Hockey played to the largest crowds during 1942 and the professional game continued its activity into the longest season in its history, up to several weeks after the opening of the baseball season. The top team in the National Hockey League turned up in the New York Rangers, clinching the championship by an outstanding defeat of the Chicago Black Hawks, piling up sixty points, three more than the total scored by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the runners-up. The starring Rangers, having lost many of their best players to the armed forces, are now rebuilding a new team.
In the play-off for the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the world professional title, played at the conclusion of the 1941-42 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Detroit Red Wings in a stirring four-straight victory, even though Detroit had a lead of three games in a seven-game series. Toronto defeated the Rangers in this series four games to two. Boston won the best-of-three series from Chicago, then lost to Detroit after the latter had eliminated the Canadiens of Montreal. In this professional competition Americans have been finally eliminated from top honors.
Indianapolis, top team in the western division of the American Hockey League, also defeated the Hersey team, leaders in the eastern section in the finals of the League's annual fixture. The American Association's top honors for the season went to the hard-playing Omaha Knights.
In high-ranking amateur circles, the N. Y. Rovers won the Eastern Hockey League championship after a tie with the Johnstown Bluebirds and the Boston Olympics. The Rovers won the title by virtue of a goal record which showed an accumulation during the season of 272 points. Boston scored 263 and Johnstown 248.
The Allen Cup, awarded for the Canadian amateur hockey championship, was captured in masterful style by the Canadian Royal Air Force with the assistance of three top players of the National Hockey League. The Portage la Prairie team captured the Memorial Cup, championship of the junior amateurs, against several fast Dominion teams.
In college circles, Dartmouth not only succeeded Princeton as winner of the Pentagonal Hockey League but also swept through the season without losing a contest. The Big Green team, amassing sixty-four goals, was scored on only twenty-seven times. Yale scored five victories, and with three defeats was six points behind Dartmouth. Harvard won three games and lost five, while the U. S. Military Academy finished last.
The Boston College squad won the A.A.U. championship at the Boston Arena by turning back the strong St. Nicks, the defending titleholders, in a thrilling 6-4 final. The tournament started with Boston College beating the High Standard Club of New Haven. The final was an excellent game, with the St. Nicks twice coming from behind to gain ties, and to go ahead once, before Boston College wore them down in the home stretch.
No comments:
Post a Comment