1924–25 Boston Bruins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1924–25
Year:	1924
Team:	Boston Bruins
Record:	6–24–0 (12 points)
Goalsfor:	49
Goalsagainst:	119
Coach:	Art Ross
Captain:	none
Goalsleader:	Jimmy Herbert (17)
Assistsleader:	Jimmy Herbert (5)
Pointsleader:	Jimmy Herbert (22)
Pimleader:	Jimmy Herbert (50)
Winsleader:	Doc Stewart (5)
Gaaleader:	Doc Stewart (3.08)

The 1924–25 Boston Bruins season was the team's first in the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with the Montreal Maroons, the Bruins were the first expansion franchise in the NHL and the league's first American-based club. The Bruins finished sixth and last in the league standings.

Offseason

In 1924,^[1] Charles Adams, the magnate who owned the Connor Grocery stores changed (which would merge with two other companies in 1925 to from the First National grocery chain), obtained an NHL expansion franchise for Boston. The approval was finalized on October 13, 1924, for, making the Bruins the first NHL team to be based in the United States. Adams' first act was to hire Art Ross, a former star player and innovator, as general manager and coach.

Ross nicknamed the team "Bruins", which also went along with the team's original uniform colors of brown and yellow, which came from Adams' grocery chain.^[2] Most of the Bruins' players for its inaugural season were signed from the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League. The first player to sign for the Bruins was defenseman Herb Mitchell, who signed for the Bruins on November 2, 1924.

The Bruins first saw action in an exhibition game against the Saskatoon Sheiks of the Western Canada Hockey League on November 29, which was then Thanksgiving; it was the first professional match held in Boston Arena.^[3] Boston lost the game 2–1.

Subsequently, leaks in the Arena's cooling system forced the team to practice in Montreal in the runup to the season opener.^[4]

Regular season

See also: 1924–25 NHL season.

Despite problems with the ice plant that threatened the home opener ^[5] the Bruins started the season out auspiciously, defeating their fellow expansion Maroons squad in a nearly empty Arena 2–1. The first goal in franchise history was scored by Smokey Harris, while Carson Cooper, who assisted on Harris' goal, scored the game winner. It was the first NHL game played in the United States.^[6] The game was broadcast by radio station WBZ, with play-by-play by the Boston Travelers Frank Ryan. Since the crowd failed to meet expectations, the Bruins dropped prices to for a reserved seat and for standing room.

However, Boston lost its next eleven games, as well as having a seven-game losing streak — which included their second home game on December 8, initiating the Bruins' most intense rivalry over time^[7] — and finished in the basement. The Bruins had signed veteran West Coast star goaltender Hec Fowler as their netminder, but behind a weak defense, Fowler and backup Howie Lockhart played very poorly and the Bruins were repeatedly shelled, allowing ten goals in a game twice, one of which saw Toronto player Babe Dye score five goals on December 22.

The signing of senior league star netminder Doc Stewart and the purchase of Lionel Hitchman helped somewhat, but the team was riddled with injuries, and only Jimmy Herbert and Carson Cooper (who spent much of the season hurt) showed any offensive flair. The team's winning percentage of .200 was the second worst in league history to that date, and remains the tenth worst in NHL history.

The Bruins' debut season home games were played in the only "debut" rink of any of the Original Six NHL teams that has survived into the 21st century — Boston Arena, the world's oldest indoor multi-sports facility that is still used for ice hockey at any level of competition.^{[8] [9]}

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

1924–25 Game Log
December: 1–8–0 (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 0–5–0) Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts Box Score 1 December 1 Maroons 1–2 Boston 1–0–0 2 ^[10] 2 December 3 Boston 3–5 Toronto 1–1–0 2 ^[11] 3 December 8 Canadiens 4–3 Boston 1–2–0 2 ^[12] 4 December 10 Boston 1–7 Hamilton 1–3–0 2 ^[13] 5 December 15 Ottawa 10–2 Boston 1–4–0 2 ^[14] 6 December 17 Boston 2–6 Maroons 1–5–0 2 ^[15] 7 December 22 Toronto 10–1 Boston 1–6–0 2 ^[16] 8 December 25 Boston 0–5 Canadiens 1–7–0 2 ^[17] 9 December 29 Boston 1–2 Hamilton 1–8–0 2 ^[18]
January: 1–9–0 (Home: 0–4–0; Road: 1–5–0) Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts Box Score 10 January 1 Ottawa 5–2 Boston 1–9–0 2 ^[19] 11 January 3 Maroons 4–3 Boston 1–10–0 2 ^[20] 12 January 5 Boston 2–3 Toronto 1–11–0 2 ^[21] 13 January 10 Canadiens 2–3 Boston 2–11–0 4 (OT) ^[22] 14 January 12 Boston 2–4 Hamilton 2–12–0 4 ^[23] 15 January 17 Ottawa 3–2 Boston 2–13–0 4 ^[24] 16 January 20 Boston 0–2 Maroons 2–14–0 4 ^[25] 17 January 24 Toronto 4–3 Boston 2–15–0 4 ^[26] 18 January 27 Boston 0–4 Canadiens 2–16–0 4 ^[27] 19 January 31 Hamilton 8–3 Boston 2–17–0 4 ^[28]
February: 2–6–0 (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 1–3–0) Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts Box Score 20 February 3 Boston 1–3 Ottawa 2–18–0 4 ^[29] 21 February 7 Maroons 0–1 Boston 3–18–0 6 ^[30] 22 February 10 Boston 1–5 Toronto 3–19–0 6 ^[31] 23 February 14 Canadiens 5–1 Boston 3–20–0 6 ^[32] 24 February 17 Boston 1–2 Hamilton 3–21–0 6 ^[33] 25 February 21 Ottawa 3–0 Boston 3–22–0 6 ^[34] 26 February 24 Boston 2–1 Maroons 4–22–0 8 ^[35] 27 February 28 Toronto 5–1 Boston 4–23–0 8 ^[36]
March: 2–1–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 1–0–0) Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts Box Score 28 March 3 Canadiens 2–3 Boston 5–23–0 10 ^[37] 29 March 7 Boston 2–0 Hamilton 6–23–0 12 ^[38] 30 March 9 Ottawa 4–1 Boston 6–24–0 12 ^[39]

Playoffs

The Bruins did not qualify for the playoffs.

Player statistics

Leading scorers

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

		Regular season						Playoffs
Player		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
		30	17	6	23	53		–	–	–	–	–	^[40]
		12	5	3	8	4		–	–	–	–	–	^[41]
		29	5	3	8	32		–	–	–	–	–	^[42]
		27	5	3	8	40		–	–	–	–	–	^[43]
		27	3	2	5	10		–	–	–	–	–
		6	3	1	4	8		–	–	–	–	–
		6	2	0	2	0		–	–	–	–	–
		18	2	0	2	22		–	–	–	–	–
		18	1	1	2	14		–	–	–	–	–
		4	1	0	1	0		–	–	–	–	–

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

		Regular season									Playoffs
Player		GP	Min	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA		GP	Min	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
		21	1266	5	16	0	65	2	3.08		–	–	–	–	–	–	–
		7	400	1	6	0	43	0	6.10		–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Transactions

• November 2, 1924 – Acquired Alf Skinner from Vancouver Maroons (PCHA) for cash
• November 2, 1924 – Acquired Bobby Rowe from Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) for cash
• December 14, 1924 – Acquired Bill "Red" Stuart from Toronto St. Patricks for cash
• December 17, 1924 – Released Bobby Rowe
• December 19, 1924 – Acquired George Carroll from Montreal Maroons for the rights to Ernie Parkes
• December 21, 1924 – Traded Smokey Harris to Vancouver Maroons (WCHL) for cash
• January 3, 1925 – Traded Alf Skinner to Montreal Maroons for Bernie Morris and Bob Benson
• January 10, 1925 – Acquired Lionel Hitchman from the Ottawa Senators for cash
• January 18, 1925 – Traded Stan Jackson to Ottawa Senators for cash

See also

• 1924–25 NHL season

References

Bibliography

• Book: Coleman, Charles L. . 1964 . Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol I. . Sherbrooke, Quebec . National Hockey League .
• Book: Donovan, Michael Leo . 1997 . The Name Game . McGraw-Hill . Toronto, Ontario . 9780075528173.
• Book: King, Tom . The Legendary Game - Ultimate Hockey Trivia . . 2010 . 978-1-4269-4379-9 .
• Book: Klein . Jeff Z. . Reif . Karl-Eric . 1964 . The Klein & Reif Hockey Compendium . Toronto, Ontario . McClelland & Stewart . 978-0-7710-4529-5.
• Book: Ross, J. Andrew . 2015 . Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945 . Syracuse University Press . 9780815633839.
• Book: Vautour, Kevin . 1997 . The Bruins Book . Toronto, Ontario . ECW Press . 978-1-55022-334-7.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Legends of Hockey . Builder Inductees: Charles Adams . Hockey Hall of Fame .
2. Web site: Marrazza. Dan. How NHL Teams Got Their Names. National Hockey League. January 18, 2018. June 14, 2016.
3. News: Hoey . Fred . November 30, 1924 . Bruins Lose First Clash . Boston Globe . Boston .
4. News: Hoey . Fred . November 30, 1924 . Hockey Practice at Arena Held Up . Boston Globe . Boston .
5. News: Hockey Practice at Arena Held Up . Boston Globe . November 30, 1924 .
6. Web site: Fischler . Stan . November 30, 2022 . Bruins won first NHL game played in United States in 1924 . December 27, 2022 . NHL.com.
7. News: Canadiens Downed Boston, Rallying in Final Period. December 9, 1924. Canadian Press. Montreal Gazette. 16.
8. Web site: Katy . Fitzpatrick . "New Season Brings Renovated Arena for Northeastern," USCHO.com, October 2, 2009 . Uscho.com . October 2, 2009 . March 18, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100109213027/http://www.uscho.com/news/college-hockey/id%2C17170/NUHuskieslookingforwardtorenovatedArenanewseason.html . January 9, 2010 .
9. Web site: Northeastern University Athletics Official Website . Gonu.com . March 18, 2011.
10. Web site: Montreal Maroons vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: December 1, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054554/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412010BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
11. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto St. Patricks Box Score: December 3, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054545/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412030TRS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
12. Web site: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: December 8, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213222022/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412080BOS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
13. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Hamilton Tigers Box Score: December 10, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213222011/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412100HAM.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
14. Web site: Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: December 15, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213222009/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412150BOS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
15. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Maroons Box Score: December 17, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240818220206/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412170MTM.html . 18 August 2024 . live.
16. Web site: Toronto St. Patricks vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: December 22, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054535/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412220BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
17. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Box Score: December 25, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213222015/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412250MTL.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
18. Web site: Hamilton Tigers vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: December 29, 1924 . Hockey Reference . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827180019/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192412290BOS.html . 27 August 2023 . live.
19. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators Box Score: January 1, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213224316/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501010OTS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
20. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Maroons Box Score: January 3, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054549/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501030MTM.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
21. Web site: Toronto St. Patricks vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: January 5, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054535/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501050BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
22. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Box Score: January 10, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213224321/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501100MTL.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
23. Web site: Hamilton Tigers vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: January 12, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213224319/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501120BOS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
24. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators Box Score: January 17, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213224319/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501170OTS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
25. Web site: Montreal Maroons vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: January 20, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213224318/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501200BOS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
26. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto St. Patricks Box Score: January 24, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054556/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501240TRS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
27. Web site: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: January 27, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054604/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501270BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
28. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Hamilton Tigers Box Score: January 31, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213230054/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192501310HAM.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
29. Web site: Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: February 3, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213230052/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502030BOS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
30. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Maroons Box Score: February 7, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213230054/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502070MTM.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
31. Web site: Toronto St. Patricks vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: February 10, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054549/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502100BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
32. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Box Score: February 14, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213230103/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502140MTL.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
33. Web site: Hamilton Tigers vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: February 17, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827180022/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502170BOS.html . 27 August 2023 . live.
34. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators Box Score: February 21, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213230100/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502210OTS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
35. Web site: Montreal Maroons vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: February 24, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054555/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502240BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
36. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Toronto St. Patricks Box Score: February 28, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054600/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192502280TRS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
37. Web site: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: March 3, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714054600/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192503030BOS.html . 14 July 2024 . live.
38. Web site: Boston Bruins vs. Hamilton Tigers Box Score: March 7, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827180019/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192503070HAM.html . 27 August 2023 . live.
39. Web site: Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins Box Score: March 9, 1925 . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213230825/https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/192503090BOS.html . 13 December 2022 . live.
40. Web site: Jimmy Herbert 1924-25 Splits . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819095723/https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/herbeji01/splits/1925 . August 19, 2024 . live.
41. Web site: Carson Cooper 1924-25 Splits . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240717205445/https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/c/coopeca01/splits/1925 . 17 July 2024 . live.
42. Web site: Billy Stuart 1924-25 Splits . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819100310/https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/s/stuarbi01/splits/1925 . 19 August 2024 . live.
43. Web site: Stan Jackson 1924-25 Splits . Hockey Reference . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819102001/https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/j/jacksst01/splits/1925 . 19 August 2024 . live.