1929-30 NHL season
Encyclopedia
The 1929–30 NHL season was the thirteenth season of the National Hockey League
. Ten teams played 44 games each. The Montreal Canadiens
upset the heavily favoured Boston Bruins
two games to none for the Stanley Cup
.
, instead of only in the defensive and neutral zones. This led to abuse: players sat in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass. The rule was changed again mid-season in December 1929, and players were no longer allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck. Hence the birth of the modern-day offside
rule.
Cooney Weiland
of the Boston Bruins took advantage of the rule changes and smashed the old NHL scoring record with 73 points. Weiland and Tiny Thompson
, who won the Vezina Trophy
with a 2.23 goals against average, led the Bruins to a final season standings record of 38 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie — an .875 winning percentage, an NHL record.
Conn Smythe brought up two outstanding forwards, Harvey Jackson, and Charlie Conacher
, and combined with Joe Primeau
, the Kid Line was born. Conacher actually scored on his first
shift in the NHL. Jackson got his nickname Busher from Tim Daly, the Toronto trainer, when
asked by Daly to assist with some sticks. "I'm a hockey player, not a stickboy," Jackson
told Daly, who replied, "Why you fresh young busher!" And it was Busher Jackson from that
day on.
On 7 January 1930, Clint Benedict
became the first goalie in NHL history to don a protective face mask. He did so for five games to protect a broken nose. The next time a mask made its way into the NHL was almost 30 years later when Jacques Plante
wore one in a game on 1 November 1959.
Eddie Gerard
resigned as manager-coach of the Montreal Maroons. He was replaced as manager by team president James Strachan. Dunc Munro
was hired as coach and led the team to first place in the Canadian Division.
There was a well-founded rumour that Eddie Gerard
would take the coaching reins of Ottawa from Newsy Lalonde
when Lalonde was not well. Dave Gill filled in during his absence and the team did much better and made the playoffs. Gerard turned down the coaching job.
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
and after having not lost consecutive games all season, the Boston Bruins
were swept by the Montreal Canadiens
two games to none in a best-of-three series. The first game saw Boston play way below its usual form. The Canadiens then won the Stanley Cup with a 4–3 victory in game two. The Canadiens went 5–0–1 in the playoffs, making them one of the few Stanley Cup-winning teams in history to not lose a game in the playoffs.
won the Hart Trophy for the second time. Frank Boucher
won the Lady Byng for the third consecutive year. Tiny Thompson
won the Vezina for the first time. Thompson would go on to win the trophy four times.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Ten teams played 44 games each. The Montreal Canadiens
Montreal 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 ...
upset the heavily favoured Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
two games to none for 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...
.
Regular season
To combat low scoring, a major rule change was implemented. Players were now allowed forward passing in the offensive zoneHockey rink
An ice hockey rink is an ice rink that is specifically designed for ice hockey, a team sport. It is rectangular with rounded corners and surrounded by a wall approximately 40 inches high called the boards.- Name origins :...
, instead of only in the defensive and neutral zones. This led to abuse: players sat in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass. The rule was changed again mid-season in December 1929, and players were no longer allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck. Hence the birth of the modern-day offside
Offside (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, the current play is offside if a player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck itself enters the zone, either carried by a teammate or sent into the attacking zone by an attacking player. If a defending player carries, passes, or otherwise intentionally sends...
rule.
Cooney Weiland
Cooney Weiland
Ralph "Cooney" Weiland was an NHL forward who played for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings....
of the Boston Bruins took advantage of the rule changes and smashed the old NHL scoring record with 73 points. Weiland and Tiny Thompson
Tiny Thompson
Cecil Ralph "Tiny" Thompson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League , first for the Boston Bruins, and later for the Detroit Red Wings. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959...
, who won the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
with a 2.23 goals against average, led the Bruins to a final season standings record of 38 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie — an .875 winning percentage, an NHL record.
Conn Smythe brought up two outstanding forwards, Harvey Jackson, and Charlie Conacher
Charlie Conacher
Charles William "The Big Bomber" Conacher, Sr. was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Americans in the National Hockey League. An early power forward, Conacher was nicknamed "The Big Bomber," for his size, powerful...
, and combined with Joe Primeau
Joe Primeau
Alfred Joseph Francis "Gentleman Joe" Primeau , was a Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
, the Kid Line was born. Conacher actually scored on his first
shift in the NHL. Jackson got his nickname Busher from Tim Daly, the Toronto trainer, when
asked by Daly to assist with some sticks. "I'm a hockey player, not a stickboy," Jackson
told Daly, who replied, "Why you fresh young busher!" And it was Busher Jackson from that
day on.
On 7 January 1930, Clint Benedict
Clint Benedict
Clinton Stevenson "Praying Bennie" Benedict was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League to wear a face mask...
became the first goalie in NHL history to don a protective face mask. He did so for five games to protect a broken nose. The next time a mask made its way into the NHL was almost 30 years later when Jacques Plante
Jacques Plante
Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
wore one in a game on 1 November 1959.
Eddie Gerard
Eddie Gerard
Edward George Gerard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada he played professionally for 10 seasons for the hometown Ottawa Senators and was member of several Stanley Cup-winning teams before retiring as a player in 1923...
resigned as manager-coach of the Montreal Maroons. He was replaced as manager by team president James Strachan. Dunc Munro
Dunc Munro
Duncan Brown Munro was a Canadian Olympic ice hockey player who played with and coached the Montreal Maroons. He was born in Moray, Scotland. When he was still a child his family moved to Toronto, where he learned to play hockey. In his youth Munro also excelled in track events as a runner...
was hired as coach and led the team to first place in the Canadian Division.
There was a well-founded rumour that Eddie Gerard
Eddie Gerard
Edward George Gerard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada he played professionally for 10 seasons for the hometown Ottawa Senators and was member of several Stanley Cup-winning teams before retiring as a player in 1923...
would take the coaching reins of Ottawa from Newsy Lalonde
Newsy Lalonde
Édouard Cyrille "Newsy" Lalonde was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward in the National Hockey League and a professional lacrosse player, regarded as one of hockey's and lacrosse's greatest players of the first half of the 20th century and one of sport's most colourful characters...
when Lalonde was not well. Dave Gill filled in during his absence and the team did much better and made the playoffs. Gerard turned down the coaching job.
Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties in minutesTeams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Finals
After defeating the Montreal MaroonsMontreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
and after having not lost consecutive games all season, the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
were swept by the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal 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 ...
two games to none in a best-of-three series. The first game saw Boston play way below its usual form. The Canadiens then won the Stanley Cup with a 4–3 victory in game two. The Canadiens went 5–0–1 in the playoffs, making them one of the few Stanley Cup-winning teams in history to not lose a game in the playoffs.
Playoff bracket
NHL awards
Nels StewartNels Stewart
Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League...
won the Hart Trophy for the second time. Frank Boucher
Frank Boucher
François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...
won the Lady Byng for the third consecutive year. Tiny Thompson
Tiny Thompson
Cecil Ralph "Tiny" Thompson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League , first for the Boston Bruins, and later for the Detroit Red Wings. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959...
won the Vezina for the first time. Thompson would go on to win the trophy four times.
| 1929–30 NHL awards | |
|---|---|
| O'Brien Cup O'Brien Trophy The O'Brien Trophy, or O'Brien Cup, as labelled on the trophy itself, is a retired trophy that was awarded in the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League ice hockey leagues of North America from 1910 to 1950. It was originally donated to the NHA by Canadian Senator M.J.... : (Canadian Division champion) |
Montreal Maroons Montreal Maroons The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935... |
| Prince of Wales Trophy Prince of Wales Trophy The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, prior to the final series of games for the Stanley Cup... : (American Division champion) |
Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
| Hart Memorial Trophy Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different... : (Most valuable player) |
Nels Stewart Nels Stewart Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League... , Montreal Maroons Montreal Maroons The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935... |
| Lady Byng Trophy: (Excellence and sportsmanship) |
Frank Boucher Frank Boucher François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association... , New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
| Vezina Trophy Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team... : (Most valuable goaltender) |
Tiny Thompson Tiny Thompson Cecil Ralph "Tiny" Thompson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League , first for the Boston Bruins, and later for the Detroit Red Wings. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959... , Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes| PLAYER | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooney Weiland Cooney Weiland Ralph "Cooney" Weiland was an NHL forward who played for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings.... |
Boston Bruins | 44 | 43 | 30 | 73 | 27 |
| Frank Boucher Frank Boucher François-Xavier "Raffles" Boucher was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. Boucher played the forward position for the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Maroons in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association... |
New York Rangers | 42 | 26 | 36 | 62 | 16 |
| Dit Clapper Dit Clapper Aubrey Victor "Dit" Clapper was a Canadian Hall of Fame ice hockey player.... |
Boston Bruins | 44 | 41 | 20 | 61 | 48 |
| Bill Cook Bill Cook William Osser Xavier Cook was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League and Saskatoon Crescents in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.... |
New York Rangers | 44 | 29 | 30 | 59 | 56 |
| Hec Kilrea Hec Kilrea Hector Joseph "Hurricane" Kilrea was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League... |
Ottawa Senators | 44 | 36 | 22 | 58 | 23 |
| Nels Stewart Nels Stewart Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League... |
Montreal Maroons | 44 | 39 | 16 | 55 | 81 |
| Howie Morenz Howie Morenz Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers... |
Montreal Canadiens | 44 | 40 | 10 | 50 | 72 |
| Norman Himes Norman Himes Norman Lawrence "Normie" Himes is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 402 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the New York Americans.-External links:... |
New York Americans | 44 | 22 | 28 | 50 | 15 |
| Joe Lamb Joe Lamb Joseph Gordon Lamb was a professional ice hockey forward who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Maroons, Ottawa Senators, New York Americans, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Eagles and Detroit Red Wings... |
Ottawa Senators | 44 | 29 | 20 | 49 | 119 |
| Dutch Gainor Dutch Gainor Norman "Norm, Dutch" Gainor was a Canadian ice hockey forward, most notable for playing on the Dynamite Line with Cooney Weiland and Dit Clapper, the first "named" forward line in NHL history.... |
Boston Bruins | 43 | 18 | 31 | 49 | 39 |
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1929–30 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):- Tom CookTom CookThomas "Tommy" John Cook was a professional Canadian ice hockey forward who played 348 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Fort William, Ontario, he played for the Montreal Maroons and Chicago Black Hawks. He won the Stanley Cup in 1934 with the Chicago Black Hawks.-External links:...
, Chicago Black Hawks - Ebbie GoodfellowEbbie GoodfellowEbenezer Robertson "Poker Face" Goodfellow, "Ebbie" for short, was a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the NHL for fourteen seasons with the Detroit Red Wings from 1929 to 1944 as both a forward and defenceman...
, Detroit Cougars - Syd HoweSyd HoweSydney Harris Howe was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, Toronto Maple Leafs, St...
, Ottawa Senators - Busher JacksonBusher JacksonHarvey "Busher" Jackson was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and defenceman who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New York Americans in the National Hockey League....
, Toronto Maple Leafs - Charlie ConacherCharlie ConacherCharles William "The Big Bomber" Conacher, Sr. was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Americans in the National Hockey League. An early power forward, Conacher was nicknamed "The Big Bomber," for his size, powerful...
, Toronto Maple Leafs
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1929–30 (listed with their last team):- Mickey MacKayMickey MacKayDuncan McMillan "Mickey" MacKay was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League...
, Boston Bruins - Jimmy Herbert, Detroit Cougars
- Clint BenedictClint BenedictClinton Stevenson "Praying Bennie" Benedict was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League to wear a face mask...
, Montreal Maroons - Frank NighborFrank NighborJulius Francis "Pembroke Peach" Nighbor was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League and National Hockey Association and Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL, Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA and Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific...
, Toronto Maple Leafs