The early era of professional ice hockey was defined by fierce rivalries and the emergence of the “Original Six” teams, whose legacies continue to shape the sport today. Among these, the clash between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks remains a cornerstone of National Hockey League (NHL) history, characterized by intense competition both on the ice and on the sidelines.
On December 1, 1938, these two storied franchises met at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago. This matchup served as a snapshot of the league’s competitive landscape during the late 1930s, featuring legendary figures who transitioned between roles as players, coaches, and officials. The game was presided over by referees Don McFadyen and Mickey Ion, highlighting the rigid structure of officiating during this formative period of the NHL.
The leadership on the benches during this encounter represented two of the most influential figures in early hockey coaching. The Detroit Red Wings were led by Jack Adams, while the Chicago Blackhawks were guided by Bill Stewart. The dynamics between these coaches and the teams they managed often mirrored the physicality of the game itself, reflecting a time when the boundaries between coaching and playing were more fluid than they are in the modern era.
The Coaching Legacies of Jack Adams and Bill Stewart
Jack Adams, who led the Detroit franchise during this period, is one of the most significant figures in the history of the NHL. Hired by Detroit in the 1927–28 season, Adams helped establish the franchise as a powerhouse in the league according to records of the era. His tenure in Detroit was marked by a disciplined approach to the game and a drive for championships that defined the Red Wings’ early identity.
Opposing him on the Chicago bench was Bill Stewart. Stewart’s profile was uniquely multifaceted; in addition to his role as a coach, he had served as an NHL referee and a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. This diverse background in officiating provided Stewart with a unique perspective on game management and rules, which he applied while leading the Blackhawks. His tenure included a notable success in 1938, when the Chicago Black Hawks won their second Stanley Cup by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-five series as documented in historical accounts.
The interaction between these leaders was not always cordial. Historical accounts indicate a high level of volatility among the league’s early owners and coaches. For instance, Conn Smythe was known to have exchanged punches with Bill Stewart, illustrating the raw, emotional nature of the sport during the 1930s per historical narratives of the game’s “movers and shapers”.
The Chicago Blackhawks: Evolution and Identity
The Chicago franchise, known as the “Hawks,” has a complex history that began in the 1926–27 season as an expansion team alongside the New York Rangers and Detroit Cougars according to the franchise’s official records. The team’s very name underwent a significant change in 1986; while originally referred to as the “Chicago Black Hawks,” the organization changed the spelling to “Chicago Blackhawks” after discovering that the original franchise documents used the single-word version.
The team’s early years were marked by a rotating door of leadership. There have been 42 head coaches in the history of the franchise. The first was Pete Muldoon, who coached 44 games in the inaugural 1926–27 season. Muldoon is perhaps most remembered for an alleged “curse” he placed on the team, claiming they would never finish first in the NHL. This streak reportedly lasted for 40 years before the team finally achieved a first-place finish as detailed in the team’s coaching history.
Other early figures of note include Hughie Lehman. Originally the team’s goaltender, Lehman became the third head coach of the Blackhawks after a confrontation with the first owner, Frederic McLaughlin. Lehman had reportedly criticized McLaughlin’s proposed plays as “the craziest bunch of junk” he had ever seen, leading to his appointment as coach per historical records.
The Significance of the Chicago Stadium
The game on December 1, 1938, took place at the Chicago Stadium, which served as the home ice for the Blackhawks from 1929 until 1994. Before this, the team played at the Chicago Coliseum between 1926 and 1929. The move to the Stadium provided a larger venue for the growing popularity of the NHL in the Midwest, eventually transitioning to the United Center in 1994 as noted in the franchise’s facility history.
The atmosphere at the Chicago Stadium during the 1930s was electric and often chaotic. The physical nature of the game frequently spilled over into the stands or involved clashes with officials. Historical anecdotes recall instances of Chicago players attacking goal judges and exchanges of punches between officials and team personnel, reflecting the high-stakes environment of the “Original Six” era according to period accounts.
Comparing the Era of the Original Six to Modern Hockey
The 1938 matchup between Detroit and Chicago occurred during a time when the NHL was far smaller and more concentrated. The concept of the “Original Six” refers to the six teams that comprised the league for 25 seasons between 1942 and 1967. During the 1930s, the league was still evolving, and the roles of the coaches were often blended with those of managers and players.
In the earliest days of the Stanley Cup, “playing coaches” were the norm. It was rare for a non-playing member of the team to be the winning coach; this occurred only twice in the first 25 years of the Cup’s history, specifically in 1902 with C. McKenna and in 1912 with C. Nolan per historical analysis of coaching evolution. By the time Bill Stewart and Jack Adams were coaching in 1938, the role of the head coach had become more distinct, though the physicality and volatility of the era remained.
The impact of these early teams is still felt today. The Chicago Blackhawks, for example, have secured six Stanley Cup championships, with their most recent victory occurring in the 2014–15 season according to official team data. The franchise continues to evolve, recently naming Nick Foligno as captain for the 2024–25 season following the departure of long-time leader Jonathan Toews.
Key Historical Figures in the Detroit-Chicago Rivalry
| Name | Role/Affiliation | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Adams | Coach, Detroit Red Wings | Hired in 1927-28; legendary figure in Detroit hockey history. |
| Bill Stewart | Coach, Chicago Blackhawks | Former NHL referee and MLB umpire; led CHI to 1938 Cup. |
| Pete Muldoon | First Coach, Chicago Blackhawks | Coached 44 games in 1926-27; associated with a team “curse.” |
| Hughie Lehman | Coach/Goalie, Chicago Blackhawks | Became 3rd head coach after criticizing owner’s plays. |
| Don McFadyen | Official | Referee for the Dec 1, 1938 game. |
| Mickey Ion | Official | Referee for the Dec 1, 1938 game. |
The Legacy of the 1938 Season
The 1938 season was a pivotal one for the Chicago Blackhawks. Under the guidance of Bill Stewart, the team managed to capture the Stanley Cup, a feat that cemented Stewart’s place in the organization’s history. The victory was achieved by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a series that ended three games to one as recorded in historical summaries. This success provided a stark contrast to the early struggles of the franchise and the superstitious beliefs surrounding Pete Muldoon’s “curse.”
For the Detroit Red Wings, the late 1930s were a period of consolidation and growth under Jack Adams. The rivalry with Chicago was not just about points in the standings but about territorial dominance in the Midwest. The games played at the Chicago Stadium were more than just sporting events; they were cultural touchstones for the cities involved, drawing thousands of fans to witness the high-speed, high-impact nature of the game.
The officials of the time, such as Don McFadyen and Mickey Ion, faced the daunting task of maintaining order in an era where players and coaches were prone to outbursts. The physical nature of the game meant that referees were often the target of frustration, and the lack of modern video review meant that the officials’ word was final, often leading to the heated confrontations mentioned in historical accounts.
As the NHL expanded and the “Original Six” era eventually gave way to a larger league, the foundations laid by figures like Adams and Stewart remained. The professionalization of coaching, the move to larger arenas like the United Center, and the formalization of team identities are all evolutions of the environment that existed during that December night in 1938.
For those interested in the ongoing history of the Chicago Blackhawks, the team is currently managed by General Manager Kyle Davidson and owned by the Wirtz Corporation, chaired by Danny Wirtz according to current organizational data. The franchise continues to build upon the legacy established by the pioneers of the 1920s and 30s.
The next scheduled milestone for the franchise involves the ongoing 2024–25 season under the leadership of captain Nick Foligno. Fans and historians alike continue to track the team’s progress as they seek to add to their total of six Stanley Cup championships.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts or family memories of the Original Six era in the comments below.