1962-63 NHL season



The 1962-63 NHL season was the 46th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second Stanley Cup in a row as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to one.

League Business
Due to forays by goalies Don Head and Glenn Hall into the offensive zone, the league passed a rule forbidding goaltenders from crossing the center red line.

Regular Season
Some diversionary news hit the sports pages the day of the All-star game when it was reported that Frank Mahovlich had been sold to Chicago for $1 million and James D. Norris produced a cheque for the amount. On the advice of Conn Smythe, Punch Imlach declined the deal, Imlach stating that a million dollars doesn't score goals, and Mahovlich would remain a Maple Leaf.

A serious incident took place October 23rd between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks. A vicious stick-swinging duel took place between Gilles Tremblay and Reg Fleming that was said to be the worst since the Geoffrion-Murphy incident in 1953. Both players received match penalties and $100 fines. Tremblay emerged with a bad cut on his head that required many stitches. Coach Toe Blake had some caustic remarks for Fleming when he was leaving the ice which almost resulted in another fight. The Canadiens and Back Hawks played to a 4-4 tie. President Campbell suspended Tremblay and Fleming for three games.

Glenn Hall's consecutive game streak came to an end on November 8 when he suffered a pinched nerve in his back and he was relieved by Denis DeJordy in the first period of a game Chicago tied Boston 3-3. DeJordy played well in the next game as the Black Hawks beat the Canadiens 3-1.

Chicago was improving and moved into a first place tie with Detroit when they blanked Boston 5-0 November 29th. Mikita scored two goals and Bobby Hull had one. The same night, the Rangers shut out the Red Wings 5-0 as Gump Worsley played a fine game. Worsley was unlucky in his next game as Chicago beat the Rangers 5-1. Worsley badly injured his shoulder and had to be replaced by Marcel Pelletier. Gump went to the hospital where he would have his shoulder in traction for ten days.

Andy Hebenton had the hat trick on December 16 as the Rangers beat Detroit 5-2 at Madison Square Garden. The game was spoiled by a brawl, the chief participants being Dave Balon, Bill Gadsby, Doug Barkley and Terry Sawchuk. All were fined.

Andy Bathgate got both goals when they tied Montreal 2-2 at the Montreal Forum on January 5. This was the tenth consecutive game in which he had scored. The streak was terminated when Jacques Plante blanked the Rangers 6-0 in New York.

Jean Beliveau scored his 300th NHL goal January 26th when the Rangers beat the Canadiens 4-2 at the Forum. Goals had not come very fast this year, and he hinted that this might be his last season. The writers didn't take him seriously, however. The next night, the Canadiens beat the Black Hawks 3-1 at Chicago Stadium and Beliveau scored a spectacular goal, giving a beautiful exhibition of stick-handling.

Bernie Geoffrion and Don Marshall were back on January 31, but the Canadiens lost 6-3 to Toronto at the Forum. Coach Toe Blake was not pleased with the officiating and was quoted in a French newspaper that referee Eddie Powers handled the game as if he had bet on the outcome. This attracted the attention of NHL president Clarence Campbell who said the matter would be investigated. Later, Blake was fined $200 by Campbell. Powers considered the fine inadequate and submitted his resignation as a referee. He cited Red Storey when Campbell wouldn't support decisions he made. Powers then sued Blake for libel.

Bobby Hull scored all three goals as Chicago beat Boston 3-1 February 17th. On the same night, Montreal beat Detroit 6-1 and Howie Young established a penalty record when he high-sticked a Canadiens player and then commenced a tantrum which drew him a minor, major, misconduct and game misconduct totalling 27 minutes. His season total was now 208 minutes in penalties. NHL president Campbell then tacked on a three game suspension.

Detroit ousted the Rangers from the playoffs March 3rd with a 3-2 win.

Bernie Geoffrion was in trouble for an incident during a game March 5th that Montreal won 4-3. Referee Vern Buffey had given Jacques Plante a penalty for slashing Howie Young and then a bench penalty when the Canadiens protested. Geoffrion threw his stick at Buffey and his gloves as well. Geoffrion was given a match penalty and president Campbell assessed Geoffrion a five game suspension. Lou Fontinato's career came to a tragic end March 9th when he tried to check Vic Hadfield and instead was thrown headlong into the boards by the Ranger player. Fontinato lay motionless on the ice for some time before being carried off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Montreal General Hospital where the diagnosis was a fractured neck, a crushed cervical vertebra. He gradually recovered from his paralyzed condition, but would never play hockey again. Jacques Laperriere replaced Fontinato on the Canadiens defence.

It was quite a race for playoff positions as 5 points separated fourth and first. Gordie Howe lead the Red Wings and the NHL as he won his sixth and last Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy.

Scoring Leaders
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Leading Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts

Stanley Cup Playoffs

 * see 1963 Stanley Cup Finals

Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1962-63 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
 * Eddie Johnston, Boston Bruins
 * Paul Henderson, Detroit Red Wings
 * Claude Larose, Montreal Canadiens
 * Jacques Laperriere, Montreal Canadiens
 * Terry Harper, Montreal Canadiens
 * Jim Neilson, New York Rangers
 * Kent Douglas, Toronto Maple Leafs

Last Games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1962-63 (listed with their last team):
 * Bob Turner, Chicago Black Hawks
 * Jack Evans, Chicago Black Hawks
 * Vic Stasiuk, Detroit Red Wings
 * Lou Fontinato, Montreal Canadiens

Regular Season Attendance

 * 1) Montreal: 499,756
 * 2) Toronto: 497,662
 * 3) Chicago: 482,770
 * 4) New York: 460,536
 * 5) Detroit: 404,000
 * 6) Boston: 380,792