The first annual National Hockey League all-star game took place at Maple Leaf Gardens, October 13, 1947. Fans got their first look at a new feature, eventually to be the standard at all hockey arenas. Glass panels replaced the wire protective screens at the ends of the rink.

By JIM VIPOND

Major hockey's coach-picked dream team paid off for the experts! The NHL All-Stars defeated the world champion Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, in a hustling exhibition game at Maple Leaf Gardens last night. The clash was exhibition in name only, as the opposing players ripped into each other with Stanley Cup gusto to the noisy delight of 14,318 fans.

This first annual star-studded hockey classic, aimed at starting the players' pension fund on its financial way, was marred by an unfortunate accident to Bill Mosienko. The clever Chicago playmaker went out with a fractured left ankle early in the second period. He crashed to the ice when body-checked by Jimmy Thomson while travelling at top speed. He will be lost to the Black Hawks for at least eight weeks.

The All-Star squad, with a quarter of a million dollars' worth of hockey glory in its ranks, made a great comeback in the last 23 minutes of the game. The Dick Irvin-coached team overcame a 3-1 lead to disorganize a good looking Toronto outfit and go on to win.

It took the selects the better part of two periods to get acquainted. The Leafs dominated play in the first and second sessions with three nicely executed scoring plays coming from the team's No. 1 line of Syl Apps, Harry Watson and Bill Ezinicki.

New York's Grant Warwick started the comeback at 18.35 of the second period. Watson had scored in the first period on a pass from Ezinicki and then Wild Bill was Johnny-on-the-spot to take a pass from Apps and make it 2-0 for Toronto at 3.21 of the middle period. Max Bentley got a goal back for the All-Stars then Syl Apps skated in to best the league's No. 1 goalie, Canadiens' Bill Durnan.

The game was only 25 minutes old at this stage and suddenly Leafs fell apart, tumbling over each other and making things easy for the opposition. It was an all too familiar Toronto story. A good lead and the players letting down to suddenly find themselves on the wrong end of the score.

Rightwinger Maurice Richard tied the score in the first minute of the final period. At least he was given credit for the tally but the puck went into the net off a Toronto player's skate. Gus Mortson was serving a tripping penalty when the visitors took the lead on a goal by Doug Bentley assisted by Richard and Milt Schmidt. That ended the scoring although Leafs hit their stride again in the last ten minutes and did everything but score. They even yanked Turk Broda in an effort to get the equalizer in the final minute.

It was an exciting hockey game for so early in the hockey year. Play dragged at times but the forcefulness with which the players bashed into each other made up for the slow moments.

The feuding was particularly rough between the Leafs and two All-Star defensemen from Montreal, Butch Bouchard and Ken Reardon. They were involved in duels with Ezinicki on several occasions.

Judging by last night's rough stuff, the fans are in for some exciting times when Leafs and Canadiens meet this winter. Twelve penalties were handed out by Referee King Clancy, including a major to Reardon for cutting down Bob Goldham who suffered a gash in the side of his head. This gave the fans a bad moment as it was at first feared the defenseman had fallen on the arm which was so badly fractured last season.

Vic Lynn was another Toronto casualty late in the game, suffering a deep gash over the left eye when he crashed into the boards at the north end of the arena. Detroit's Jack Stewart also needed medical attention when he hit the new glass backstop.

It was a highly successful all-Star inaugural. Premier George Drew faced off the puck after the All-Stars had been introduced to the crowd. Before the second period started, gold watch chains with puck fobs were presented to this year's first All-Star team. Fur- ther ceremonies preceded the final period. Present and past members of the Leafs who made all-star rating since 1931 received awards. They were Syl Apps, Turk Broda, Wally Stanowski, Gaye Stewart, Charlie Conacher, Harvey Jackson, King Clancy and Tommy Anderson.

Finally, Howie Meeker was presented with the Calder Trophy and a silver tray by W. A. H. McBrien, on behalf of the National Hockey League.

Game officials appeared in midnight blue uniforms. They were immediately dubbed "Campbell's Black Shirts," and looked not unlike the London air raid wardens of the Second World War. Campbell said after the game he wasn't sure whether his idea of a uniform would be adopted by the league governors.

Campbell said the Mosienko in jury was a tragedy and a particularly severe blow to Chicago, already short on manpower. He said Thomson's check was clean, and, quite properly, there was no penalty on the play.

All-Stars -- Goal, Durnan; defense, Reardon, Bouchard; centre, Schmidt; wings, Richard, D. Bentley; alternates, Brimsek, J. Stewart, Quackenbush, M. Bentley, Mosienko, Warwick, Laprade, Lindsay, Dumart, Bouer, Leswick.

Toronto -- Goal, Broda; defense, Goldham, Stanowski; centre, Apps; wings, Ezinicki, Watson; alternates, Mortson, Thomson, Barilko, Kennedy, Meeker, Lynn, Potte, Mackell, Stewart, Metz, Klukay.

Referee, King Clancy; linesmen, Jim Primeau, Eddie Mepham.