James T. Sutherland
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Sutherland (10 October 1870 in Kingston, Ontario
, Canada
– September 30, 1955 in Kingston) was a Canadian ice hockey
player, coach, administrator, and developer. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
.
Often referred to as the “Father of Hockey”, Sutherland was an ardent supporter of the game who worked diligently on its behalf. He made his hometown of Kingston a famous ice hockey
centre during the years prior to World War I. As coach of the Kingston Frontenacs
junior team, Sutherland guided them to several championships. He served in Europe
with the Canadian Army during World War I
, reaching the rank of Captain. Sutherland first became connected with the Ontario Hockey Association
as a district representative, and his drive and keen interest shot him up through executive ranks until he became president in 1915, holding the position until 1918. In 1919, Sutherland served as the President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
. He was instrumental in the founding of the Memorial Cup
in 1919; the tournament serves as the championship of the Canadian Hockey League
. He also helped establish the annual exhibition match between the Royal Military College of Canada
and West Point in 1923. Sutherland was the driving force behind the creation of the International Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1943, and a major reason why the National Hockey League
and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association selected Kingston as its original home. On September 30, 1955, Sutherland died. The IHHoF took his honour one step further by naming one of the display halls after him. Sutherland was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in December 1947.
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....
, Canada
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...
– September 30, 1955 in Kingston) was a Canadian 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, coach, administrator, and developer. He is a member of 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...
.
Often referred to as the “Father of Hockey”, Sutherland was an ardent supporter of the game who worked diligently on its behalf. He made his hometown of Kingston a famous 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...
centre during the years prior to World War I. As coach of the Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston Frontenacs
The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
junior team, Sutherland guided them to several championships. He served in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the Canadian Army 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...
, reaching the rank of Captain. Sutherland first became connected with the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
as a district representative, and his drive and keen interest shot him up through executive ranks until he became president in 1915, holding the position until 1918. In 1919, Sutherland served as the President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was the national governing body of amateur ice hockey play in Canada from 1914 until 1994 when it merged with the Canadian Hockey Association or Hockey Canada....
. He was instrumental in the founding of the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
in 1919; the tournament serves as the championship of the Canadian Hockey League
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
. He also helped establish the annual exhibition match between the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
and West Point in 1923. Sutherland was the driving force behind the creation of the International Hockey Hall of Fame
International Hockey Hall of Fame
The International Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on the Kingston Memorial Centre grounds features many exhibits within their museum about the history of ice hockey.-Historic Hockey Series:...
in 1943, and a major reason why 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...
and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association selected Kingston as its original home. On September 30, 1955, Sutherland died. The IHHoF took his honour one step further by naming one of the display halls after him. Sutherland 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...
in December 1947.