Bill Tobin (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Bill Tobin is a former Canadian
ice hockey
player, executive and head coach. He was president of the Chicago Black Hawks
from the team's inception in 1926 until 1954. For the last ten of those years (1944–1954), he was also nominally the team's owner. However, he was actually a puppet for Detroit Red Wings
owner James E. Norris, who had helped Tobin put together a syndicate to buy the team from the estate of founding Black Hawks owner Frederic McLaughlin
. Ironically, Norris had been the Black Hawks' landlord since 1936, when he bought Chicago Stadium
.
Tobin was head coach of the Black Hawks for two seasons, 1929–30
and 1931–32
. He was included on the Stanley Cup team picture with Chicago as executive in 1934 and 1938. However, his name was only included on the Cup in 1938.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, executive and head coach. He was president of the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
from the team's inception in 1926 until 1954. For the last ten of those years (1944–1954), he was also nominally the team's owner. However, he was actually a puppet for Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
owner James E. Norris, who had helped Tobin put together a syndicate to buy the team from the estate of founding Black Hawks owner Frederic McLaughlin
Frederic McLaughlin
Frederic McLaughlin was the first owner of the Chicago Black Hawks.Born in Chicago, Illinois, McLaughlin inherited a successful coffee business from his father, who died in 1905. McLaughlin was a graduate of Harvard University and served in the United States Army during World War I...
. Ironically, Norris had been the Black Hawks' landlord since 1936, when he bought Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium
The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....
.
Tobin was head coach of the Black Hawks for two seasons, 1929–30
1929–30 Chicago Black Hawks season
The 1929–30 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's fourth season in the NHL. After a two-year absence, the Hawks would return to the playoffs, losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs.-Regular season:...
and 1931–32
1931–32 Chicago Black Hawks season
The 1931–32 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's sixth season in the NHL, and they were coming off of their first ever Stanley Cup finals appearance, as they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in 5 games in the 1931 finals. The Hawks would not bring back Dick Irvin as head coach though, as they...
. He was included on the Stanley Cup team picture with Chicago as executive in 1934 and 1938. However, his name was only included on the Cup in 1938.