Detroit’s Only Hat Trick Of 1962-63 Belonged To Norm Ullman

The 1962-63 Detroit Red Wings were a powerhouse. They reached the Stanley Cup Final, featured three top-ten goal scorers, and were led offensively by the NHL’s top sniper, Gordie Howe. Yet remarkably, across 70 regular season games and 11 playoff contests, Detroit recorded just one hat trick all year. That lone three-goal performance belonged to Norm Ullman.

On March 14, 1963, at historic Detroit Olympia, the Red Wings hosted the New York Rangers in what would become a wide-open offensive showcase. Ullman opened his account at 12:23 of the first period, beating goaltender Gump Worsley to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. The goal was set up by Bill Gadsby and Floyd Smith.

The second period exploded for six combined goals, and by the time the horn sounded, Detroit held a 5-3 advantage.

Ullman wasted no time adding to his total. Just 28 seconds into the third period, he buried his 22nd goal of the season, assisted by Vic Stasiuk and Floyd Smith. After Andre Pronovost stretched the lead to 7-3, Ullman completed his hat trick at 11:59 of the frame, finishing off a setup from Stasiuk and Pete Goegan.

The teams traded goals down the stretch, but the final score settled at 9-4 for the Red Wings and Detroit’s only hat trick of the entire 1962-63 campaign was in the books.

Ullman finished the regular season with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points, good for 10th in NHL goal scoring, just one behind Johnny Bucyk and 12 back of Howe. When the playoffs arrived, Ullman elevated his game further. Though Detroit ultimately fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final, Ullman and Howe shared the postseason scoring lead with 16 points apiece over 11 games.

Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)

Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.

Buy on Amazon

Doug Harvey’s 4-Point Night Powers Canadiens Past Red Wings 7-0 In 1958

On January 30, 1958, Doug Harvey delivered one of the finest performances of his Hall of Fame career, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a dominant 7-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the iconic Montreal Forum.

Harvey opened the scoring midway through the first period on the power play, beating Terry Sawchuk for what would stand as the game-winning goal. He added an assist later in the period and finished the night with four points, showcasing the offensive brilliance that made him the NHL’s premier defenseman of the era.

After a quiet second period, Montreal erupted for five third-period goals. Harvey picked up assists on tallies by Jean Beliveau and Don Marshall, while Dickie Moore also recorded four points. In goal, Jacques Plante stopped all 28 shots he faced.

The performance came during a season in which Harvey would capture another James Norris Memorial Trophy and help Montreal secure yet another Stanley Cup. Along with the Norris Trophy win in 1957-58, Doug finished third in voting for the Hart Trophy behind winner Gordie Howe and runner-up Andy Bathgate. In the playoffs, Harvey was outstanding with eleven points in ten games, including a goal and assist in the Stanley Cup clinching game 6 win over the Boston Bruins.

Stole This from a Hockey Card: A Philosophy of Hockey, Doug Harvey, Identity and Booze

A reflective exploration of hockey, life, and the legacy of Doug Harvey — blending philosophy, personal history, and the spirit of the game.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

Murray Oliver’s Hat Trick Sparks Bruins Past Maple Leafs in 1961

Murray Oliver’s early days in Boston were anything but smooth. Acquired from the Detroit Red Wings late in the 1960-61 season, Oliver arrived with promise after scoring 20 goals in just 54 games as an NHL rookie. But his production dipped the following year, and by the start of the 1961-62 campaign, confidence was clearly being tested.

Through his first 32 games with the Bruins that season, Oliver had managed only three goals. Enter December 23, 1961, a road date against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens and a night that would change the narrative.

Oliver opened the scoring at 8:31 of the first period, beating Johnny Bower with help from Johnny Bucyk and Leo Boivin. It was an early spark that set the tone for Boston. Late in the second period, he struck again, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 18:47 with rookie Ed Westfall earning the assist. The tally sent the Bruins into the intermission holding a commanding 5-1 lead.

Toronto pushed back hard in the third period. Goals from Dick Duff, Frank Mahovlich, and George Armstrong cut the Bruins’ advantage to 6-4 and briefly brought the Gardens crowd to life. But Oliver wasn’t finished.

With just 1:16 remaining, he completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal at 18:44, sealing a 7-4 Bruins victory. Earlier, Oliver had also set up Bucyk for a goal, giving him a four-point night. Bucyk and Don McKenney followed closely with three points apiece.

In goal, Don Head delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, stopping 38 of 42 shots and repeatedly frustrating Toronto shooters. Bower, meanwhile, endured a rough outing, surrendering seven goals on just 28 shots.

Special teams played a quiet but decisive role. Only five minor penalties were called, yet Boston capitalized twice on three power-play chances, both opportunities coming while Bob Pulford served time in the penalty box.

Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)

Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.

Buy on Amazon

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

Tim Horton Sets Defensive Milestone With Record-Breaking Game-Winner In 1964

The Toronto Maple Leafs arrived at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 1964, for a key matchup against the New York Rangers, and Tim Horton made sure the night would be remembered. Early in the third period, Horton fired a shot past Rangers goaltender Jacques Plante, with Dave Keon and Allan Stanley picking up the assists.

The timing of the goal made it even more dramatic. Just seven seconds earlier, Jim Neilson had tied the game at 1-1. While it wasn’t a record for the fastest pair of goals, Horton’s marker at 1:34 of the third period proved to be the decisive one, standing up as the game-winner.

That goal was Horton’s seventh game-winning goal of the 1963-64 season, setting a new NHL record for most game-winning goals by a defenseman. The previous mark had belonged to Baldy Northcott of the Montreal Maroons, who recorded six game-winners during the 1932-33 season, more than three decades earlier.

In Loving Memory: A Tribute to Tim Horton

A heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of Tim Horton — hockey legend and cultural icon.

Buy on Amazon

Horton’s achievement was even more impressive considering his offensive role. Seven of his nine goals that season turned out to be game-winners, a remarkable ratio for a defenseman in the Original Six era. The record would later be tied several times before finally being surpassed by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who scored eight game-winning goals for the Arizona Coyotes in 2015-16.

The 1963–64 season also marked one of Horton’s finest individual campaigns. He finished second in Norris Trophy voting behind Pierre Pilote of the Chicago Blackhawks, the first of two times Horton would place runner-up for the award. While his seven game-winning goals were a defensive record, they also tied him for third overall in the NHL that season, trailing only Bernie Geoffrion of the Montreal Canadiens and Ken Wharram of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

About Tim Horton

Tim Horton played 1,445 regular season and 126 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1949-50 and 1973-74 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. The four-time Stanley Cup champion was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.

Tim Horton NHL Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs

Dean Prentice’s Six-Point Explosion Leads Bruins to Stunning 11–0 Rout at Maple Leaf Gardens

When the Boston Bruins hammered the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-0 on January 18, 1964, it wasn’t just another lopsided scoreline, it was a full-blown shocker. Boston entered the game buried in the basement of the six-team NHL, while Toronto was powering toward what would become its third straight Stanley Cup championship. Yet on this night at Maple Leaf Gardens, the underdog Bruins delivered one of the most astonishing road victories of the Original Six era.

Dean Prentice was at the heart of the upset, turning in one of the finest performances of his career. The veteran winger notched the fifth of his six NHL hat tricks and added three assists, giving him a six-point night. Remarkably, four of those points came in the opening period as Boston stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Prentice scored his three goals on just three shots, while linemate Andy Hebenton completed a hat trick of his own on six attempts at Don Simmons.

Murray Oliver led all skaters with nine shots, contributing two goals and two assists in the offensive explosion. John Bucyk also chipped in a four-point night with a goal and three helpers, adding even more punch to a Bruins attack that seemed unstoppable. At the other end, goaltender Ed Johnston stopped all 26 Toronto shots, including six from the always-entertaining Eddie Shack, to secure the shutout.

The victory extended Boston’s modest winning streak to three games, including a 6-3 triumph over Toronto just two games earlier. Although the Bruins managed only a tie against Montreal the following day before sliding back into their struggles, this run briefly lifted them out of an 0-10-1 slump. In fact, five of Boston’s 18 wins in the 1963-64 season came against the Maple Leafs, making Toronto their most generous opponent in an otherwise tough campaign.

The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

NHL Hockey Trivia: Dean Prentice

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Dean Prentice began his NHL career with which team?
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings

2. Which team was Dean Prentice playing for during the mid-1960s, when he came closest to reaching the Stanley Cup Final?
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
Minnesota North Stars

3. Which major milestone did Dean Prentice surpass during his NHL career?
300 career NHL goals
1,000 career NHL assists
600 penalty minutes
100 power-play goals

4. Dean Prentice was selected to the NHL All-Star Game how many times?
Three
Five
Six
Seven

5. Dean Prentice scored a memorable shorthanded penalty shot goal in 1964 while injured. Which team was he playing for at the time?
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins

Gerry Cheevers Shuts Out Maple Leafs for First NHL Blank in 1966

Before he became one of the NHL’s most recognizable goaltenders, complete with his trademark mask artwork, Gerry Cheevers was just a rookie fighting for a spot on a struggling Boston Bruins team. By the end of his career, Cheevers would rack up 26 shutouts, most of them during the Bruins’ powerhouse years, but the very first came on November 10, 1966, against the defending Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs.

Cheevers had a brief history with Toronto, appearing in two games for the Maple Leafs back in 1961-62. By the start of the 1966-67 season, he had just seven NHL games under his belt. The Bruins, despite boasting future stars like rookie Bobby Orr, were still a last-place club searching for brighter days.

That night at the Boston Garden, Cheevers was unbeatable. He stopped all 31 shots he faced, including some prime scoring chances from Toronto’s veteran forwards. Murray Oliver made life easier for his young netminder by scoring the game-winning goal just 1:17 into the first period. Johnny Bucyk, Pit Martin, and Wayne Connelly added insurance markers, giving Boston a 4-0 win.

Remarkably, the Bruins managed just 23 shots of their own, but made the most of them. Toronto starter Terry Sawchuk surrendered three goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Bruce Gamble for the third period, who allowed one goal on five shots.

It was a rare high point in a rough year for Boston, one of only 17 wins all season, and their lone shutout victory. The team also suffered through several lopsided losses, including an 11-2 drubbing by Montreal and a 10-2 loss to Chicago. But change was coming fast. Just three seasons later, Cheevers, Orr, and the Bruins would be Stanley Cup champions.

About Gerry Cheevers

Between 1961-62 and 1979-80, Gerry Cheevers played 418 regular season and 88 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. In the WHA, he appeared in 191 regular season and 19 playoff games between 1972-73 and 1975-76, all with the Cleveland Crusaders. Gerry was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Gerry Cheevers

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. How many career NHL shutouts did Gerry Cheevers record?

18
26
31

2. Before joining the Boston Bruins full-time, Cheevers briefly played for which NHL team?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers

3. In addition to his NHL career, Cheevers was also a star goaltender in which rival league during the 1970s?

World Hockey Association (WHA)
International Hockey League (IHL)
American Hockey League (AHL)

4. Gerry Cheevers is famous for his goalie mask design, which featured what unique artwork?

Team logo pattern
Stitches marking where pucks had hit his mask
Flames across the front

5. How many Stanley Cups did Cheevers win as a player with the Boston Bruins?

One
Two
Three

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Gerry Cheevers [Video]

Red Kelly’s Hat Trick vs Canadiens Includes His Only NHL Penalty Shot

On January 31, 1963, the Toronto Maple Leafs stormed into the Montreal Forum and took down the Canadiens 6-3. The spotlight belonged to Red Kelly, who recorded a hat trick, highlighted by the only penalty shot goal of his entire 20-year NHL career.

The Canadiens jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Gilles Tremblay and Dickie Moore. But at 14:59 of the opening frame, Kelly sparked the comeback with a powerplay goal assisted by Billy Harris.

Red struck again midway through the second, tying the game 2-2 with his 13th of the season, set up by Bob Nevin and Frank Mahovlich. The Leafs then took over in the third:

• George Armstrong scored at 1:34 (assisted by Kelly),

• Dick Duff notched the game-winner at 6:17,

• and at 13:51, Red Kelly was awarded a penalty shot.

In a rare moment for the veteran center, he buried the puck behind Jacques Plante for his third goal of the game and 14th of the season. It marked the third hat trick of Kelly’s career, the only penalty shot goal he ever scored in his 1,316-game NHL tenure.

Kelly finished the night with four points and five shots on goal. That season, he would tally 20 goals and 40 assists in 66 games, with only four minor penalties, a model of sportsmanship. Despite that, he placed just fourth in Lady Byng Trophy voting, behind teammate Dave Keon.

About Red Kelly

Between 1947-48 and 1966-67, Red Kelly played 1,316 regular season and 164 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The eight time Stanley Cup champion (four times each with the Red Wings and Maple Leafs) won the Lady Byng Trophy four times and was the Norris Trophy winner in 1953-54 as the NHL's top defenseman.

Immediately after retiring, Kelly became the first ever head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. He went on to stints as bench boss for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. Red was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

Red Kelly’s Hat Trick vs Canadiens – Trivia Quiz

You can find much more hockey trivia at our hockey trivia website!

1. How many goals did Red Kelly score in the January 31, 1963 game vs the Canadiens?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

2. Who was the goaltender Red Kelly scored his penalty shot goal against?

A) Charlie Hodge
B) Jacques Plante
C) Gump Worsley
D) Terry Sawchuk

3. How many penalty shots did Red Kelly score in his NHL career?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 1
D) 0

4. How many points did Red Kelly record in that game?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5

5. Who scored the game-winning goal for the Leafs in that 6–3 victory?

A) George Armstrong
B) Dick Duff
C) Bob Nevin
D) Frank Mahovlich

6. What trophy is associated with sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in the NHL?

A) Hart Trophy
B) Lady Byng Trophy
C) Norris Trophy
D) Selke Trophy

7. How many hat tricks did Red Kelly have in his NHL career?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5