was made between Toronto and Chicago as the Maple Leafs shipped Al Rollins, Gus Mortson and Cal Gardner for goaltender Harry Lumley.
Sid Abel was signed by Chicago to be player-coach.
What was rumour became fact in September when Arthur M. Wirtz and James D. Norris became the new owners of the near bankrupt Chicago Black Hawks.
James E. Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings since 1932 and father of James D. Norris, Chicago owner, died of a heart attack December 4, 1952, and his daughter Marguerite became the first female owner of an NHL franchise since Ida Querrie owned the Toronto St. Patricks in 1923 when her husband Charlie transferred his stock in the team to her to avoid paying Eddie Livingstone any money in Livingstone's lawsuit against him
NHL on-ice officials changed to orange-coloured uniforms in March 1953. The officials had worn cream-coloured uniforms which were not distinguishable from some team's home-ice uniforms.
==Regular season==
For the fifth straight season the Detroit Red Wings lead the league in points. Gordie Howe won the Hart Trophy over Al Rollins, but on the strength of Rollins' goaltending, Chicago made the playoffs for the first time since 1946.
The first NHL game broadcasted in Canada on television occured on 9 October of this year. It was played between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings with the Canadiens winning 2-1. The French language telecast was produced by 24 year old Gerald Renaud. In April of this same season, Toronto Maple Leafs games started being broadcasted with Foster Hewitt calling the action. Conn Smythe, the Leaf's managing director, sold the Leaf's television rights for a paltry $100 a game. In comparison, Leaf games are currently sold for over $700,000 a game. 
===Highlights===
Gump Worsley made his NHL debut October 9, 1952 in goal for the New York Rangers at the Detroit Olympia and lost 5-3, as Ted Lindsay scored in a tip-in on the power play for Worsley's first goal against him. The Production line scored 3 goals that night as Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe also had goals. Marty Pavelich scored what proved to be the winning goal.
On November 8, 14,562 fans were in attendance at the Montreal Forum when the Canadiens beat Chicago 6-4. Elmer Lach scored his 200th career goal. Fifty seconds later, after Butch Bouchard fed him the puck, Rocket Richard rifled a puck past Al Rollins for his 325th goal, breaking Nels Stewart's unbeatable-record for career goals. "Old Poison" sent the following telegram: "Congratulations on breaking record. Hope you will hold it for many seasons. Best of luck to you and rest of team."
When Terry Sawchuk was injured in practice, the Red Wings brought up Glenn Hall and he made his NHL debut December 27 and played well in a 2-2 tie with Montreal. He then picked up his first career shutout January 7, blanking Boston 4-0.
Red Wings General Manager Jack Adams got into some trouble January 18 when, after a 3-2 loss to Montreal, he entered the officials room and argued with referee Red Storey. Dick Irvin, coach of Montreal, was very upset over this and NHL president Clarence Campbell agreed, fining Adams $500.
The Gumper got his first career shutout January 11 in a rare Ranger pounding of his hometown Habs, 7-zip.
Butch Bouchard Night was held February 28 and he was presented with a car and a TV set. Detroit spoiled the night with a 4-3 victory.
There was consternation in Toronto when Max Bentley suddenly vanished and was reported back at his home in Delisle, Saskatchewan. Conn Smythe convinced him to return and he did, playing the remaining games of the schedule.
Ted Lindsay scored 4 goals March 2 as Detroit pummelled Boston again, 10-2. 
===Final standings===
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
National Hockey League	GP	W 	L 	T 	Pts	GF 	GA 	PIM
Detroit Red Wings 	70	36	16	18	90 	222	133	645
Montreal Canadiens 	70	28	23	19	75 	155	148	777
Boston Bruins 	70	28	29	13	69 	152	172	528
Chicago Black Hawks 	70	27	28	15	69 	169	175	736
Toronto Maple Leafs 	70	27	30	13	67 	156	167	812
New York Rangers 	70	17	37	16	50 	152	211	548
==Playoffs==
In a major upset, first-place Detroit was defeated in the semi-final by the Boston Bruins in six games. In the other semi-final, the fourth-place Chicago Black Hawks, making their first playoff appearance in seven years, took a 3–2 series lead after losing the first two games to the second-place Montreal Canadiens, but could not finish the job, losing in seven games.
===Semifinals===
{| class="wikitable" 	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins
Date 	Away Team 	Away Team 	Home Team 	Home Team 	Notes 	 	
24. March 	Boston 	0 	7 	Detroit 	 	 	
26. March 	Boston 	5 	3 	Detroit 	 	 	
29. March 	Detroit 	1 	2 	Boston 	OT 	 	
31. March 	Detroit 	2 	6 	Boston 	 	 	
2. April 	Boston 	4 	6 	Detroit 	 	 	
5. April 	Detroit 	2 	4 	Boston 	 	 	
Boston won series 4:2.	Boston won series 4:2. 	Boston won series 4:2. 	Boston won series 4:2. 	Boston won series 4:2. 	Boston won series 4:2. 	Boston won series 4:2. 	
=== Final ===
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins	Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins	Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins	Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins	Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins	Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins	Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
Date 	Away Team 	Away Team 	Home Team 	Home Team 	Notes 	
9. April 	Boston 	2 	4 	Montreal 	 	
11. April 	Boston 	4 	1 	Montreal 	 	
12. April 	Montreal 	3 	0 	Boston 	 	
14. April 	Montreal 	7 	3 	Boston 	 	
16. April 	Boston 	0 	1 	Montreal 	OT 	
Montreal won series 4:1. 	Montreal won series 4:1. 	Montreal won series 4:1. 	Montreal won series 4:1. 	Montreal won series 4:1. 	Montreal won series 4:1. 	Montreal won series 4:1.
In the final, the Bruins could not continue their winning ways, and lost to Montreal in five games.
After the Final, the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League applied to play a Stanley Cup challenge. The NHL governors turned down the challenge, stating that the Cleveland club operated in a league of lower standing.Mouton(1987), p. 117
===Playoff bracket===
==Awards==
*Prince of Wales Trophy: 	Detroit Red Wings
*Art Ross Memorial Trophy: 	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
*Calder Memorial Trophy: 	Lorne "Gump" Worsley, New York Rangers
*Hart Memorial Trophy: 	Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
*Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 	Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
*Vezina Trophy: 	Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings
===All-Star teams===
First team 	  Position  	Second team
Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings	G 	Gerry McNeil, Montreal Canadiens
Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings 	D 	Bill Quackenbush, Boston Bruins
Doug Harvey, Montreal Canadiens 	D 	Bill Gadsby, Chicago Black Hawks
Fleming MacKell, Boston Bruins 	C 	Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings 	RW 	Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red Wings 	LW 	Bert Olmstead, Montreal Canadiens
==Player statistics==
===Scoring leaders===
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	PTS	PIM
Gordie Howe 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	49	46	95 	57
Ted Lindsay 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	32	39	71 	111
Maurice Richard 	Montreal Canadiens	70	28	33	61 	112
Wally Hergesheimer	New York Rangers 	70	30	29	59 	10
Alex Delvecchio 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	16	43	59 	28
Paul Ronty 	New York Rangers 	70	16	38	54 	20
Metro Prystai 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	16	34	50 	12
Red Kelly 	Detroit Red Wings 	70	19	27	46 	8
Bert Olmstead 	Montreal Canadiens	69	17	28	45 	83
Fleming Mackell 	Boston Bruins 	65	27	17	44 	63
===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
Terry Sawchuk	Detroit Red Wings 	63	3780	120	1.90	32	15	16	9
Gerry McNeil 	Montreal Canadiens 	66	3960	140	2.12	25	23	18	10
Harry Lumley 	Toronto Maple Leafs	70	4200	167	2.39	27	30	13	10
Jim Henry 	Boston Bruins 	70	4200	142	2.46	28	29	13	7
Al Rollins 	Chicago Black Hawks	70	4200	175	2.50	27	28	15	6
Chuck Rayner 	New York Rangers 	20	1200	58 	2.90	4 	8 	8 	1
Lorne Worsley	New York Rangers 	50	3000	153	3.06	13	29	8 	2
==Team Photos==
52-53BosBru.jpg|Boston Bruins
52-53ChiBH.jpg|Chicago Black Hawks
52-53DetRW.jpg|Detroit Red Wings
52-53MtlCdn.jpg|Montreal Canadiens
52-53NYR.jpg|New York Rangers
52-53TorML.jpg|Toronto Maple Leafs
==References==
*
* 
* 
* 
* 
*
* 
*
* * 
;Notes
==External links==
*Hockey Database for NHL 52–53
*NHL.com
Category:1952 in ice hockey
Category:1953 in ice hockey