1961-62 Topps NHL Hockey Cards

The 1961-62 Topps NHL set consists of 66 hockey cards, featuring players from three of the four U.S. based teams: Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. Parkhurst carried cards featuring players from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings in a separate set.

The most valued rookie cards in the 1961-62 Topps NHL collection include Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert, both of the New York Rangers. Both hockey cards are valued the same. Other important rookie cards include those of Ted Green, Pat Stapleton, Dallas Smith, Orland Kurtenbach and Denis Dejordy.

The two most valuable hockey cards in the 1961-62 Topps set are those of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, both of the Chicago Black Hawks.

1961-62 Topps NHL Checklist

1961-62 NHL Season

The Montreal Canadiens were dominant during the regular season in 1961-62. However, when it came to the Stanley Cup final, the Habs were nowhere to be found. Instead, it was the Toronto Maple Leafs capturing their first of three consecutive championships, beating out Chicago, the defending champions.

The Maple Leafs did something rather unique in the playoffs: They went 7-0 at home while winning just a single game on the road. That road win was significant, though. Game six versus the Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium, the Buds pulled off their first road win of the playoffs to capture the series and the Stanley Cup. Dick Duff scored the Cup clinching goal at 14:14 of the third, assisted by Tim Horton and George Armstrong.

Don Simmons played just three game for Toronto in the 1961-62 playoffs. But, he was between the pipes for games five and six against Chicago, both wins. That would mark the last time Simmons would appear in a NHL post season game.

In the rarest of rare occasions, Bobby Hull of the Blackhawks and Andy Bathgate of the New York Ranger tied for the scoring lead with 84 points each. Hull was awarded the Art Ross Trophy on his 50 goals vs. Bathgate’s 28. Interestingly, there was also a tie for third and fourth with Gordie Howe and Stan Mikita each finishing with 77 points.

Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens dominated the league’s goaltenders. He took away both the Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy. Plante led the league with a 2.37 goals against average and 42 wins. When it came to shutouts, Glenn Hall of the Blackhawks was out front with nine, compared to Plante’s four. Hall and Plante appeared in all 70 of their team’s games.

Bobby Rousseau of the Habs was the runaway winner of the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, receiving twice as many votes as second place Cliff Pennington of the Bruins. Rousseau’s teammate Doug Harvey, 37 years old at the time, was also a nearly unanimous decision for the Norris Trophy as top blue liner.

1961-62 NHL Standings

1961-62 NHL Scoring Leaders