On this day in 1934, the Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup

86 years ago on April 10th, 1934, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 to win the team’s first Stanley Cup.

The Chicago Blackhawks have won six Stanley Cups, three of them coming in this past decade. On this day in 1934, the Blackhawks won the franchises first Stanley Cup, beating the rival Red Wings 1-0 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The game went into double overtime, which was the second time that had happened in that series.

The playoff run had them go through the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, they beat the Montreal Maroons in the second round, and then finished off with a Stanley Cup win against the Detroit Red Wings.

They went 6-1-1 during their playoff run.

At the time, the team was coached by Tommy Gorman, who took the team to a 20-17-11 (51 points) record, finishing second in the American Division. Goalie Charlie Gardiner was the team captain, playing in all 48 games during the regular season.

After winning the Stanley Cup, the team would bet set back when the death of Gardiner happened. He was the heart and soul of Chicago, winning two Vezina Trophies before he passed away from a Hemorrhagic Stroke.

Gardiner would be put in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.

Who knows what would have happened if the English goalie never passed away in his prime. Maybe the Blackhawks would have won more than two Stanley Cups in the 1930s. Still, his death is one of the most tragic things in NHL history.