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In 1934, the NHL Board of Governors bumped up their semiannual meeting by a week and met in New York on September 22. Their primary concern was settling issues with the arena rentals in Boston and Chicago so that they could schedule the 1934-35 season. The biggest change to come out of the meeting was the adoption of the penalty shot.

With the Great Depression under way, some reorganizing and renegotiating of leases took place between arenas and hockey clubs. In Boston and Chicago, the failure to come to terms threatened the NHL’s franchises in the two cities. Some Chicagoans even thought the NHL itself might have to suspend operations for a season rather than run without the two franchises. However, Art Ross of the Bruins, immediately negated that by explaining that the NHL had too much money tied up for them to even consider suspension. They would simply schedule the remaining teams if necessary.

The difficulties arose because the arenas reorganized. As a result of a two-hour meeting held September 6, Boston Garden and Boston Arena merged and changed their name to Boston Garden Corporation (from Boston Madison Square Garden Corporation). They intended to host major sporting events at the Garden and lesser events at the Arena. Bruins President C.F. Adams had not yet signed contracts with the National and Canadian-American League teams because, “I have not been approached on the subject by the new organization and until I know their proposition I will make no further statement.” By September 15, the Chicago Blackhawks had not been able to renew their lease because of reorganization with Chicago Stadium Corporation.

In both cases, the teams and the arenas feared taking losses. The Blackhawks had paid the Stadium 35% of their receipts (totaling about $10,200 for each of their 22 home games) and felt they were covering for other lesser events held there. The reorganization committee wanted the Hawks to sign a 25-year lease, which they declined. Blackhawks secretary William Tobin said, “Even if the Stadium submits a suitable proposition, or if the Blackhawks decide to carry on at the Coliseum this winter, it might be inadvisable to go ahead if Boston cannot straighten out its difficulties.” 

The Bruins wanted to pay the new Garden corporation 25% of their intake (with potential bonuses), much as they had the previous season. The Garden wanted a flat rental fee of $80,000, which was less than the Bruins had paid previously ($10,000). To try to aid negotiations, on September 18 NHL President Frank Calder dropped by Boston unannounced to meet with Ross and George V. Brown, manager of the combined corporation. When that failed, all negotiations were suspended until the board meeting. At that point, Brown told the press that a group approached him about taking over if the Bruins dropped out. “I told these people, of course, that we couldn’t do any business with them unless they had N.H.L. affiliations in the form of a franchise. I understand that they are ready, if possible, to buy the Bruins and that they will start negotiations with the N.H.L. at its meeting in New York tomorrow. They are ready, too, I understand, to meet our terms as to rent.”

For ten hours on September 22, the board of governors worked with the two clubs and their rinks to ensure the NHL franchises remained in Chicago and Boston. Calder announced that the club owners had worked out rentals with Chicago Stadium and Boston Garden, but none of the specifics of the deals were disclosed. According to the Boston Globe, “Everything was hotsy totsy and lovey dovey between the Boston Bruins and the Boston Garden.”

With the Bruins and Blackhawks able to remain in their home rinks, the NHL board worked out its 48-game 1934-35 schedule. The first matches of the season would take place on November 8 in St. Louis, where the Ottawa Senators had relocated, and in Toronto. The opponents visiting each location, respectively, would be the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. This would turn out to be the only season for the St. Louis Eagles before they folded due to high travel costs.

One thing the Eagles will always be remembered for was scoring the first penalty shot goal. At the same meeting that scheduled St. Louis to play on opening night, the NHL board of governors adopted the penalty shot (without much opposition). It had been invented back in 1922 for the Western League by Frank Patrick (who in 1934 worked with the Bruins). According to Patrick, “The penalty shot takes the place of the former five-minute penalty against any player who commits a foul against an opponent in scoring position. It will, in other words, be called when a player is tripped ‘to save a sure goal.’ … All other members of both teams, except the goalie, must stand aside while the try is being made. If the shot beats the goalie, a face-off, as after any other goal, follows at center ice. If the goalie saves the shot, there is no ensuing scrimmage; instead the disk is faced as for a shot out of bounds, even with the goal, near one of the sideboards. … As a matter of fact, there won’t be many of these penalties called. … It’s something new, will add variety, and I think the crowd will like it. They did out West.” The first penalty shot was awarded on November 10, and the first successful shot was made by Scotty Bowman of the Eagles on November 13.

Additional Sources:
In her personal history, Kyle Hurst hated her toe picks and wanted to skate on a hockey team like her brother. With age comes wisdom, and realizing how poorly she skates, she now much prefers watching the professionals. Writing about history for her day job, Kyle enjoys combining her two loves by writing hockey history. She still hates toe picks.

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