1963–64 Toronto Maple Leafs season



The 1963-64 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 47th season in the NHL. The Maple Leafs finished 3rd in the league and won the 1964 Stanley Cup Finals over the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 3.

Regular Season
On November 8, 1963, Maple Leaf Gardens was the first arena in the NHL to have separate penalty boxes.

Chicago defeated Toronto 2-0 on November 28th and Johnny McKenzie was severely injured when sandwiched by Bobby Baun and Carl Brewer. He was taken to hospital and an operation was performed on his spleen.

There was a lengthy delay in the start of a game between Detroit and Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 30th while the ice surface was repaired. A rodeo had been held and the cleaning job took longer than expected. Despite a terrible ice surface, a ragged game was played that ended in a 1-1 tie. Roger Crozier was hit with a slap shot by Frank Mahovlich but returned after a ten minute rest. The plucky goalkeeper sustained a double fracture of the cheekbone and was unable to play the next night. The game was delayed for 20 minutes while Hank Bassen was located to replace Crozier. Toronto won the game 4-1.

Toronto blanked Chicago 3-0 on December 7, 1963 in a wild brawl. Three minutes before the end of the game, Reg Fleming speared Eddie Shack, and after the Chicago player entered the penalty box, Bobby Baun decided to drag him out. Both benches emptied and a free-for-all started, and seven major penalties, six misconducts, three game misconducts and $25 fines were assessed against 22 players who left the benches. The game was completed with each team two men short. NHL president Clarence Campbell fined coaches Billy Reay and Punch Imlach $1000 for allowing their players to fight. Fleming was fined $200, Baun $150, Larry Hillman $150, Murray Balfour $100, and Carl Brewer $50. The 22 players that left the bench were fined $100 each.

On January 18, 1964, an inexplicable quirk occurred. Playing the Stanley Cup champion Maple Leafs in Toronto, the Bruins beat them 11-0. Andy Hebenton had a hat trick and 4 points while Dean Prentice had 3 goals and 6 points. This remains the largest shutout victory in Bruins history. It was also Pete Stemkowski's first NHL game.

A trade that was rumoured most of the season finally took place when the New York Rangers traded Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney to Toronto in exchange for Dick Duff, Bob Nevin, Arnie Brown, Bill Collins and Rod Seiling on February 22, 1964. Ranger fans did not like the deal and in the next game chants of "Muzz must go!" were heard (referring to Muzz Patrick, the Rangers general manager.)

Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Detroit Red Wings 3
This series is famous for the courageous play of Bob Baun. In game six of the Finals, he took a Gordie Howe slapshot on his ankle and had to leave play. He returned in overtime and scored the winning goal. He also played in game seven despite the pain and only after the series was over, was it revealed that he had broken the ankle.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Playoffs

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Awards and Records

 * James Norris Memorial Trophy: Tim Horton, Runner-Up
 * Tim Horton, Defense, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Frank Mahovlich, Left Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star

Notable Games
Boston 11 Toronto 0: Jan 18,1964

Farm Teams

 * Denver Invaders, Western Hockey League
 * Rochester Americans, American Hockey League
 * Toronto Marlboros, Ontario Hockey Association (won Memorial Cup)

1964 Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Champions
Johnny Bower, Don Simmons, Carl Brewer, Tim Horton, Bob Baun, Allan Stanley, Al Arbour, Larry Hillman, Red Kelly, Gerry Ehman, George Armstrong (Captain), Frank Mahovlich, Andy Bathgate, Ron Stewart, Billy Harris, Bob Pulford, Eddie Shack, Dave Keon, Ed Litzenberger, Jim Pappin, Punch Imlach (Manager-Coach), Bob Haggert (Trainer)

Video
A short video of Bob Leiter hitting Eddie Shack, causing glass on the side boards to shatter and then the fight between the two, January 18, 1964.