SOUTH BEND, IN – Unlike their opponent in the Winter Classic, the Boston Bruins are enjoying a relatively productive season, holding the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference with the talent to challenge Tampa Bay for the division title.
Despite their uniform they will wear being a reference back to a less-than-stellar period in their franchise history, the Bruins will feature a new look to the many combinations they have sported in special event. Their 2019 Winter Classic uniform closely resembles the one they wore during parts of the 1991-92 season, the NHL’s 75th Anniversary campaign, when the big black “B” was in vogue.
The Bruins chose to represent the 1932-36 era, one which brought limited success in the regular and post-season. As the third oldest franchise in the NHL which began in 1917, the Bruins began their history in the league’s eighth season. The era in which the uniform they will resemble in the Winter Classic was worn in the team’s eighth season.
This year’s jersey features six shamrocks in the collar, representing the club’s six Stanley Cups and hashmarks separating the honors, a nod to what can be found in the Fighting Irish’s end zone at Notre Dame Stadium.
in the 1932-33 season, Boston, coached by Art Ross, finish ed tied for first with Detroit with a 25-15-8 record during the 48-game season. Marty Barry led the team in goals and points with 24 and 37 respectively. Nels Stewart finished one point behind Barry which included 18 goals and Eddie Shore was one point behind him, but leading the team with 27 assists accompanied by 102 penalty minutes. Tony Thompson tended the Boston goal playing in
all 3,000 minutes posting 11 shutouts and a 1.76 goals against average.
Success in the post-season was elusive, though. Boston faced Toronto, both champions in their divisions, in the semi-finals in a best-of-five tilt. The series, which went the full five games, ended when Ken Doraty scored at 4:46 of the sixth overtime. Boston’s season was done while Toronto’s would end at the hands of the New York Rangers three games to one in the Final.
As Division champions and winners of the Prince of Wales trophy, the Bruins sported the league’s MVP in defenseman Eddie Shore, winner of the Hart Trophy and a 1st team all-star. Tiny Thompson won the Vezina trophy for the league’s best goaltender.
In the 1933-34 season, Boston had a tougher time. Finishing last in the American Division with an 18-25-5 record and 41 points, the Bruins allowed 130 goals, finishing 17 points behind Detroit. Despite winning six of their last seven games, it was not enough to pull out a playoff spot. Marty Barry led in goals and points again with 27 and 39 respectively (tied with Nels Stewart in points). Tony Thompson posted 5 shutouts and a 2.62 goals against average, nearly one more goal a game than the previous campaign.
The only bright spot in a bleak season was Eddie Shore’s being named as a second team all-star.
This time under the leadership of Frank Patrick for the 1934-35 season, Boston improved upon the prior year in a big way, finishing 26-16-6 for 58 points, one point ahead of the Chicago Black Hawks (yes, the team’s moniker was two words back then). Finishing 8-2-2 in their last 12, they held on for 1st place despite losing their last two contests.
Marty Barry again led the team in points, but Nels Stewart and Dit Clapper led in goals with 21. Eddie Shore took the assist title with 26 and left the penalty minute crown to Babe Siebert who sat for 80 minutes in the sin bin. Tony Thompson guarded the Boston net for every minute delivering 8 shutouts and a 2.26 goals against average, a marked improvement from prior season.
Facing Toronto again in the playoffs, the Bruins could not shake t
he Maple Leafs losing three games to one in the semi-final. While Thompson allowed just seven goals in four games, the Bruins could only net two and their season was done quickly. Tony Thompson and Dit Clapper joined the second all-star team.
Just like in the 1932-33 season, the Bruins won the Prince of Wales trophy while Eddie Shore won the Hart Trophy for the second time in three years and another 1st team all-star selection.
In the 1935-36 season and the last in which the Bruins would wear the jersey which close mostly resembles what they will wear in this season’s Winter Classic, Boston finished with a 22-20-6 record for 50 points, six behind the Detroit Red Wings. Chicago and New York also had the same number of points, but Boston held the 2nd place spot because they had one more win than Chicago and two more wins than New York.
Red Beattie led the team in points with 32 and tied Cooney Weiland for the team lead in goals with 14. Beattie also held the team assists title with 18 and Babe Seibert had the most penalty minutes with 66. Tiny Thompson finished with ten shutouts and a 1.68 goals against average, playing in every game, but giving way to back-up netminder Percy Jackson who filled in for 40 minutes in one game.
In the playoffs, Toronto was the opponent again, this time in a two-game, total goals series. Boston won the first game at home 3-0 and seemed to be on their way to a solid playoff run. But the Maple Leafs won the second game 8-3 and sent the Bruins packing again with an 8-6 total goals victory. Tony Thompson was in net for every goal.
Eddie Shore captured his third MVP; he would earn one more during the 1937-38 season. Tony Thompson secured his third Vezina trophy he would earn one more during the 1937-38 campaign. Along with these two stars, Babe Siebert rounded out one-half of the first-team of all stars.
Many Boston players from their 1932-36 era are enshrined in the Hall of Fame; Art Ross, Dit Clapper, Eddie Shore, Tiny Thompson, Nels Stewart, Babe Siebert, Marty Barry, Harry Oliver, Bill Cowley, Cooley Weiland, Bill Burch, Woody Dumart, Bun Cook and Bobby Bauer make-up this special group.
For the 2019 Winter Classic in South Bend, Indiana, looking back and remembering which players have contributed to the rich history of the Boston Bruins might be worthwhile.
Dennis Morrell is a long-time hockey writer, photographer, coach, player and USA Hockey referee who loves the game and those connected to it. He can be reached at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com.
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