1934 NHL Season
9 teams competed during the regular season
Chicago Black Hawks defeated Detroit Red Wings for the championship
League President
RetroSeasons
RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
National Hockey League (NHL)
1933-34 NHL Season Overview
This season was marked by two tragedies, one on the ice and one off.
Boston's Eddie Shore was tripped by Toronto's King Clancy in a game at Boston Garden on Dec. 12, 1933. Shore retaliated by hitting Ace Bailey from behind. Bailey flipped over backwards, banged his head on the ice, and fractured his skull. The injury was so serious that he was given last rites by a priest attending the game.
Bailey survived, but his career hockey was over. Shore was suspended for 16 games because of the incident. On Feb. 14, 1934, the first NHL All-Star game was played to benefit Bailey and his family. Shore played in the game and shook hands with Bailey in a pre-game ceremony.
The Chicago Black Hawks beat the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals, winning the fourth and final game in the second overtime. Goalie Charlie Gardiner, who had won the Vezina Trophy for the second time, left the game after regulation because he wasn't feeling well. Gardiner died of a brain tumor two months later.