The 13th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place at the Montreal Forum on October 3, 1959, which saw the hometown Montreal Canadiens defeat the NHL all-stars 6–1.
Contracts and eligibility A few of the game's top stars were absent from the game, due to a new NHL ruling that players be signed under contract in order to play in the all-star game. The intention of this clause was to intimidate players who were holding out from their team, a tactic that worked for Dickie Moore, Frank Mahovlich and George Armstrong, yet failed for others, resulting in All-Star coach Punch Imlach being unable to choose six of the best players (Tim Horton, Dick Duff, Bobby Hull, Tod Sloan, Pierre Pilote and Bob Pulford). Combined with six Montreal Canadiens being named to the First and Second team All-Stars, this meant that coach Imlach had to fill the voids with inferior players.
The subsequent snubbing of these players also went into the pre-game festivities, as they were also denied the multitude of gifts that traditionally was given to players in the game - including those already with their names engraved on it.
It was Maurice Richard's 13th consecutive appearance, making him the only player to that date who had appeared in all of the all-star games. He would retire after winning the Stanley Cup later that season. Montreal goaltender Jacques Plante appeared in the game without a mask, despite his intention of wearing one throughout the season.
Game summary Montreal Canadiens All-Stars Final score 6 1 Head coach Toe Blake Punch Imlach (Toronto Maple Leafs) Lineup 1 - G Jacques Plante 2 - D Doug Harvey 4 - C Jean Beliveau 5 - RW Bernie Geoffrion 6 - C Ralph Backstrom 8 - RW Bill Hicke 9 - RW Maurice Richard (Captain) 10 - D Tom Johnson 11 - D Bob Turner 12 - RW Dickie Moore 14 - RW Claude Provost 15 - LW Ab McDonald 16 - C Henri Richard 18 - LW Marcel Bonin 19 - D Al Langlois 20 - C Phil Goyette 21 - D J. C. Tremblay 22 - LW Don Marshall 23 - LW Andre PronovostFirst team All-Stars: 4 - D Bill Gadsby (New York Rangers) 8 - RW Andy Bathgate (New York Rangers) Second team All-Stars: 1 - G Terry Sawchuk (Detroit Red Wings) 3 - D Marcel Pronovost (Detroit Red Wings) 9 - RW Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings) 10 - C Alex Delvecchio (Detroit Red Wings) Other players: 5 - D Carl Brewer (Toronto Maple Leafs) 7 - C Red Sullivan (New York Rangers) 11 - RW Jerry Toppazzini (Boston Bruins) 14 - D Fern Flaman (Boston Bruins) 15 - LW Frank Mahovlich (Toronto Maple Leafs) 16 - LW Bert Olmstead (Toronto Maple Leafs) 17 - LW Ed Litzenberger (Chicago Black Hawks) 18 - C Don McKenney (Boston Bruins) 19 - D Doug Mohns (Boston Bruins) 24 - RW George Armstrong (Toronto Maple Leafs) Scoring summary Beliveau (Hicke, Harvey) 4:25 2nd McDonald (Backstrom, Geoffrion) 13:43 2nd Moore (H. Richard, Johnson) 7:44 3rd H. Richard (Moore, Harvey) 9:31 3rd Beliveau (Hicke, Bonin) 11:34 3rd Pronovost (Harvey) 15:31 McKenney (Litzenberger) 18:30 2nd Penalties Tremblay 8:43 3rd Turner 12:45 3rd Bathgate 9:21 3rd Win/loss Jacques Plante Terry Sawchuk
+ Shots on goal Montreal 9 14 10 33 All-Stars 14 16 5 35 Referee: Frank Udvari Linesmen: George Hayes, Bob Frampton Attendance: 13,818
See also 1959–60 NHL season
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