MONTREAL — Hockey's top individual award, the Hart Trophy, was won for the second year in succession by Gordie Howe, of Detroit. In carrying off the award which Is presented annually to “the player adjudged to be most valuable to his team,” the big Detroit winger also received a cheque for $1,000 from the National Hockey League.

Howe had more than twice as many points as his closest rivals, Al Rollins, of Chicago Black Hawks, and Red Kelly, of Detroit. The three-time NHL scoring champion polled a total of 58 points out of a possible 90 in winning the trophy. Rollins, Chicago's great goalkeeper who was the Hawks' No. One star all year, had 25 points, as did Kelly. However, Rollins had more first-place votes than Kelly, and would therefore gain the runner-up position.

Nine First Votes

Balloting for the Hart Trophy was carried out by 13 hockey writers and broadcasters—three from each NHL city — and points were awarded on the basis of five for a first choice, three for a second and one for a third. Howe was the first choice of nine selectors, the second pick of four and the third selection of one Four of the 18 selectors failed to cast a vote for him.

Rollins was the first choice of three selectors, the second pick of three and the third pick of one for a total of 25 points. Kelly polled two first-place votes, three seconds and six thirds for his 25-polnt total No other players were very close to Howe, Rollins and Kelly.

By winning the Hart Trophy two years In a row, Howe did something that only two other players were ever able to do. Eddie Shore, Boston Bruin's sensational defenceman. won the trophy in 1934-35 and 1935-36. while Montreal Canadiens' immortal center, Howie Morenz, captured this prized piece of silverware In 1930-31 and 1931-32 Besides winning, the Hart Trophy two successive years, Shore won the award four times altogether. Morenz won it three times In all.

Great Season

The 25-year-old Howe enjoyed his greatest individual season in the National Hockey League during 1952-53. Besides winning the Hart Trophy, he also copped the Art Ross Trophy for winning the National Hockey League scoring championship and was a unanimous choice for the right-wing position on the First All-Star Team. In winning the scoring crown for the third successive season, Howe established a new NHL points record. In 70 games he scored 49 goals and had 46 assists for 95 points. The previous record for the most points In a season was 86 and was also held by Howe.

As well as topping hockey's major circuit in most points, he was also the highest goal scorer for the season with 49, and assisted on more goals than any other player—46 all told. Howe fell one goal short In his effort to tie the NHL goal-scoring record for one season. Maurice Richard, of Canadiens, holds this record — 50 goals in 50 games.

Big Money

The 1952-53 season was a most lucrative one for the big 16 feet tall, 187 pounds raw-boned Westerner. In addition to his regular NHL salary, which Is one of the highest In hockey, he collected no less than $4,500 In bonus money from the National Hockey League. He pocketed $1,000 from the league for winning the Art Ross Trophy, he picked up another thousand for winning the Hart Trophy and another $1,000 for making the All-Star team. He received $1,000 for being a member of the team winning the National Hockey League championship, and $500 for being a member of the team eliminated in the Stanley Cup semi-finals.