1959-60 NHL season facts for kids

The 1959–60 NHL season was the 43rd year of the NHL. It was a super exciting time for ice hockey fans! The Montreal Canadiens were the champions, winning the Stanley Cup for the fifth time in a row. They beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the finals, winning all four games.

The Regular Season: Who Was Best?

The regular season is when all the teams play many games to see who is the strongest. In the 1959-60 season, six teams competed in the NHL.

Top Teams in the League

The Montreal Canadiens finished first, showing they were a very powerful team. They won 40 games out of 70! They scored a lot of goals and didn't let many in.

The Toronto Maple Leafs came in second place. They had a good season too, winning 35 games.

The Chicago Black Hawks finished third, and the Detroit Red Wings were fourth. These top four teams earned a spot in the exciting Stanley Cup playoffs.

Top Players: Scoring Goals and Making Plays

Many talented players showed off their skills during the season. Here are some of the top scorers:

• Bobby Hull from the Chicago Black Hawks was the top scorer with 81 points (39 goals and 42 assists).
• Bronco Horvath of the Boston Bruins was right behind him with 80 points.
• Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard from the Montreal Canadiens were also among the best, scoring lots of points for their team.
• Gordie Howe from the Detroit Red Wings continued to be one of the league's biggest stars.

Top Goalies: Stopping the Pucks

Goalies are super important for a team's success. They try to stop every shot!

• Jacques Plante from the Montreal Canadiens was one of the best. He played in almost every game and had a very low "goals against average," meaning he didn't let many pucks past him.
• Glenn Hall of the Chicago Black Hawks also had a fantastic season, with six "shutouts" (games where he didn't let any goals in).

Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Championship

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a special tournament after the regular season. Teams play best-of-seven series, meaning a team needs to win four games to move on.

Semifinals: The First Round

• The Montreal Canadiens played against the Chicago Black Hawks. The Canadiens were incredibly strong and won all four games, moving on to the finals.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Detroit Red Wings. This series was more of a battle! The Maple Leafs won four games to two, earning their spot in the finals against Montreal.

Finals: Who Would Win the Cup?

The big final series was between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. Everyone was excited to see who would lift the Stanley Cup.

The Montreal Canadiens showed why they were the best team that year. They won all four games against the Maple Leafs, completing a "sweep." This was their fifth Stanley Cup win in a row, which is an amazing achievement in hockey history!

Playoff Scoring Stars

Even in the tough playoff games, some players really stood out with their scoring:

• Henri Richard and Bernie Geoffrion from the Montreal Canadiens led the playoffs with 12 points each.
• Leonard "Red" Kelly from the Toronto Maple Leafs was a top scorer for his team.
• Dickie Moore of the Canadiens scored the most goals in the playoffs with six.

NHL Awards: Celebrating the Best

At the end of the season, special awards are given to players and teams for their amazing achievements.

• Prince of Wales Trophy: This award went to the Montreal Canadiens for finishing first in the regular season.
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Given to the player with the most points (goals + assists) in the regular season. Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks won it.
• Calder Memorial Trophy: For the best rookie (first-year player). Bill Hay from the Chicago Black Hawks was the winner.
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Awarded to the player judged most valuable to his team. Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings won this prestigious award.
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenceman. Doug Harvey from the Montreal Canadiens won it again.
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Given to the player who shows the best sportsmanship and skill. Don McKenney of the Boston Bruins received this honor.
• Vezina Trophy: For the best goaltender. Jacques Plante from the Montreal Canadiens won this award.

All-Star Teams: The Dream Teams

At the end of the season, the best players at each position are chosen for "All-Star Teams." There's a First Team (the very best) and a Second Team.

• First Team All-Stars:
  • Goaltender: Glenn Hall (Chicago Black Hawks)
  • Defencemen: Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) and Marcel Pronovost (Detroit Red Wings)
  • Centre: Jean Beliveau (Montreal Canadiens)
  • Right Wing: Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings)
  • Left Wing: Bobby Hull (Chicago Black Hawks)