For the 1933-34 NHL season, O-Pee-Chee made history with their first set of hockey cards. They weren’t alone that year with Canadian Gum and others producing sets. One of the others was the World Wide Gum Company.
Find 1933-34 Ice Kings hockey cards on eBay, right now!
The 1933-34 Ice Kings V357 set, produced by World Wide Gum was a 72 card set of hockey cards measuring 2 3/8 by 2 7/8. The full set is today worth $15,000 with a common card going for $100. WWG was a company out of Granby, Quebec, although it says Montreal, Quebec on the backs of the cards.
The top five cards in the series are as follows:
- #36 of Howie Morenz – Montreal Canadiens. Morenz played in the NHL from 1923-24 to 1936-37 with the Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers. Morenz was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945. The card is valued at $2000.
- #13 of King Clancy – Toronto Maple Leafs. Clancy played in the NHL from 1921-22 to 1936-37 with the Ottawa Senators and Toronto. He was inducted into the HHOF in 1958. The card is valued at $1000.
- #3 of Aurele Joliat – Montreal Canadiens. Joliat played in the NHL from 1922-23 to 1937-38, all with the Canadiens. He was inducted into the HHOF in 1947. The card is valued at $800.
- #1 of Dit Clapper – Boston Bruins. Clapper played in the NHL from 1927-28 to 1946-47, all with the Bruins. He became a member of the Hall along with Joliat in 1947. The card is valued at $600.
- #12 of Nels Stewart – Boston Bruins. Stewart played in the NHL from 1925-26 to 1939-40 with the Montreal Maroons, Boston Bruins and New York Americans. Stewart was inducted into the HHOF in 1952. The card is valued at $600.
1933-34 was the final year in the National Hockey League for the original Ottawa Senators. The team was moved to Missouri where they became the St. Louis Eagles for the 1934-35 season. St. Louis lasted for one season before becoming extinct. Hockey would not return until the Blues joined the league in 1967.
The NHL consisted of nine teams in 1933-34 with the Montreal Maroons, Ottawa and the New York Americans yet to become relics. During the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings led the American Division with 58 points and the Toronto Maple Leafs led the Canadian Division with 61. The Chicago Black Hawks finished third overall with 51 points despite have the lowest goals for in the league (88 – eleven behind the next team). However, Chicago also had the least goals against with 83, 15 less than Detroit.
A good defense almost always beats a good offense in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Chicago beat out both Montreal teams to earn the right to play the Detroit Red Wings in the finals. Chicago prevailed with a 3 games to one victory.