Ronald Corey
Encyclopedia
Ronald Corey, CM
is a Canadian
businessman and former professional ice hockey
executive with the Montreal Canadiens
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). In 1991, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
.
since 1994 and a director of Transamerica Life Companies, Weider Nutrition International Inc. and Bestar Inc. He is also president of Ronald Corey Groupe Conseil Ltée. Corey has also served as Chairman of the Port of Montreal. Prior to joining the Canadiens' organization, Corey was president of the Carling-O'Keefe brewery.
of the Canadiens. During his term as president, the team won two Stanley Cup
s; in 1986 and 1993. Corey was president for the building of the Bell Centre
, however during the 1990s, the team's business declined under the indirect ownership of parent company Molson Brewery by Foster's.
Corey was known for his good treatment of past Canadiens' stars Rocket Richard and Guy Lafleur
. In 1986, he also brought Doug Harvey back into the Canadiens' organization, as a scout and arranging the retirement of his jersey number 2. He was also criticized by the media for poor management decisions in the hiring of Montreal Canadiens general managers. One famous action of Corey's was the firing, four games into the 1995–96 season, of the entire Canadiens' hockey management - general manager Serge Savard
and coaches Jacques Demers, Carol Vadnais
and Andre Boudrias
, and replaced them with Rejean Houle
and Mario Tremblay
. Houle had no previous general manager experience while Tremblay had no coaching experience. At the same time, Ronald Corey had once hired Serge Savard with no experience and went on to win 2 Stanley Cups with him. Corey retired in May 1999, after Molson openly discussed selling the team, he was unable to fulfill that mandate, and Molson went on installing new team president Pierre Boivin. The relationship between Molson, Corey and Montreal will always be remembered and appreciated.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
is a Canadian
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...
businessman and former professional 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...
executive with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
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...
(NHL). In 1991, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Businessman
As of 2010, Corey has served as a Director of Laurentian Bank of CanadaLaurentian Bank of Canada
The Laurentian Bank of Canada is a Schedule I bank in the province of Quebec. . LBC's Institution Number is 039.-History:...
since 1994 and a director of Transamerica Life Companies, Weider Nutrition International Inc. and Bestar Inc. He is also president of Ronald Corey Groupe Conseil Ltée. Corey has also served as Chairman of the Port of Montreal. Prior to joining the Canadiens' organization, Corey was president of the Carling-O'Keefe brewery.
Montreal Canadiens executive
On November 12, 1982, Corey was appointed presidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Canadiens. During his term as president, the team won 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...
s; in 1986 and 1993. Corey was president for the building of the Bell Centre
Bell Centre
The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...
, however during the 1990s, the team's business declined under the indirect ownership of parent company Molson Brewery by Foster's.
Corey was known for his good treatment of past Canadiens' stars Rocket Richard and Guy Lafleur
Guy Lafleur
Guy Damien "The Flower" / "Le Démon Blond" Lafleur, OC, CQ is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted and popular players ever to play professional ice hockey...
. In 1986, he also brought Doug Harvey back into the Canadiens' organization, as a scout and arranging the retirement of his jersey number 2. He was also criticized by the media for poor management decisions in the hiring of Montreal Canadiens general managers. One famous action of Corey's was the firing, four games into the 1995–96 season, of the entire Canadiens' hockey management - general manager Serge Savard
Serge Savard
Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
and coaches Jacques Demers, Carol Vadnais
Carol Vadnais
Carol Marcel Vadnais is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1966–67 until 1982–83...
and Andre Boudrias
Andre Boudrias
André Gerard Boudrias is a retired professional ice hockey centre who spent 12 seasons in the National Hockey League as well as two more years in the World Hockey Association between 1963 and 1978. He is best remembered for his time with the Vancouver Canucks, where he was the first offensive...
, and replaced them with Rejean Houle
Réjean Houle
Réjean Houle is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward, most notably for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League, for whom he also served a controversial stint as general manager.-Playing career:...
and Mario Tremblay
Mario Tremblay
Mario Tremblay is a former professional ice hockey player and former coach in the National Hockey League...
. Houle had no previous general manager experience while Tremblay had no coaching experience. At the same time, Ronald Corey had once hired Serge Savard with no experience and went on to win 2 Stanley Cups with him. Corey retired in May 1999, after Molson openly discussed selling the team, he was unable to fulfill that mandate, and Molson went on installing new team president Pierre Boivin. The relationship between Molson, Corey and Montreal will always be remembered and appreciated.