History of the Chicago Blackhawks

Just like the other Original Six NHL teams, the Chicago Blackhawks has its own captivating story to tell. A story that goes as far back as September 25, 1926 when the National Hockey League awarded the franchise to the Harvard-educated coffee magnate, Frederic McLaughlin.History of the Chicago Blackhawks

Although, McLaughlin did not have a background in the sport, he served as the general manager of the Chicago Blackhwaks. Naming the team was far from being difficult because all McLaughlin had to do was look back on his past.

Minor League Affiliates: - Rockford Icehogs (AHL) – Toledo Walleye (ECHL)

Stanley Cups: 

(4) (1933 – 34, 1937 – 38, 1960 – 61, 2009 – 10)

Conference Championships:

(2) (1991 – 92, 2009 – 10)

Presidents’ Trophies:

(1) (1990 – 91)

Divison Championships:

(14)  (1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72,1972–73, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86,1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 2009–10)

When McLaughlin purchased the Portland Rosebuds of the Western Hockey League for $200,000, several great players were automatically moved to the Chicago Blackhawks, setting the foundation for the team. Not long after, the Chicago Blackhawks began reaping winnings and awards.

The first season of the Blackhawks wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t grand either. The team finished only 3^rdplacein the NHL’s old American Division with a record of 19-23-3 and made the playoffs. However, the Chicago Blackhawks experienced an early setback after they were eliminated from the opening playoff round. McLaughlin fired then head coach Pete Muldoon and over the next 13 years, the team has had 14 coaches taking turns.

Early Achievements of the Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks are based in Chicago, Illinois. Just a little less than two months since the team’s inception, it made its debut in front of 9,000 fans at the Chicago Coliseum. The date to remember was November 17, 1926 when the Blackhawks defeated Toronto St. Pat’s by a score of 4-1.

Moving to the Chicago Stadium allowed the Blackhawks to enjoy some wonderful successes. They played their first game in the arena on December 16, 1929 and won against the Pittsburg Pirates by a score of 3-1.

In 1934, the Blackhawks had their first-ever Stanley Cup win after defeating the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 1-0 in double overtime. Blackhawk’s best goaltender, Charlie Gardiner, who joined the team in 1927 and led the Blackhakws to the Stanley Cup Finals championship, became the only goalie to be engraved on the Stanley Cup as a Captain. Sadly, less than two months after winning the Cup, Gardiner passed away due to massive brain tumor.

Artist's rendition of Chicago Stadium.

The team refused to be bogged down and in 1938they won their 2^nd Stanley Cup against the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 3-1.

But it appears that even with the two Stanley Cup victories under the Blackhawk’s belt, things didn’t come very easy for the team, especially after McLaughlin’s death in 1944. From the 1946-47 through the 1957-58 seasons, the Hawks made the playoffs only once. And for 15 years, between 1946-47 and 1959-60 seasons, the team continued to lose regular-season records.

In 1961, the Hawks was back to the Stanley Cup limelight. Making their first appearance since 1944, the team bested the Detroit Red Wings in the best-of-seven series.

The team made it to the Cup Finals twice more in the 1960s but lost against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962 and the Montreal Canadiens in 1965.

Ron Murphy and Eric Nesterenko battle in front of the Toronto net

From 1967-68 season through 1972-73 season, the Blackhawks traded several of its team members to other professional hockey teams, including Piloteto the Maple Leafs for Jim Pappin in 1968; and Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield to Boston Bruins for Pit Martin, Jack Norris and Gilles Marotte in 1967. But the biggest blow came in 1972-73 when Bobby Hull jumped to the Winnipeg Jets for a million-dollar contract.  Hull led the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 1961, which marked the team’s 3^rdStanley Cup win.

For the rest of the 1970s, the Blackhawks made it to the playoffs each year and won division championships, but failed to take home the Stanley Cup.

The Chicago Blackhawks in the 20^thand 21^stCentury

The Blackhawks won the President’s Trophy in the 1990-91 season for best regular-season record.

Jonathan Toews, at age 20, became the third youngest captain in history in 2008.

In 1991-92, the team reached the elusive Final after 19 years. Jeremy Roenick(scoring 53 goals) and Steve Larmer(scoring 29 goals)were becoming key players of the team. In 1992, the Blackhawks finished an 11-game post-season winning streak, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals before being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Game 2 proved to be Blackhawk’s lackluster game after the team loss by a score of 3-1. This was followed by another loss in Game 3 by a score of 1-0.

In 1993-94, the Blackhawks marked their last game at the old Chicago Stadium. The team moved into the new United Center in the lockout shortened 1994-95 seasons. They made it into the Western Conference Final but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

The 21^st century didn’t particularly start off good for the Blackhawks. They were consistently out of the playoffs until the 2008-09 seasons. One of the team’s leading stars, Tony Amonte, joined the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002.

In February 2004, ESPN named the Chicago Blackhawks as the worst franchise in professional sports. The fate of the team became bleaker after the team’s owner Bill Wirtz raised ticket prices to an average of $50 and did not allow home games to be aired in the Chicago area. The Chicagoans have viewed the Blackhawks with so much aloofness and hockey fans began supporting the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves.

The 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

The team did not enjoy much success and winnings for the succeeding years until Bill Wirtz ended his battle with cancer. His son took over the team and drastically changed some policies. Some of the team’s home games began airing on television again after the franchise partnered with Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN-TV. Marketing was bolstered and the new management was able to bring back former Blackhawks greats, such Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. After several trade-offs and some more marketing push, the Blackhawks are back in the game. They hosted the 2009 NHL Winter Classic and finished second place in the 2008-2009 regular season, with a record of 46-24-12.

Prior the 2009-10 NHL season, the Blackhawks acquired Marian Hossa,TomasKopecky, John Madden, and Richard Petiot. Although the team run across a temporary ordeal involving their free restricted agents, it managed to solidify the Chicago Blackhawks paving the way for their 4^th Stanley Cup in 2010.

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History of the Boston Bruins

The term “Bruins” is an Old English word which means brown bears. This is also the name that was given to one of NHL’s Original Six teams, the Boston Bruins.

Minor League Affiliates:  – Providence Bruins (AHL)      - Reading Royals (ECHL)

Stanley Cups:                              

(6)(1928 – 29, 1938 – 39, 1940 -41, 1969 – 70, 1971 – 72, 2010- 2011)

Conference Championships:

(3) (1987 – 88, 1989 – 90, 2010 – 11)

Presidents’ Trophies:              

(1) (1989 – 90)

Division Championships: (23) (1927 – 28, 1928 – 29, 1929 – 30, 1930 – 31, 1932 – 33, 1934 – 35, 1937 – 38, 1970 – 71, 1971 – 72, 1973 – 74, 1975 – 76, 1976 – 77,  1978 – 79, 1982 – 83, 1983 – 84, 1989 – 90, 1990 – 91, 1992 – 93, 2001 – 02, 2003 – 04, 2008 – 09, 2010 – 2011)

The team was founded by grocery tycoon, Charles Adams on November 1, 1924, and became the first American team in the NHL. He hired former star player, Art Ross as the general manager, who was also responsible for coming up with the Bruins nickname. On December 1, 1924, the Bruins had their first NHL game at the Boston Arena. They pitted against the Montreal Maroons and won the game by a 2-1 score. This was followed by three more seasons playing in the arena until they found their new home at the Boston Garden on November 20, 1928.

In their third season, the Bruins showed great improvement. This didn’t escape Ross’ radar and so he took advantage of the then troubled Western Hockey League by purchasing several western stars including the team’s first superstar, Eddie Shore – a professional ice hockey defenseman from Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan.

The years that followed earned Boston Bruins the success that made them a household name among hockey fans. Tucked under the franchise’s belt are six Stanley Cups and twenty-three Division championships.

Early Achievements of the Boston Bruins

The Bruins’ first Stanley Cup happened in the 1928-29 season. Leading the team in its first NHL championship were Ralph ‘Cooney’ Weiland, Eddie Shore, Lionel Hitchman, Dit Clapper, Dutch Gainor, and Cecil ‘Tiny’ Thompson. They excited the crowd with their winning tactic, the Dynamite Line.

In the 1930s, the team collected five first-place finishes, with many individual honors. Tiny Thompson was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the league’s premier goalie four times. Eddie Shore was another to bring victory for the team after he was awarded the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) four times.

Yet, despite the accolades, Thompson was traded for rookie goaltender, Frank ‘Mr. Zero’ Brimsek. During the 1938-39 season, the Bruins captured their 2^nd Stanley Cup, with legendary goalie Frank ‘Mr. Zero’ Brimsek and Eddie Shore leading the team. Brimsek also captured the Vezina and Calder Trophies, making him the first rookie to be named NHL First All-Star Team.

In 1940, Shore was traded to the New York Americans. The following year, the Bruins captured their 3^rd Stanley Cup – the teams first Stanley Cup after 29 years.

During the World War II, some of Bruins’ great players enlisted to fight in the war. Among them are Brimsek, Schmidt, Bauer and Dumart. The move somehow hurt the fate of the team. And when the stars came back for the 1945-46 season, the team’s performance was far from brilliant. Brimsek in particular was no longer as good as he was before joining the war. He was later traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1949. Between the 1960 and 1967, the Boston Bruins would miss the playoffs.

Another 29 years had passed before the Bruins would win another Stanley Cup in 1970, defeating the St. Louis Blues in four games. Defenseman Bobby Orr scored the clinching goal and on the same season, he had won the Art Ross Trophy, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Hart Memorial Trophy. Orr was the only player to ever won four major awards in the same season.

In 1971-72, the Bruins once again scored the Stanley Cup against the New York Rangers. The team won the best-of-seven series four-games to two.

The Boston Bruins in the 20^thand21^stCentury

In 2000-01 season, the Bruins missed the playoffs by just one point. The following season, the team won their first Northeast Division title since 1993.

In 2003-04, the Bruins won another division title but luck was not on their side to make it to the Stanley championship.

In 2004-05 NHL season, the Bruins were wiped out by a lock out. And in 2006-07, the team finished last place in the division.

The 2008-09 season appeared to be a revival era for the team. They hadthe best record in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs for the fifth time in nine years. They faced the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs and defeated them in four games. While they’re starting to show off the team’s renewed strength they suffered a loss in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference semifinals.

The team went on and won the 2010 NHL Winter Classic over the Philadelphia Flyers in a 2–1 overtime decision at Fenway Park. And in the 2011 Stanley Cup, the Bruins shocked the world by defeating theVancouver Canucks in 7 games, breaking the 39-year Cup drought.

The team was the first in the NHL history to win a Game 7 three times in the same playoff run.

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Original 6 Hockey Teams

The site is a tribute to the original 6 hockey teams and features their present-day standings as if they were still the only teams in the league.

The Original 6 Hockey Teams refers to the six teams that comprised the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1942 – 1967 before the first league expansion. The oldest of the original six hockey teams are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens who both joined the NHL in 1917.

In 1924, the Boston Bruins joined the league and were followed by three more American teams in 1926; the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago BlackHawks. There were other teams in the NHL during the 1920′s (Pittsburgh Pirates, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Maroons, and the New York Americans), but the Original 6 refers to the 6 NHL teams who existed prior to the 1967 expansion season.  All 6 teams still exist in the National Hockey League today and their current records are indicated in the above standings, as if they were still in the same division.

Original6Hockey.com is a fan site honoring the Original 6 Hockey Teams and is not affiliated with the National Hockey League (NHL) or it’s affiliates.

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