Walter Bush
Encyclopedia
Walter L. Bush, Jr. is an American ice hockey
administrator.
In 1955, he helped start the Central Hockey League
, which turned into one of the few successful minor professional hockey leagues of that era. He was also instrumental in bringing National Hockey League
hockey to his home state with the Minnesota North Stars
as a minority owner. As the president of USA Hockey
for nearly two decades, he was instrumental in the efforts that brought women’s hockey into the Olympic program in 1998. He assumed in June of 2003 the position of USA Hockey’s chairman of the board, a position he was still holding in May of 2009.
He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1980 and later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 2000. He was awarded the Olympic Order
in 2002, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame
in 2009.
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...
administrator.
In 1955, he helped start the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
, which turned into one of the few successful minor professional hockey leagues of that era. He was also instrumental in bringing 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...
hockey to his home state with the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
as a minority owner. As the president of USA Hockey
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
for nearly two decades, he was instrumental in the efforts that brought women’s hockey into the Olympic program in 1998. He assumed in June of 2003 the position of USA Hockey’s chairman of the board, a position he was still holding in May of 2009.
He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1980 and later 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 2000. He was awarded the Olympic Order
Olympic Order
The Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement, created by the International Olympic Committee in May 1975 as a successor to the Olympic Certificate previously awarded. The Olympic Order originally had three grades , although the bronze grade was retired in 1984...
in 2002, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame
IIHF Hall of Fame
The IIHF Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which was established by the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1997, when 30 individuals were inducted at the world championships in Helsinki...
in 2009.
See also
- List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
- List of members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
- List of members of the IIHF Hall of Fame