Frederic McLaughlin
Encyclopedia
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
. McLaughlin achieved the rank of Major
and was often referred to as Major McLaughlin for the rest of his life.
. He named the team the Blackhawks after the nickname of his army unit, the 86th Infantry "Blackhawk" Division
, where he had served in the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion. Most of the Hawks players were from the Portland Rosebuds
of the Western Hockey League
purchased from WHL owner Frank Patrick for $100,000. During his 18 years as owner, McLaughlin would lead the franchise to two Stanley Cup
wins, in 1934 and 1938
.
At the time McLaughlin acquired the Blackhawks, he was married to Irene Castle, a famous dancer and film actress. She is credited with creating "Indian head" design of the first Blackhawks sweater.
McLaughlin was a "hands-on" owner and he made 18 coaching changes in 18 years. One Hawk coach was Godfrey Matheson
, who got the job when he met McLaughlin on the train and impressed McLaughlin with his hockey knowledge. Matheson lost the job after two practices.
McLaughlin was fiercely patriotic, and at various times during his ownership would try to fill his roster with as many Americans
as possible, during a time when very few American-born players played in the NHL. The 1938 Stanley Cup win was done with eight Americans on the roster and Bostonian Bill Stewart was coach. Stewart was fired early the next season.
As an owner, McLaughlin also feuded with other owners. James Norris, the Detroit owner, set up a competing Chicago team in the American Association, locking the Hawks out of the Chicago Stadium. The Norris family would eventually purchase the Hawks after McLaughlin's death. Conn Smythe
, manager of Toronto supplies the following quote on McLaughlin:
McLaughlin died of heart disease at age 67. In 1963, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
as a builder.
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...
.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, McLaughlin inherited a successful coffee business from his father, who died in 1905. McLaughlin was a graduate of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. McLaughlin achieved the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and was often referred to as Major McLaughlin for the rest of his life.
Chicago Blackhawks
In 1926, he was granted an expansion franchise by the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He named the team the Blackhawks after the nickname of his army unit, the 86th Infantry "Blackhawk" Division
U.S. 86th Infantry Division
The 86th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II.-World War I:*Combat: Saw no combat; was activated 25 August 1917 at Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois, went overseas in August 1918, returned to United States in November 1918, and was inactivated in...
, where he had served in the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion. Most of the Hawks players were from the Portland Rosebuds
Portland Rosebuds
Portland Rosebuds is the name of at least three professional teams based in Portland, Oregon during the first half of the 20th century. Two were professional men's ice hockey teams playing their home games at the Portland Ice Arena, one from 1914 to 1918 and another in 1925-6...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
purchased from WHL owner Frank Patrick for $100,000. During his 18 years as owner, McLaughlin would lead the franchise to two Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
wins, in 1934 and 1938
1937–38 NHL season
-European tour:After the Stanley Cup final finished, the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens played a nine-game exhibition series in Europe, becoming the first NHL teams to play outside North America. Six games were played in England, three in France...
.
At the time McLaughlin acquired the Blackhawks, he was married to Irene Castle, a famous dancer and film actress. She is credited with creating "Indian head" design of the first Blackhawks sweater.
McLaughlin was a "hands-on" owner and he made 18 coaching changes in 18 years. One Hawk coach was Godfrey Matheson
Godfrey Matheson
Godfrey Matheson was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach. Matheson was head coach of the Chicago Black Hawks for one season, 1932–33 along with Emil Iverson. He attempted to innovate coaching by using a whistle system; One whistle to shoot, two to check etc....
, who got the job when he met McLaughlin on the train and impressed McLaughlin with his hockey knowledge. Matheson lost the job after two practices.
McLaughlin was fiercely patriotic, and at various times during his ownership would try to fill his roster with as many Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as possible, during a time when very few American-born players played in the NHL. The 1938 Stanley Cup win was done with eight Americans on the roster and Bostonian Bill Stewart was coach. Stewart was fired early the next season.
As an owner, McLaughlin also feuded with other owners. James Norris, the Detroit owner, set up a competing Chicago team in the American Association, locking the Hawks out of the Chicago Stadium. The Norris family would eventually purchase the Hawks after McLaughlin's death. Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
, manager of Toronto supplies the following quote on McLaughlin:
"Where hockey was concerned, Major McLaughlin was the strangest bird and, yes, perhaps the biggest nut I met in my entire life."
McLaughlin died of heart disease at age 67. In 1963, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
as a builder.