1927-28 NHL season
Encyclopedia
Finals
The circus knocked the Rangers out of Madison Square Garden, and all games would be played in the Montreal Forum, even though Boston offered to host the Rangers. The Maroons won game one 2–0, with Nels StewartNels Stewart
Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League...
and goaltender Clint Benedict
Clint Benedict
Clinton Stevenson "Praying Bennie" Benedict was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League to wear a face mask...
the stars.
Drama took over in game two when Nels Stewart fired a hard shot that struck New York goaltender Lorne Chabot
Lorne Chabot
Lorne "Chabotsky" Chabot was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Lorne played in the National Hockey League from 1926 to 1937. During this time, he played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks, Montreal Maroons, and New York Americans...
in the eye. He could not continue, and the Rangers needed a goaltender. However, when coach Eddie Gerard
Eddie Gerard
Edward George Gerard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada he played professionally for 10 seasons for the hometown Ottawa Senators and was member of several Stanley Cup-winning teams before retiring as a player in 1923...
refused to let the Rangers use Alex Connell
Alex Connell
Alec Connell was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, New York Americans and Montreal Maroons teams in the National Hockey League...
or minor league goaltender Hugh McCormick, Lester Patrick
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
, Ranger coach, in anger, decided to don the pads himself. The Rangers then body-blasted any Maroon who got near Patrick. Bill Cook
Bill Cook
William Osser Xavier Cook was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and Saskatoon Crescents in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association....
scored, putting the Rangers ahead 1–0, but Nels Stewart was not to be denied and scored, tying the game. In overtime, Frank Boucher
Frank Boucher
François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...
got the winner for the Rangers and they carried Patrick, tears streaming down his eyes, off the ice.
Joe "Red Light" Miller, New York Americans goalie, was allowed to take Chabot's place in goal and he played well in a 2–0 loss in game three. However, Frank Boucher starred as the Rangers took the next two games, and the Stanley Cup. Drama almost took place in the final game when Miller was badly cut on a shot, but he was able to continue. The crowd became unruly at times and referee Mike Rodden
Mike Rodden
Michael James Rodden was a Canadian sports journalist, National Hockey League referee, and Canadian football coach, and was the first person elected to both the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame .Born in Mattawa, Ontario, Rodden officiated in 1,187 National Hockey League...
took abuse for disallowed goals by Maroon players. Even NHL president Frank Calder
Frank Calder
-External links:*...
was a target of some fans for not intervening. The Rangers became the second American team to win the Cup and the first NHL American team
to do so.
New York Rangers vs. Montreal Maroons
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5 | New York Rangers | 0 | Montreal Maroons | 2 | |
| April 7 | New York Rangers | 2 | Montreal Maroons | 1 | (OT) |
| April 10 | New York Rangers | 0 | Montreal Maroons | 2 | |
| April 12 | New York Rangers | 1 | Montreal Maroons | 0 | |
| April 14 | New York Rangers | 2 | Montreal Maroons | 1 |
New York wins best-of-five series 3–2
NHL awards
The terms for awarding the O'Brien Cup and the Prince of Wales TrophyPrince of Wales Trophy
The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, prior to the final series of games for the Stanley Cup...
were changed to honour the top finisher in each of the NHL's divisions. Howie Morenz
Howie Morenz
Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers...
won the Hart Trophy, the first of three times he would be named most valuable player. Frank Boucher
Frank Boucher
François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...
won the Lady Byng, the first of seven times he would win the award. George Hainsworth
George Hainsworth
George Hainsworth was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League, and the Saskatoon Crescents in the Western Canada Hockey League....
won the Vezina Trophy for the second consecutive year.
| 1927–28 NHL awards | |
|---|---|
| Hart Memorial Trophy Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different... : {Most valuable player) |
Howie Morenz Howie Morenz Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers... , Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
| Lady Byng Trophy: (Excellence and sportsmanship) |
Frank Boucher Frank Boucher François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association... , New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
| O'Brien Cup O'Brien Trophy The O'Brien Trophy, or O'Brien Cup, as labelled on the trophy itself, is a retired trophy that was awarded in the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League ice hockey leagues of North America from 1910 to 1950. It was originally donated to the NHA by Canadian Senator M.J.... : (Canadian Division champions) |
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
| Prince of Wales Trophy Prince of Wales Trophy The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, prior to the final series of games for the Stanley Cup... : (American Division champions) |
Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
| Vezina Trophy Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team... : (Most valuable goaltender) |
George Hainsworth George Hainsworth George Hainsworth was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League, and the Saskatoon Crescents in the Western Canada Hockey League.... , Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howie Morenz Howie Morenz Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers... |
Montreal Canadiens | 43 | 33 | 18 | 51 |
| Aurel Joliat Aurel Joliat Aurèle Émile "Mighty Atom, Little Giant" Joliat was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens.... |
Montreal Canadiens | 44 | 28 | 11 | 39 |
| Frank Boucher Frank Boucher François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association... |
New York Rangers | 44 | 23 | 12 | 35 |
| George Hay George Hay (hockey) William George "The Western Wizard" Hay was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Regina Capitals and Portland Rosebuds of the Western Canada Hockey League and the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League... |
Detroit Cougars | 42 | 22 | 13 | 35 |
| Nels Stewart Nels Stewart Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League... |
Montreal Maroons | 41 | 27 | 7 | 34 |
| Art Gagne Art Gagne Arthur E. Gagné was a Canadian ice hockey forward.Gagne started his professional hockey career with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League in 1921. He would also play with the Regina Capitals. In 1926, he moved to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League... |
Montreal Canadiens | 44 | 20 | 10 | 30 |
| Bun Cook Bun Cook Frederick Joseph "Bun" Cook was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League and the Saskatoon Crescents in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.Cook was part of the Bread Line with his brother Bill Cook and Frank... |
New York Rangers | 44 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| Bill Carson Bill Carson (ice hockey) William Joseph "Doc" Carson was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 159 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Bracebridge, Ontario, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. He won the Stanley Cup in 1929 with the Boston Bruins, scoring the game winning goal... |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 32 | 20 | 6 | 26 |
| Frank Finnigan Frank Finnigan Francis Arthur Clarence "The Shawville Express" Finnigan was a Canadian ice hockey professional forward who played in the National Hockey League from 1923 to 1937. During this time, he played for the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St... |
Ottawa Senators | 38 | 20 | 5 | 25 |
| Bill Cook Bill Cook William Osser Xavier Cook was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and Saskatoon Crescents in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.... |
New York Rangers | 43 | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| Duke Keats Duke Keats Gordon Blanchard "Duke, Iron Duke" Keats was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association , Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League and the Boston Bruins, Detroit Cougars and Chicago Black Hawks of the National... |
Detroit Cougars/Chicago Black Hawks | 38 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; GAA = Goals against averageGoals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
| Player | Team | GP | Mins | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Hainsworth George Hainsworth George Hainsworth was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League, and the Saskatoon Crescents in the Western Canada Hockey League.... |
Montreal Canadiens | 44 | 2730 | 48 | 13 | 1.05 |
| Alex Connell Alex Connell Alec Connell was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, New York Americans and Montreal Maroons teams in the National Hockey League... |
Ottawa Senators | 44 | 2760 | 57 | 15 | 1.24 |
| Hal Winkler Hal Winkler Harold Lang "Hal" Winkler was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender.Winkler started his professional hockey career with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League in 1922. He would also play with the Calgary Tigers. In 1926, he moved to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League... |
Boston Bruins | 44 | 2780 | 70 | 15 | 1.51 |
| Roy Worters Roy Worters Roy "Shrimp" Worters was a Canadian professional Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Canadiens and New York Americans, and was notable for recording 66 shutouts in his career and being, at 5'3" tall, the... |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 44 | 2740 | 76 | 11 | 1.66 |
| Clint Benedict Clint Benedict Clinton Stevenson "Praying Bennie" Benedict was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League to wear a face mask... |
Montreal Maroons | 44 | 2690 | 76 | 6 | 1.70 |
Source: hockey-reference.com
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1927–28 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):- Dit ClapperDit ClapperAubrey Victor "Dit" Clapper was a Canadian Hall of Fame ice hockey player....
, Boston Bruins - Norman Gainor, Boston Bruins
- Cy Wentworth, Chicago Black Hawks
- Charlie Gardiner, Chicago Black Hawks
- Larry AurieLarry AurieHarry Lawrence "Little Dempsey" Aurie was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Cougars, Detroit Falcons and Detroit Red Wings.- Playing career :Aurie was considered by owner James Norris as the heart and soul of the...
, Detroit Cougars - Marty BurkeMarty BurkeMartin Alphonsos Burke was a defenceman in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Black Hawks. He was on two Stanley Cup championship teams in 1930 and 1931 with Montreal.- External links :...
, Montreal Canadiens - Jimmy Ward, Montreal Maroons
- Joe LambJoe LambJoseph Gordon Lamb was a professional ice hockey forward who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Maroons, Ottawa Senators, New York Americans, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Eagles and Detroit Red Wings...
, Montreal Maroons - Marty BarryMarty BarryMartin J. "Goal-a-Game" Barry was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965...
, New York Americans - Allan ShieldsAllan ShieldsJohn Allan "Al" Shields was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons and Boston Bruins.-Playing career:During the 1934–35 NHL season Shields won the...
, Ottawa Senators - Joe PrimeauJoe PrimeauAlfred Joseph Francis "Gentleman Joe" Primeau , was a Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
, Toronto Maple Leafs
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1927–28 (listed with their last team):- Sprague CleghornSprague CleghornHenry William Sprague "Peg" Cleghorn, , was a Canadian professional hockey player from Westmount who played for the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Renfrew Creamery Kings and Toronto St. Patricks in the National Hockey Association and National Hockey League...
, Boston Bruins - Corb Denneny, Chicago Black Hawks
- Frank FoystonFrank FoystonFrank Corbett "The Flash" Foyston was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward.Born in Minesing, Ontario, Foyston played for the Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA, the Seattle Metropolitans in the PCHA, the Victoria Cougars in the WCHL/WHL and Detroit Cougars in the NHL.He won the Stanley Cup with...
, Detroit Cougars - Jack Walker, Detroit Cougars
- Billy BoucherBilly BoucherWilliam Martin Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he played in the National Hockey League for the Hamilton Tigers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and New York Americans. He also played for the New Haven Eagles and Bronx Tigers of the...
, New York Americans - Odie CleghornOdie CleghornJames Ogilvie "Odie" Cleghorn was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger, linesman and referee...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
See also
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- Ice hockey at the 1928 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1928 Winter OlympicsAt the 1928 Winter Olympics, the ice hockey event was contested by 11 teams. The competition was held from Saturday, February 11, 1928 to Sunday, February 19, 1928....
- Prairie Hockey LeaguePrairie Hockey LeagueThe Prairie Hockey League was a Canadian professional ice hockey league in Alberta and Saskatchewan that was created following the demise of the Western Hockey League in 1926. It operated for two seasons....
- List of pre-NHL seasons
- 1927 in sports1927 in sports-American football:NFL championship* New York Giants win National Football League titleCollege championship* College football national championship – Georgia Bulldogs, Illinois Fighting Illini, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Texas A&M Aggies and Yale Bulldogs -Association football:England* The Football...
- 1928 in sports1928 in sports-American football:NFL championship* Providence Steam Roller wins the National Football League titleCollege championship* College football national championship – University of Detroit Titans, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and USC Trojans...