1956–57 Toronto Maple Leafs season



The 1956–57 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 40th season in the NHL. The Maple Leafs finished 5th in the league and missed the playoffs.

Regular Season
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 at the Forum in Montreal on January 10 and moved into first place. The game was hard-fought and referee Frank Udvari found it necessary to rule with an iron hand that angered the fans. Fans thought he was being filthy, calling chippy penalties against the Habs and deliberately failing to call hooking and holding penalties by the Maple Leafs. The blow-up came in the last two minutes of the game. Maurice Richard received a high-sticking penalty. At 18:14, knowing his Maple Leafs were in danger, Toronto coach Howie Meeker pulled goaltender Ed Chadwick for six attackers. Dick Duff scored the tying goal, causing Richard, arguably the most popular and maybe the most outstanding player in Canadiens history, to go berserk and commence a heated argument with Udvari, and Richard banged his stick on the ice. He might have attacked Udvari if his teammates hadn't restrained him. Fans threw programmes, paper cups, hats and other debris and the game was held up. When it did resume, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion set up Don Marshall for the winning goal with a mere 6 seconds left to play. Although the fans were pleased with the outcome, an angry hum commenced as the players and officials left the ice. Udvari had to be escorted to his dressing room by police and ushers. A large part of the crowd now directed its attention to NHL President Clarence Campbell seated in his box seat and he became the target of jeers and threats. The situation began to show some of the aspects of the Richard Riot of two years previous when Richard had been suspended for an attack on an official. It was at least 30 minutes before Campbell was able to leave under police protection.

Playoffs
The Maple Leafs did not qualify for the post season.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Awards and Records

 * The Maple Leafs did not win any awards this season.

Trivia

 * Boston's Jack Caffery became the first player to use the "reverse-grip" (both hands on the same side of the stick) while taking a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 18, 1956.