1933–34 Boston Bruins season



The 1933–34 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 10th season in the NHL. The Bruins finished 4th in the American Division and missed qualifying for the playoffs.

Pre-season
The Bruins held their training camp in Quebec City, Quebec.

Although official Bruins records list Dit Clapper as the team's captain for the season, Marty Barry was appointed to lead the team as reported in the Boston Globe and a number of other newspapers.

Regular Season
Eddie Shore missed the first two games of the season while holding out for a $7,500 contract.

The December 12, 1933 game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs was filled with violence. Just before the 13:00 mark of the second period, Eddie Shore was rushing the puck into the Leafs zone when he was checked by Red Horner into the boards, hitting his head. Horner retrieved the puck and rushed up the ice so Ace Bailey hung back to cover for Horner. Dazed and angry, Shore mistook Bailey for Horner and hit Bailey low from behind. Bailey fell backwards and his head hit the ice, fracturing it and sending him into convulsions. Red Horner then punched Shore who fell backwards, hitting his head on the ice, knocking him out. Both received game misconducts and Shore had to be carried off the ice by his teammates where 18 stitches were required to Shore's head. Bailey's life hung in the balance but he survived after two surgeries. The first all-star game was held on February 14, 1934 to benefit Bailey which Shore participated in. He apologized and Bailey forgave Shore. Shore was suspended for 16 games and wore a helmet for the rest of his career.

See also Ace Bailey Benefit All-Star Game.



Shore returned to action on January 28, 1934 at Madison Square Garden in the Bruins 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Wearing a helmet, due to the injury he suffered in the Bailey incident, he racked up assists on both Bruin goals. The entire Bruins team also wore helmets for the remainder of the season.

The February 20, 1934 game against the Detroit Red Wings was attended by only 1,500 fans due to a snowstorm. "Lionel Hitchman Night" was celebrated on February 22, 1934 against the Ottawa Senators. A great defensive defenseman, Hitchman's jersey #3 was retired and Hitchman played his last game. It was the first number retired by the Bruins and the second in pro sports.

Bruins farmhand goalie Percy Jackson, who was playing for the Boston Cubs, was loaned to the New York Americans for a game against the Bruins on March 18, 1934. Boston triumphed 9-5 with Shore and Nels Stewart both collecting four points.

As in the 1931-32 season in which the Bruins missed the playoffs, line-up instability was again a factor in missing the post season in 1933-34. Injuries saw 28 different players suit up for the Bruins, the most in their history to that point. Goals against shot up largely due to Shore missing 18 games (the Bruins went 4-9-3 while he was suspended for the Bailey incident) and Hitchman's retirement with 19 games left in the season. Marty Barry finished 4th in league scoring and 2nd in goals with 27.

Playoffs

 * The Bruins did not qualify for the post season.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * Eddie Shore, Defence, NHL Second Team All-Star
 * NHL Goal Scoring Leader: Marty Barry, Runner-up

Transactions

 * Purchase Johnny Sheppard from the New York Americans on October 10, 1933.
 * Sign Bert McInenly as a free agent on December 16, 1933.
 * Trade Vic Ripley and Roy Burmister to the New York Rangers for Babe Siebert on December 17, 1933. Siebert plays his first game for the Bruins on December 19, 1933 versus the Montreal Maroons.
 * Trade Art Chapman and Bob Gracie to the Americans for Lloyd Gross and George Patterson on January 11, 1934.
 * Claim Archie Wilcox off waivers for $1 on January 28, 1934.

Farm Teams

 * Boston Tiger Cubs, Canadian American Hockey League

Trivia

 * While Eddie Shore missed the first two games of the season holding out for a richer contract, Joe Jerwa wore his #2 jersey. After Shore was suspended 16 games for the December 12, 1933 incident with Ace Bailey, Myles Lane wore #2 for 4 games. When the Bruins met the Black Hawks on December 23, Lane switched to jersey #17 before going back to wearing #2.
 * Lane wore four different numbers - 2, 3, 17 and 18.
 * All Bruins wore a helmet for the January 4, 1934 game versus the Ottawa Senators and lost 9-2.
 * Bruins who recorded a hat trick this season include:
 * Joe Lamb and Marty Barry both during the 6-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on November 23, 1933.