1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks season

1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks
Division2nd NHL
1963–64 record36–22–12
Home record26–4–5
Road record10–18–4
Goals for218
Goals against169
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachBilly Reay
CaptainPierre Pilote
Alternate captainsBill Hay
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (43)
AssistsStan Mikita (50)
PointsStan Mikita (89)
Penalty minutesStan Mikita (146)
WinsGlenn Hall (34)
Goals against averageGlenn Hall (2.30)

The 1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 38th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a second-place finish in 1962–63, as Chicago won a team record 32 games and also set a club record with 81 points. The Hawks would then be defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL-semi finals, making it the first time since 1960 that Chicago did not play in the Stanley Cup finals.[1]

During the off-season, the Blackhawks decided not to bring back head coach Rudy Pilous, and hired former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Billy Reay to replace him, where he coached from 1957 to 1959, posting a record of 26–50–14. Reay had most recently been the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL.

Chicago started the year off on a hot streak, as they opened the season off with a 15–2–6 record in their first 23 games. The Hawks cooled down, but remained in a battle with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the NHL. The Hawks and Maple Leafs played a wild game on December 7, which resulted in a bench clearing brawl after Leafs player Bobby Baun dragged Blackhawk Reg Fleming out of the penalty box, as Fleming was about to serve a penalty for spearing Toronto player Eddie Shack. A total of seven major penalties, six misconducts, three game misconducts and $25 fines were issued against 22 players who left the bench. Hawks head coach Billy Reay and Leafs head coach Punch Imlach were fined $1000, while Reg Fleming received a $200 fine, and Murray Balfour was hit for a $100 fine for Chicago, while Bobby Baun ($150), Larry Hillman ($150) and Carl Brewer ($50) received fines on the Maple Leafs. The other 22 players who left the bench also had an additional $100 fine for their role in the brawl.

The Black Hawks continued the season playing very good hockey, and ended the season finished in second place for the second consecutive season, finishing with a club record 36 wins and 84 points, as they finished one point behind the Montreal Canadiens for top spot in the NHL.[2]

Offensively, the Hawks were led by Stan Mikita, who led the league with 89 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy for the first time in his career. Mikita also led the team with 146 penalty minutes. He became the first player to lead the league in scoring and in penalty minutes.[3] Bobby Hull scored a league high 43 goals, and finished just behind Mikita with 87 points, while Kenny Wharram scored 39 goals and 71 points. Wharram also was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy. Pierre Pilote led the defense, scoring 7 goals and 53 points, while earning his second consecutive Norris Trophy.

In goal, Glenn Hall once again played the majority of the games, winning a club record 34 games, while posting a 2.30 GAA, and earning 7 shutouts along the way.[4]

The Hawks would face the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL semi-finals, as Detroit finished fourth in the NHL with a record of 30–29–11, earning 71 points, which was 13 less than Chicago. The series opened up at Chicago Stadium for the opening two games, and the Black Hawks won the series opener, defeating the Red Wings 4–1, however, Detroit evened up the series in the second game with a 5–4 win. The series shifted to the Detroit Olympia for the next two games, and Detroit took a 2–1 series lead, shutting out the Hawks 3–0, however, Chicago evened the series up in the fourth game, winning 3–2 in overtime. Chicago took a series lead in the fifth game at home, holding off the Wings for a 3–2 victory, however, Detroit once again even the series up in the sixth game at the Olympia, hammering the Black Hawks 7–2, setting up a seventh and final game of the series. The Black Hawks, who had lost only five times at home all season long, were stunned by the underdog Red Wings, as Detroit won the game 4–2, and eliminated the Black Hawks for the second straight season.[5]

Season standings

National Hockey League[6]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 70 36 21 13 209 167 +42 85
2 Chicago Black Hawks 70 36 22 12 218 169 +49 84
3 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 33 25 12 192 172 +20 78
4 Detroit Red Wings 70 30 29 11 191 204 −13 71
5 New York Rangers 70 22 38 10 186 242 −56 54
6 Boston Bruins 70 18 40 12 170 212 −42 48

Record vs. opponents

1963–64 NHL Records [7]
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR
Boston — 3–9–2 3–10–1 2–7–5 5–7–2 5–7–2
Chicago 9–3–2 — 5–6–3 7–5–2 9–3–2 7–5–2
Detroit 10–3–1 6–5–3 — 5–7–2 6–6–2 3–8–3
Montreal 7–2–5 5–7–2 7–5–2 — 10–3–1 7–5–2
New York 7–5–2 3–9–2 6–6–2 3–10–1 — 3–8–3
Toronto 7–5–2 5–7–2 8–3–3 5–7–2 8–3–3 —


Game log

Regular season

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 9 New York Rangers 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0–0 2
2 October 10 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Detroit Red Wings 1–1–0 2
3 October 13 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1–0 4
4 October 16 Boston Bruins 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1–0 6
5 October 20 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1–0 8
6 October 24 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Detroit Red Wings 4–1–1 9
7 October 26 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 4–1–2 10
8 October 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 New York Rangers 5–1–2 12
9 October 29 Detroit Red Wings 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 6–1–2 14
10 November 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 Toronto Maple Leafs 7–1–2 16
11 November 5 New York Rangers 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 8–1–2 18
12 November 7 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Montreal Canadiens 8–1–3 19
13 November 9 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 8–1–4 20
14 November 10 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Boston Bruins 8–2–4 20
15 November 13 Boston Bruins 4–6 Chicago Black Hawks 9–2–4 22
16 November 16 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Montreal Canadiens 10–2–4 24
17 November 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–6 Chicago Black Hawks 11–2–4 26
18 November 20 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 12–2–4 28
19 November 24 Montreal Canadiens 3–7 Chicago Black Hawks 13–2–4 30
20 November 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 14–2–4 32
21 November 30 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 New York Rangers 15–2–4 34
22 December 1 New York Rangers 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 15–2–5 35
23 December 4 Boston Bruins 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 15–2–6 36
24 December 7 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 15–3–6 36
25 December 8 Montreal Canadiens 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 16–3–6 38
26 December 11 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 New York Rangers 17–3–6 40
27 December 12 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Boston Bruins 17–4–6 40
28 December 14 Chicago Black Hawks 4–5 Detroit Red Wings 17–5–6 40
29 December 15 Detroit Red Wings 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 17–5–7 41
30 December 18 Boston Bruins 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 17–6–7 41
31 December 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Montreal Canadiens 17–7–7 41
32 December 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Boston Bruins 18–7–7 43
33 December 25 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 19–7–7 45
34 December 27 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 New York Rangers 19–8–7 45
35 December 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–8–7 47
36 January 1 New York Rangers 5–2 Chicago Black Hawks 20–9–7 47
37 January 4 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 20–10–7 47
38 January 5 Boston Bruins 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 21–10–7 49
39 January 9 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Detroit Red Wings 21–11–7 49
40 January 11 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 22–11–7 51
41 January 12 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks 22–12–7 51
42 January 16 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1 Montreal Canadiens 22–13–7 51
43 January 18 New York Rangers 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 23–13–7 53
44 January 19 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–0 Chicago Black Hawks 23–14–7 53
45 January 23 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Boston Bruins 24–14–7 55
46 January 23 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Detroit Red Wings 24–15–7 55
47 January 26 Montreal Canadiens 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 24–15–8 56
48 January 29 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 24–15–9 57
49 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 New York Rangers 24–15–10 58
50 February 2 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Boston Bruins 25–15–10 60
51 February 5 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 26–15–10 62
52 February 6 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 Detroit Red Wings 26–16–10 62
53 February 8 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 26–16–11 63
54 February 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 27–16–11 65
55 February 12 New York Rangers 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 28–16–11 67
56 February 15 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 28–17–11 67
57 February 16 Boston Bruins 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 29–17–11 69
58 February 19 Chicago Black Hawks 7–2 New York Rangers 30–17–11 71
59 February 22 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 30–18–11 71
60 February 23 Boston Bruins 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 31–18–11 73
61 February 27 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 32–18–11 75
62 February 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 32–19–11 75
63 March 1 Montreal Canadiens 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 33–19–11 77
64 March 4 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 New York Rangers 33–20–11 77
65 March 5 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 Boston Bruins 33–20–12 78
66 March 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 34–20–12 80
67 March 14 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Montreal Canadiens 34–21–12 80
68 March 15 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Detroit Red Wings 34–22–12 80
69 March 17 New York Rangers 0–4 Chicago Black Hawks 35–22–12 82
70 March 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Boston Bruins 36–22–12 84

Detroit Red Wings 4, Chicago Black Hawks 3

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 March 26 Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0
2 March 29 Detroit Red Wings 5–4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1
3 March 31 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Detroit Red Wings 1–2
4 April 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Detroit Red Wings 2–2
5 April 5 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2
6 April 7 Chicago Black Hawks 2–7 Detroit Red Wings 3–3
7 April 9 Detroit Red Wings 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Stan Mikita 70 39 50 89 146
Bobby Hull 70 43 44 87 50
Kenny Wharram 70 39 32 71 18
Bill Hay 70 23 33 56 30
Pierre Pilote 70 7 46 53 84

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 65 3860 34 19 11 148 7 2.30
Denis DeJordy 6 340 2 3 1 19 0 3.35

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Stan Mikita 7 3 6 9 8
Pierre Pilote 7 2 6 8 6
Bobby Hull 7 2 5 7 2
Bill Hay 7 3 1 4 4
Kenny Wharram 7 2 2 4 6

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Glenn Hall 7 408 3 4 22 0 3.24
Denis DeJordy 1 20 0 0 2 0 6.00

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 5 Art Hampson  Canada Trenton Midgets
2 11 Wayne Davison  Canada Georgetown Midgets
3 16 Bill Carson  Canada Brampton Midgets

References

  1. ^ 1962–63 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com
  2. ^ 1963–64 Chicago Blackhawks Games – Hockey-Reference.com
  3. ^ Dowbiggin, Bruce (2008). The Meaning of Puck. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Key Porter Books. p. 146. ISBN 9781554700417.
  4. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Glenn Hall". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  5. ^ 1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com
  6. ^ "1963–1964 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  7. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources