This Day in Hockey History – December 1, 1940 – Oh, Brother!
A band of brothers played in two games held on December 1, 1940 that did not end well for New York teams. At Chicago Stadium, two sets of brothers played for the winning Blackhawks and two others for the losing New York Rangers. Meanwhile, at Madison Square Garden, the New York Americans gave up the game and then some as the Boston Bruins scored seven goals in the final period. In that game, one set of brothers played against each other.
Chicago Stadium hosted 16,208 to watch the Blackhawks win their first home game of the season, 4-1, against the defending champions no less. At the time, Chicago’s roster included Doug Bentley and his younger brother Max as well as Bill Carse and his younger brother Bob. Both older brothers played left wing while the younger brothers were centers.
At 4:25 of the first period, rookie Max Bentley scored the first goal on a lateral pass when he “came racing down the center lane. One lightning swish and Max blinded Goalie Dave Kerr with the first tally.” His brother was credited with an assist. About 10 and a half minutes later, Bill Carse came in fast to grab a perfect pass from George Allen. According to the recap, “Goalie Kerr dropped to the mouth of the cage, but the power of gravity wasn’t strong enough. Before Dave hit the ice, the puck had scooted under him and into the nets.”
The second period saw attempts from both Doug Bentley and Bob Carse as well as from three of the four brothers playing for the Rangers. Center Neil Colville and his younger brother, right winger Mac Colville, had shots on goal that were blocked. Left winger Lynn Patrick had two attempts that were turned back, while his younger brother Muzz helped the Rangers’ defense.
In the third period, the Rangers managed their only goal of the game at 9:37. Chicago had the last word though when Bill Thoms scored in the final 14 seconds.
The Chicago game did not wrap up until after 10,896 fans left Madison Square Garden sorely disappointed in the Americans having lost 10-3.
The Boston Bruins took a firm lead with ex-Amerk Eddie Wiseman scoring a hat trick (between 3:10 of the first period and 7:13 of the second). All three goals were assisted by linemate Bill Cowley, with their left wing, Roy Conacher, also assisting on the middle one. Later called the Three Gun Line, they were all known scoring snipers.
Trailing 3-0, the Americans made the second period their own by scoring thrice to tie the score. The middle one was netted by right winger Charlie Conacher, Roy’s older brother. At some point after Charlie’s goal and before his teammate’s shorthanded tying goal, “Roy Conacher dumped his brother Charley heavily and Charley took a playful swing at him.”
For the final session, New York basically hung their goalie, Earl Robertson, out to dry. As the Boston Globe relayed, “At the rate of a goal every two minutes Boston went on a scoring rampage.” In the Bruins’ seven unanswered goals, the Three Gun Line accounted for the final three. Cowley scored at 11:44 and 13:29, while Roy Conacher netted the one between (at 13:09 with Cowley’s help) and assisted on the last. With two goals and four assists, Cowley set a Bruins record at six points.
When the 1940-41 season ended, the Rangers’ top five scorers included the three brothers who were forwards. Lynn Patrick and Neil Colville would go on to become members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. For Chicago, Doug Bentley was the only brother to rank in the top five scorers. He and his brother Max have both been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Unsurprisingly, the Bruins’ top three scorers were made up of the Three Gun Line, with Roy Conacher in third. He and his brother Charlie (who ranked fifth in the Americans’ scorers) are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Cowley led the NHL in assists (47) and points (64) to earn the Hart Memorial Trophy.
Team-wise, the Bruins led the pack with 67 points (27-8-13) and won the Stanley Cup Final. The Rangers came in fourth with 50 points (21-19-8), and Chicago followed with 39 points (16-25-7). The Americans were the cellar dwellers with 27 points (8-29-11).
Additional Sources:
- Hy Turkin, “Bruins Rip A’s, 10-3; Tally 7 in 3d Period,” and “Hawks Wallop Rangers, 4-1,” New York Daily News, 2 Dec. 1940, p. 49.
- Edward Burns, “Hawks Win First on Home Ice, 4-1; Chill Rangers,” Chicago Tribune, 2 Dec. 1940, p. 23.
- “Bruins Crush Amerks, 10-3,” Boston Globe, 2 Dec. 1940, p. 9.
- https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-chi/1940/12/01/1940020035#game=1940020035,game_state=final
- https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-nya/1940/12/01/1940020034/recap/stats#game=1940020034,game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=stats
