This Day in Hockey History – September 5, 1959 – Introductory Induction

Sep 5, 2019

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The Hockey Hall of Fame building would not open for another two years when the first member induction ceremony was held September 5, 1959. The HHOF was established in 1943 and began occasionally inducting members in 1945. It wasn’t until 1958 that President of the NHL Clarence Campbell chose to build the physical Hall in Toronto, specifically on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).

The induction luncheon was held in the Queen Elizabeth Building of the CNE. Of the 59 members already inducted, 34 attended the luncheon and received the official HHOF crest. Only three other members (Senator Donat Raymond of Montreal, Frank Patrick of Vancouver, and Dan Bain of Winnipeg) still lived, but illness prevented them from attending.

The president of the CNE, Harry Price, announced the newest inductees. They had been chosen unanimously, each receiving all seven votes, at an earlier meeting of the organizing committee (which included Lester Patrick and Red Dutton). All three were selected for the Player Category.

Inductee Jack Adams had joined the NHL during its inaugural season, playing center for the Toronto Arenas, who won the first Stanley Cup for the NHL. They traded him in December 1919 to the Vancouver Millionaires of the PCHA. Almost exactly three years later, Vancouver traded Adams (in return for Corb Denneny) back to Toronto, whose NHL team had become the St. Pats. Adams spent his final playing year, 1926-27 with the Ottawa Senators and winning the Stanley Cup. Teammate King Clancy remarked much later, “Jack Adams was an inspiration to me as a player, a coach and a manager, even if he was tough on me as a referee.” As soon as he stopped played, Adams began coaching and managing the Detroit Red Wings. Under his leadership, they made the playoffs every year between 1939 and 1958 and won the championship seven times.

Left wing Cy Denneny began playing for the Ottawa Senators the season before they left the National Hockey Association as part of the newly-formed NHL. He had refused to report to Toronto’s training camp and was traded. Denneny remained with the Senators until his final NHL season, 1928-29, which he spent leading the Boston Bruins to their first Stanley Cup victory. As the NHL scoring champ of 1924, he was described as the man who “could have only five shots on goal and make two of them count.” He retired with the NHL record for most goals (247) and most points (336).

The third inductee was goalie Tiny Thompson, whose first year in the NHL happened to end when he, Denneny, and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. During his decade with the Bruins, Thompson received the Vezina Trophy four times. In November 1938, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he finished out his playing career in 1940. He spent the following season as head coach for the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL.

Since 1959, the HHOF has held induction ceremonies annually. The Hall now has 280 players, 109 builders, and 16 officials.