The 1944–45 Chicago Black Hawks

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...

 season was the team's 19th

Chicago Blackhawks seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Chicago Blackhawks professional ice hockey club of the National Hockey League. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Blackhawks have completed in the NHL since their inception in 1926....

 season

Season (sports)

In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

 in the NHL, and they were coming off an appearance in the 1944 Stanley Cup Finals

Stanley Cup Finals

The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...

, losing to 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 ...

 in 4 games.

The Black Hawks would lose their top scorer Doug Bentley

Doug Bentley

Douglas Wagner Bentley was a Canadian ice hockey left winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers as part of a senior and professional career that spanned nearly three decades...

, who was given permission to stay home in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....

 and tend the family farm by the Canadian Armed Forces officials, while his brother Max Bentley

Max Bentley

Maxwell Herbert Lloyd Bentley was a Canadian ice hockey forward who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League as part of a professional and senior career that spanned 20 years...

 would miss his 2nd season due to World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. The club would name Clint Smith

Clint Smith

Clinton James "Snuffy" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and head coach best known for his time spent in the National Hockey League as a player with the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks...

 as team captain, and after the first game of the season, a loss of 11–5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

, head coach Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson (ice hockey b. 1906)

Paul Ivan Thompson was a Canadian ice hockey forward who played 13 season in the National Hockey League ....

 was replaced by former Black Hawk captain Johnny Gottselig

Johnny Gottselig

John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's...

.

The Hawks would struggle to score goals, scoring a league low 141, while allowing 194, which ranked them 4th. The team would finish the season with a 13–30–7 record, and their 33 points was their lowest point total since 1938–39. Chicago would fail to make the post-season, as they would finish 3 points behind 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...

 for 4th place.

Midway through the season, the Black Hawks would be involved in a big trade with the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

, as Chicago would trade Earl Siebert and Fido Purpur to the Wings for Butch McDonald, Don Grosso

Don Grosso

Don Grosso was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.Grosso started his National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. He would also play with the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks. His career lasted from 1938 to 1947...

, and Cully Simon

Cully Simon

Cullen John Simon was a professional ice hockey player who played 130 games in the National Hockey League. He was born in Brockville, Ontario. He played with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks. Simon's name was added to the Stanley Cup in 1943 with Detroit.- References :...

.

Offensively, the Hawks were led by Bill Mosienko

Bill Mosienko

William Mosienko was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks. He is best noted for recording the fastest hat trick in NHL history...

, who led the team with 28 goals, Clint Smith

Clint Smith

Clinton James "Snuffy" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and head coach best known for his time spent in the National Hockey League as a player with the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks...

 with his team high 31 assists, and the two of them would tie for the team lead in points at 54. Pete Horeck

Pete Horeck

Peter Horeck was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was born in Massey, Ontario.He grew up in Capreol, Ontario...

 would be the only other Black Hawk to score more than 10 goals, as he had 20. Joe Cooper

Joe Cooper (ice hockey)

Joe Cooper was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 414 games in the National Hockey League...

 would lead the defense all season long, earning 21 points and a team high 50 penalty minutes.

In goal, the Hawks would bring back Mike Karakas

Mike Karakas

Mike Karakas was an American professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League who was the league's first American-born and trained goaltender. Karakas played six full seasons and parts of two others with Chicago Black Hawks. He appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals, winning once...

, and he would lead the team with 12 wins and a 3.90 GAA, and earn 4 shutouts. Doug Stevenson

Doug Stevenson

Doug Stevenson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played eight games in the National Hockey League: four with the New York Rangers and four with the Chicago Black Hawks. He spent the majority of his career with the Tacoma Rockets of the Pacific Coast Hockey League .-External...

 would appear in a couple of games, getting a 1–1–0 record with a GAA of 3.50.

Regular season

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record	Pts
1	October 29	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	11–5	Chicago Black Hawks	0–1–0	0
2	November 1	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...	3–8	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1–0	2
3	November 5	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...	6–3	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2–0	2
4	November 9	Chicago Black Hawks	2–9	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 ...	1–3–0	2
5	November 12	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 ...	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks	1–4–0	2
6	November 14	Chicago Black Hawks	5–7	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...	1–5–0	2
7	November 18	Chicago Black Hawks	4–5	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	1–6–0	2
8	November 19	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks	1–7–0	2
9	November 23	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...	4–4	Chicago Black Hawks	1–7–1	3
10	November 25	Chicago Black Hawks	4–7	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	1–8–1	3
11	November 26	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	5–6	Chicago Black Hawks	2–8–1	5
12	November 30	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...	7–2	Chicago Black Hawks	2–9–1	5
13	December 3	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 ...	2–1	Chicago Black Hawks	2–10–1	5
14	December 10	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1	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...	2–10–2	6
15	December 17	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	1–2	Chicago Black Hawks	3–10–2	8
16	December 20	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...	3–1	Chicago Black Hawks	3–11–2	8
17	December 23	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2	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 ...	3–12–2	8
18	December 24	Chicago Black Hawks	3–3	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...	3–12–3	9
19	December 28	Chicago Black Hawks	1–2	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...	3–13–3	9
20	December 30	Chicago Black Hawks	0–4	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	3–14–3	9
21	December 31	Chicago Black Hawks	2–6	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	3–15–3	9
22	January 1	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks	3–16–3	9
23	January 6	Chicago Black Hawks	1–10	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 ...	3–17–3	9
24	January 7	Chicago Black Hawks	0–0	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...	3–17–4	10
25	January 14	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...	1–4	Chicago Black Hawks	4–17–4	12
26	January 17	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 ...	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks	4–18–4	12
27	January 20	Chicago Black Hawks	4–8	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	4–19–4	12
28	January 21	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	0–4	Chicago Black Hawks	5–19–4	14
29	January 24	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...	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks	5–20–4	14
30	January 27	Chicago Black Hawks	1–5	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	5–21–4	14
31	January 28	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks	5–22–4	14
32	January 30	Chicago Black Hawks	5–3	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...	6–22–4	16
33	February 1	Chicago Black Hawks	1–1	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 ...	6–22–5	17
34	February 4	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks	6–23–5	17
35	February 10	Chicago Black Hawks	2–1	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	7–23–5	19
36	February 11	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	1–2	Chicago Black Hawks	8–23–5	21
37	February 13	Chicago Black Hawks	2–3	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...	8–24–5	21
38	February 15	Chicago Black Hawks	2–6	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...	8–25–5	21
39	February 18	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 ...	0–0	Chicago Black Hawks	8–25–6	22
40	February 21	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...	0–5	Chicago Black Hawks	9–25–6	24
41	February 24	Chicago Black Hawks	2–4	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	9–26–6	24
42	February 25	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	3–1	Chicago Black Hawks	9–27–6	24
43	February 27	Chicago Black Hawks	3–3	Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...	9–27–7	25
44	March 1	Chicago Black Hawks	5–3	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...	10–27–7	27
45	March 4	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 ...	4–6	Chicago Black Hawks	11–27–7	29
46	March 7	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...	3–6	Chicago Black Hawks	12–27–7	31
47	March 11	Chicago Black Hawks	2–7	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...	12–28–7	31
48	March 15	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...	5–3	Chicago Black Hawks	12–29–7	31
49	March 17	Chicago Black Hawks	3–4	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 ...	12–30–7	31
50	March 18	Chicago Black Hawks	5–3	Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	13–30–7	33

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Bill Mosienko Bill Mosienko William Mosienko was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks. He is best noted for recording the fastest hat trick in NHL history...	50	28	26	54	0
Clint Smith Clint Smith Clinton James "Snuffy" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and head coach best known for his time spent in the National Hockey League as a player with the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks...	50	23	31	54	0
Pete Horeck Pete Horeck Peter Horeck was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was born in Massey, Ontario.He grew up in Capreol, Ontario...	50	20	16	36	44
Joe Cooper Joe Cooper (ice hockey) Joe Cooper was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 414 games in the National Hockey League...	50	4	17	21	50
Butch McDonald	26	6	13	19	0

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA
Doug Stevenson Doug Stevenson Doug Stevenson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played eight games in the National Hockey League: four with the New York Rangers and four with the Chicago Black Hawks. He spent the majority of his career with the Tacoma Rockets of the Pacific Coast Hockey League .-External...	2	120	1	1	0	7	0	3.50
Mike Karakas Mike Karakas Mike Karakas was an American professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League who was the league's first American-born and trained goaltender. Karakas played six full seasons and parts of two others with Chicago Black Hawks. He appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals, winning once...	48	2880	12	29	7	187	4	3.90