13th National Hockey League All-Star Game

Lore & Background

The 13th NHL All-Star Game was marked by a new NHL ruling requiring players to be under contract to participate. This clause was intended to pressure holdout players, succeeding with Frank Mahovlich and George Armstrong, but failing for Tim Horton, Dick Duff, Bobby Hull, Tod Sloan, Pierre Pilote, and Bob Pulford. As a result, All-Star coach Punch Imlach had to fill roster spots with inferior players.

Reader's Guide

The 1959 All-Star Game is significant for illustrating the NHL's use of the event as leverage in contract disputes. The absence of six top players due to the contract rule, combined with six Montreal Canadiens being named to the First and Second All-Star teams, forced coach Punch Imlach to field a weakened squad. The game also featured Maurice Richard's 13th consecutive All-Star appearance, a record at the time, and Jacques Plante playing without his mask despite planning to wear one that season. The snubbed players were also denied traditional pre-game gifts, including those already engraved with their names.

Did You Know?

• Maurice Richard made his 12th All-Star appearance, having missed the 1958 game due to injury.
• Jacques Plante played in the game without a mask, though he did not intend to wear one from the start of the 1959–60 season.
• Six of the best players were unavailable to All-Star coach Punch Imlach due to a new contract eligibility rule.