Erwin Groves "Murph" Chamberlain (February 14, 1915 in Shawville, Quebec – May 8, 1986) was a Canadian ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Brooklyn Americans and Boston Bruins between 1937 and 1949. He won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1944 and 1946, both with Montreal.[1][2]

Murph Chamberlain
Chamberlain c. 1930
Born (1915-02-14)February 14, 1915
Shawville, Quebec, Canada
Died May 8, 1986(1986-05-08) (aged 71)
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
Brooklyn Americans
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1937–1949

Playing career before NHL

edit

Chamberlain, whose first name was spelled "Irwin" in his hometown newspaper, reportedly began his hockey career in Shawville, PQ. He was reportedly added to the Toronto Maple Leafs reserve list by 1937 after steadily improving his game while playing in Northern Ontario.

In April 1937 he scored 4 goals and 2 goals respectively for the Sudbury Tigers in a two-game Eastern Canada senior amateur hockey finals against the Hull Volants. The Tigers won the first game in Ottawa 9–4 in front of a "record-breaking" crowd before winning the second game in Toronto 14–2.[3]

The Sudbury Tigers then travelled to Calgary, Alberta to play for the Allan Cup against the Western Canada senior champs, the North Battleford Beavers. Sudbury won the 5 game series 3 games to 2.

As the Allan Cup champions, the Sudbury Tigers earned a berth in the one and only Toronto International Tournament in April, 1937 which pitted them against the English National League champs (Wembley Lions), the USA Amateur Champions (Hershey Bears) and the Memorial Cup Champs (Winnipeg Monarchs). The Sudbury Tigers scored a sudden-death in the third game of a 3-game final against the Wembley Lions to win the tournament. The tournament was hampered by controversies and low crowds so was not continued in following years.

NHL Playing career

edit

Chamberlain began his NHL Career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1938 season and played for them until the end of the 1940 season. The next year, he played for the Montreal Canadiens. In the 1942 season, he spent time in the AHL with the Washington Lions. Later that season, he was called back to Montreal and then traded to the Brooklyn Americans. He spent the 1943 season with the Boston Bruins. After that season he returned to Montreal for the final six seasons of his career. He won the Stanley Cup twice with Montreal, in the 1944 season and the 1946 season.[1][4] He retired from hockey after the 1949 season.

Coaching career

edit

Chamberlain was head coach of the Sudbury Wolves of the EPHL for two seasons 1960–61 and 1962–63.

Career statistics

edit

Regular season and playoffs

edit
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1932–33 Ottawa Primrose OCJHL 11 7 2 9 19 4 3 1 4 6
1933–34 Ottawa New Edinburghs OCHL
1934–35 Noranda Copper Kings GBHL 13 6 5 11 10
1935–36 South Porcupine Porkies NOHA 8 7 0 7 33 2 0 1 1 11
1936–37 Sudbury Frood Miners NBHL 15 12 3 15 38 2 0 0 0 2
1936–37 Sudbury Frood Miners Al-Cup 13 17 3 20 37
1937–38 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 43 4 12 16 51 5 0 0 0 2
1938–39 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 48 10 16 26 32 10 2 5 7 4
1939–40 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 40 5 17 22 63 3 0 0 0 0
1940–41 Montreal Canadiens NHL 45 10 15 25 75 3 0 2 2 11
1941–42 Montreal Canadiens NHL 26 6 3 9 30
1941–42 Brooklyn Americans NHL 11 6 9 15 16
1941–42 Springfield Indians AHL 3 2 1 3 0
1942–43 Boston Bruins NHL 45 9 24 33 67 6 1 1 2 12
1943–44 Montreal Canadiens NHL 47 15 32 47 85 9 5 3 8 12
1944–45 Montreal Canadiens NHL 32 2 12 14 38 6 1 1 2 10
1945–46 Montreal Canadiens NHL 40 12 14 26 42 9 4 2 6 18
1946–47 Montreal Canadiens NHL 49 10 10 20 97 11 1 3 4 19
1947–48 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30 6 3 9 62
1948–49 Montreal Canadiens NHL 54 5 8 13 111 4 0 0 0 8
1949–50 Sydney Millionaires CBSHL
NHL totals 510 100 175 275 769 66 14 17 31 96

Achievements

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b NHL Canada. "Murph Chamberlain Stats and News | NHL.com". www.nhl.com.
  2. ^ The Gazette (10 May 1986). "Obituary for Ex- Hab Chamberlain". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. p. 76.
  3. ^ The Equity, 1883– (Shawville), 8 avril 1937, jeudi 8 avril 1937
  4. ^ NHL Canada. "MTL Records: 1945-46 Montréal Canadiens Stanley Cup Winners". records.nhl.com.
edit