Doug Bentley Chicago Blackhawks (picture courtesy from thirdstringgoalie@blogspot.com)

On this date in Chicago Blackhawks history,

On February 7, 1943 at Chicago Stadium against the New York Rangers in a 8-4 Blackhawks victory, for the first time in franchise history two Hawks players recorded a hat trick in the same game.  Doug Bentley and Bill Thoms both tallied three goals in the Blackhawks blowout of the Rangers.

Bentley was a mainstay of the Blackhawks throughout the 1940′s playing in 545 games and collecting 217 goals and 314 assists along the way. Thoms played for the Hawks during World War II playing in 252 games and scoring 63 goals and assisting on 112 goals.

Although Bentley has been retired for over 60 years, he still ranks 13th all-time in goals scored for the Chicago Blackhawks. Bentley was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964. A great Blackhawk was part of a cool first in franchise history on this date 70 years ago today!

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