Jack Riley (ice hockey b. 1919)
Encyclopedia
John Patrick "Jack" Riley (born June 14, 1919) is a retired professional ice hockey
player and executive. He was born in Toronto
, Ontario
.
Riley played nine seasons of professional hockey, primarily in the Eastern Hockey League
for the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Falcons and Washington Lions. After retiring as a player in 1950 he became the Lions head coach.
In 1959 he became general manager
of the American Hockey League
's Rochester Americans
. He served in that capacity until 1964, and in 1966 left the Americans organization for the general manager's position with one of the National Hockey League
's new teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins
. He served as the Penguins' general manager from their founding to the spring of 1970, and then in a second term from January, 1972 to January, 1974.
In 1975 he became Commissioner of the Southern Hockey League, and from 1979 to 1983 was President of the International Hockey League.
As of 2010, Riley is an active member of the Penguins Alumni Association. He was in attendance as the "Honorary GM" throughout the 2011 NHL Winter Classic
Alumni Game at Heinz Field
between the alumni of the Penguins and Washington Capitals
.
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 and executive. He was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Riley played nine seasons of professional hockey, primarily in the Eastern Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
for the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Falcons and Washington Lions. After retiring as a player in 1950 he became the Lions head coach.
In 1959 he became general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
's Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
. He served in that capacity until 1964, and in 1966 left the Americans organization for the general manager's position with one of the National Hockey League
National 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...
's new teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. He served as the Penguins' general manager from their founding to the spring of 1970, and then in a second term from January, 1972 to January, 1974.
In 1975 he became Commissioner of the Southern Hockey League, and from 1979 to 1983 was President of the International Hockey League.
As of 2010, Riley is an active member of the Penguins Alumni Association. He was in attendance as the "Honorary GM" throughout the 2011 NHL Winter Classic
2011 NHL Winter Classic
The 2011 NHL Winter Classic was the fourth edition of the annual outdoor ice hockey game held by the National Hockey League as a regular season game. The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m...
Alumni Game at Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
between the alumni of the Penguins and Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.