1963 Stanley Cup Finals
Encyclopedia
The 1963 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs
and the Detroit Red Wings
. The Maple Leafs would win the best-of-seven series four games to one to win the Stanley Cup
, their second straight NHL championship.
4–1 to advance to the finals and Detroit defeated the Chicago Black Hawks
4–2
limited the Wings to 10 goals in the five games, and five different Leafs had multiple-goal games: Duff, Nevin, Stewart, Kelly and Keon.
The Leafs had finished first in the regular season, and were installed as 13–5 favourites by oddsmakers.
scored twice on Detroit's Terry Sawchuk
. The Leafs would suffer a second-period letdown but would win 4–2 to take the lead in the series. Because of the second period letdown, Punch Imlach
would put the team through a morning practice the next morning.
hotel. The Red Wings, led by rookie centre Alex Faulkner
's two goals, including the winner, captured the game 3–2. It was his third game-winning goal and all had been scored on Sundays. Faulkner was a native of Newfoundland
and Howie Meeker
, excaimed that there would be "dancing in the streets tonight".
scored. Red Kelly
added another to make the score 4–2.
On the way to the dressing room the Leafs' players were pelted with paper cups, programs and food containers.
scored for Detroit to tie the game. The game and series winner was scored by Eddie Shack
with seven minutes to go on a deflection. Shack had scored the goal unintentionally as he later admitted. Keon then scored another short-handed goal to put the game out of reach for Detroit.
The Leafs celebrated their second consecutive Stanley Cup
by throwing Imlach, Harold Ballard
and Stafford Smythe
into the showers fully clothed. The team was given a victory parade along Bay Street with a reception at Toronto City Hall.
Toronto wins 1963 Stanley Cup four games to one
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. The Maple Leafs would win the best-of-seven series four games to one to win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, their second straight NHL championship.
Paths to the Final
Toronto defeated the Montreal CanadiensMontreal 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 ...
4–1 to advance to the finals and Detroit defeated the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
4–2
The series
Johnny BowerJohnny Bower
John William Bower , nicknamed "The China Wall", is a Hockey Hall of Fame goalie.-Playing career:...
limited the Wings to 10 goals in the five games, and five different Leafs had multiple-goal games: Duff, Nevin, Stewart, Kelly and Keon.
The Leafs had finished first in the regular season, and were installed as 13–5 favourites by oddsmakers.
Game one
In the first 68 seconds, Dick DuffDick Duff
Terrence Richard "Dick" Duff was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 18 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League . He also served as head coach of the Leafs for part of the...
scored twice on Detroit's Terry Sawchuk
Terry Sawchuk
Terrance Gordon Sawchuk was a Ukrainian-Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.-Early life and playing career:Sawchuk was born and raised...
. The Leafs would suffer a second-period letdown but would win 4–2 to take the lead in the series. Because of the second period letdown, Punch Imlach
Punch Imlach
George "Punch" Imlach , was an NHL coach and general manager. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early career:...
would put the team through a morning practice the next morning.
Game two
The Leafs would again win 4–2 and would again have to have a morning after workout assigned by Imlach.Game three
The series now moved to Detroit. The team was sequestered out of town in a Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
hotel. The Red Wings, led by rookie centre Alex Faulkner
Alex Faulkner
Selm Alexander Faulkner is a retired professional ice hockey player and was the first National Hockey League player from Newfoundland and Labrador.-Playing career:...
's two goals, including the winner, captured the game 3–2. It was his third game-winning goal and all had been scored on Sundays. Faulkner was a native of Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
and Howie Meeker
Howie Meeker
Howard William Meeker, C.M. is a former right winger in the National Hockey League, youth coach and educator in ice hockey and television sports announcer as well as a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament...
, excaimed that there would be "dancing in the streets tonight".
Game four
The Leafs felt that they had let game three slip away due to overconfidence and were determined to not repeat the mistake in game four. The game was close, and was tied 2–2 until with ten minutes to go Dave KeonDave Keon
David Michael Keon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played professionally from 1960–61 to 1981–82, including 15 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986....
scored. Red Kelly
Red Kelly
Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, CM is a retired Canadian ice hockey player in the NHL. He played on more Stanley Cup winning teams than any player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens, and is the only player to be part of two of the nine dynasties recognized by the NHL in its history...
added another to make the score 4–2.
On the way to the dressing room the Leafs' players were pelted with paper cups, programs and food containers.
Game five
Back in Toronto, the Red Wings kept the score close. After Keon scored a short-handed goal, Marcel PronovostMarcel Pronovost
Joseph Rene Marcel Pronovost was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League. He played for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.Marcel was one of the best defensive defenceman of his era...
scored for Detroit to tie the game. The game and series winner was scored by Eddie Shack
Eddie Shack
Edward Steven Phillip Shack , also known by the nicknames "The Entertainer" and "The Nose" is a retired Canadian hockey player who played for six National Hockey League teams from 1959 to 1975,Shack was born in Sudbury, Ontario...
with seven minutes to go on a deflection. Shack had scored the goal unintentionally as he later admitted. Keon then scored another short-handed goal to put the game out of reach for Detroit.
The Leafs celebrated their second consecutive Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
by throwing Imlach, Harold Ballard
Harold Ballard
Harold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
and Stafford Smythe
Stafford Smythe
Conn Stafford Smythe was the son of Conn Smythe and president of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1961–1969 and from 1970 until his death.-Early years:...
into the showers fully clothed. The team was given a victory parade along Bay Street with a reception at Toronto City Hall.
| Date | Visitors | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 9 | Detroit | 2 | Toronto | 4 | |
| April 11 | Detroit | 2 | Toronto | 4 | |
| April 14 | Toronto | 2 | Detroit | 3 | |
| April 16 | Toronto | 4 | Detroit | 2 | |
| April 18 | Detroit | 1 | Toronto | 3 |
Toronto wins 1963 Stanley Cup four games to one