CHICAGO 1949: A PRESS BOX VIEW

On the weekend of January 29-30, 1949, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks, engaged in a home and away series. The first game occurred at Maple Leaf Gardens, with the Leafs taking a 4-2 decision.

The above action photo shows the play at ice level on Saturday night with a collision between Toronto's Harry Watson, and Bob Goldham of the Hawks.

On Sunday night, Toronto reporters covering the game at Chicago Stadium had their first glance at Chicago's new press box. Allan Nickleson of The Globe and Mail supplied this review:

Toronto newspapermen covered the game from Chicago Stadium's new press box ... overhanging at one end, it reputedly cost a cool $45,000 has ample space, but beyond that doesn't compare with Maple Leaf Gardens for its clear view of both ends ... the Stadium box here houses television with its telescopic lens radio and press.

Like the previous night, the contest ended in a 4-2 score, but this time Chicago emerged victorious.

From his position in the new press box, Nickleson described the goal that put the contest out of reach for the Maple Leafs:

With the lightning-fast Hawks having a slight edge in the overall estimates, they made certain of the victory in the last eight seconds of the game. With Turk Broda out of the nets in favour of a sixth Leaf forward, Cannonball Bill Mosienko grabbed the puck in his own end during the Leaf ganging attack. He roared down the centre, with Jim Thomson in pursuit, fired a 40-footer into the empty cage as he was crowed into the boards.

On the play, Chicago defenceman Bill Gadsby earned an assist.