1931-32 NHL season facts for kids
The 1931–32 NHL season was the 15th time the National Hockey League played its hockey games. Eight teams competed, and each team played 48 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs had an amazing season, winning the Stanley Cup by beating the New York Rangers in three straight games!
Contents
The Regular Season: Who Played?
The 1931–32 NHL season had two groups of teams: the Canadian Division and the American Division. Teams played many games to earn points. The teams with the most points got to go to the playoffs.
Canadian Division Teams
- Montreal Canadiens: They were at the top of this group.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: These were the future champions!
- Montreal Maroons: Another strong team from Canada.
- New York Americans: They also played in this division.
American Division Teams
- New York Rangers: They led this group and made it to the Stanley Cup Final.
- Chicago Black Hawks: A team from Chicago.
- Detroit Falcons: This team was from Detroit.
- Boston Bruins: They also played in the American Division.
Top Scorers: Who Scored the Most Points?
In hockey, players get points for scoring goals and helping their teammates score (called assists). Here are some of the top players who earned the most points during the 1931–32 season:
- Busher Jackson from the Toronto Maple Leafs was the top scorer with 53 points. He scored 28 goals and had 25 assists.
- Joe Primeau, also from the Toronto Maple Leafs, was second with 50 points. He was great at setting up goals, with 37 assists.
- Howie Morenz of the Montreal Canadiens had 49 points.
- Charlie Conacher from the Toronto Maple Leafs scored the most goals, with 34, and had 48 points in total.
- Bill Cook from the New York Rangers also had a great season with 47 points, scoring 33 goals.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Championship
The playoffs are where the best teams battle it out to win the Stanley Cup. It's a very exciting time in hockey!
How the Playoffs Worked
Teams played a series of games, and the first team to win a certain number of games moved on.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Chicago Black Hawks in their first playoff series.
- The Montreal Maroons won against the Detroit Falcons.
- In the next round, the New York Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs then won against the Montreal Maroons.
The Stanley Cup Final
The final series was between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. The Maple Leafs played incredibly well and won all three games against the Rangers. This meant the Toronto Maple Leafs became the champions of the 1931–32 NHL season and won the famous Stanley Cup!
NHL Awards: Celebrating Greatness
At the end of each season, special awards are given to players and teams who showed outstanding skill and sportsmanship.
- The O'Brien Trophy went to the Montreal Canadiens.
- The Prince of Wales Trophy was awarded to the New York Rangers.
- The Hart Memorial Trophy for the most valuable player was given to Howie Morenz of the Montreal Canadiens.
- The Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and skill went to Joe Primeau from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- The Vezina Trophy for the best goalie was won by Chuck Gardiner of the Chicago Black Hawks.
All-Star Teams: The Best Players
At the end of the season, the best players at each position are chosen for the All-Star Teams. It's like picking the dream team for the year!
- Goalies: Chuck Gardiner (Chicago Black Hawks) and Roy Worters (New York Americans).
- Defencemen: Eddie Shore (Boston Bruins), Ching Johnson (New York Rangers), Sylvio Mantha (Montreal Canadiens), and King Clancy (Toronto Maple Leafs).
- Centres: Howie Morenz (Montreal Canadiens) and Hooley Smith (Montreal Maroons).
- Right Wingers: Bill Cook (New York Rangers) and Charlie Conacher (Toronto Maple Leafs).
- Left Wingers: Aurel Joliat (Montreal Canadiens) and Bun Cook (New York Rangers).
- Coaches: Lester Patrick (New York Rangers) and Dick Irvin (Toronto Maple Leafs).
New Players and Last Games
Every season, new players join the league, and some players play their last games.
Players Who Started in 1931–32
- Art Coulter (Chicago Black Hawks)
- Earl Seibert (New York Rangers)
- Ott Heller (New York Rangers)
Players Who Played Their Last Game in 1931–32
- Georges Boucher (Chicago Black Hawks)
- Art Gagne (Detroit Falcons)
- Carson Cooper (Detroit Falcons)
