PHL: 1957-58

Season Summary:

George Allen never told anyone that he planned to retire after 21 seasons at the end of the 1956-57 season. He had planned all along to anounce his retirement during the Lewis Cup celebration if the Mustangs managed to win. Ultimately, the Mustangs lost to Allen's longtime former team, the New York Civics, in game 7 of the American Division final. During the off-season, the Mustangs, who were trying to get younger, released Allen, who then retired, but he was still hungry to win his first Lewis Cup. In December, Allen anounced he would return to the game, this time with his former hated rivals, the Boston Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were struggling in last place and desperately needed a boost. Allen's presence lifted Boston into 4th place, good enough for a playoff spot, George Allen would have one more shot at hockey's biggest prize. Meanwhile, Detroit greatly regretted cutting Allen, as an injury to star forward Any Reid in November caused the team to plummet to last place. In Toronto, the heartbreak of 1957 quickly faded as the Racers dominated the regular season. David Stairs and Mark Benson tore up the scoring race, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively.

Toronto continued to dominate in the playoffs, taking out arch-rivals Hamilton in 6 before defeating the Montreal Royale to advance to the Lewis Cup finals for the second consecutive season. In Boston, the Bulldogs finally avenged New York's pouching of their former coach, James Simmons, as well as the playoff losses to the Civics the previous two seasons with an emotional game 7 victory to end a very hate-filled series between the two rivals. George Allen also got his revenge over his former team in game 5, scoring a hat-trick. In the division final against Philadelphia, the Bulldogs looked like a team destined for their 6th championship. However, the Redshirts managed to come from behind twice in a row in games 6 and 7 to stun the Bulldogs and advance to the Lewis Cup finals to face the Racers. George Allen, arguably the greatest player in PHL history, would retire having never hoisted the Lewis Cup. In the finals, The Redshirt fans chanted "nine-teen fort-y" at the Racers in all three games in Philadelphia, as the Racers had not won since the league's inaugral season in 1940. The Racers would have the last laugh, however, winning the series in 7 games to claim their second league championship and their first Lewis Cup.

Standings:

Canadian Division: