ICE HOCKEY

Canada's National Sport

In the 1950s the National Hockey League (NHL) simply stayed put. There were no franchise changes, few television contracts, and for most people in the United States the NHL remained invisible. There were only six franchises, with four in the United States: Boston, New York, Detroit, and Chicago. The only Canadian teams were Toronto and Montreal. Americans outside of the Northeast paid little attention to hockey.

American Domination

To the dismay of Canadians an American team, the Detroit Red Wings, dominated the sport from the late 1940s through the middle of the 1950s, and Red Wing offensive star Gordie Howe was the league's preeminent player. Howe may have played for an American team, but he was, like every other player in the NHL, a Canadian. Tommy Williams of Minnesota joined the Boston Bruins in the later part of the decade and was, for a long time, the only American in the league. During the later part of the decade the Montreal Canadiens led by the incomparable Maurice Richard began a run of five straight Stanley Cups. When Richard scored his four hundredth goal, he became a sports hero comparable in America to Babe Ruth.

Stanley Cup Champions

1950—Detroit

1951—Toronto

1952—Detroit

1953—Montreal

1954—Detroit

1955—Detroit

1956—Montreal

1957—Montreal

1958—Montreal

1959—Montreal