William Northey
Encyclopedia
William M. Northey was a builder in the National Hockey League
.
Born in Leeds, Quebec
, Northey became secretary at the Montreal Hockey Club
in 1893. He would help lead the team to two Stanley Cup
s. In 1909, he helped convince ice hockey
executives to change two rules still in place today. The first was the change from a game consisting of two 30 minute halves to three 20 minute periods. He was also instrumental in the decision to discontinue the rover
position. The number of players on the ice per team was dropped to six.
He formed the Canadian Arena Company and was instrumental in building Arena Gardens
in Toronto
, and owned Montreal Arena
, which burned down in 1918. In 1924, he helped construct the famous Montreal Forum
. From 1947 to 1956 he served as Vice President with Montreal. He spent the 1956-57 season as President of the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens were sold to Molson Family in summer of 1957, and Northey retired from hockey. William Northey name was engraved on the Stanley Cup 3 times in 1953, 1956, 1957.
Northey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1947.
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...
.
Born in Leeds, Quebec
Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds, Quebec
Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds is a municipality located in the Municipalité régionale de comté des Appalaches in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 686 as of 2009. It is named after one of Jesus' apostles, James, son of Zebedee, and the city of Leeds,...
, Northey became secretary at the Montreal Hockey Club
Montreal Hockey Club
The Montreal Hockey Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was a senior-level men's amateur ice hockey club, organized in 1884. They were affiliated with Montreal Amateur Athletic Association and used the MAAA 'winged wheel' logo. The team is notable for winning the first Stanley Cup in 1893, and in a...
in 1893. He would help lead the team 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...
s. In 1909, he helped convince 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...
executives to change two rules still in place today. The first was the change from a game consisting of two 30 minute halves to three 20 minute periods. He was also instrumental in the decision to discontinue the rover
Rover (ice hockey)
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ice hockey consisted of seven positions. Along with the goaltender, two defencemen, and three forwards who remain today, a Rover was also part of the team. Unlike all the others, the rover did not have a set position, and roamed the ice at will, going...
position. The number of players on the ice per team was dropped to six.
He formed the Canadian Arena Company and was instrumental in building Arena Gardens
Mutual Street Arena
Mutual Street Arena, initially called Arena Gardens or just the Arena, was an ice hockey arena and sports and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario...
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...
, and owned Montreal Arena
Montreal Arena
The Montreal Arena, also known as Westmount Arena, was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on the corner of St. Catherine Street and Wood Avenue. It was likely one of the first arenas designed expressly for hockey, opening in 1898...
, which burned down in 1918. In 1924, he helped construct the famous Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
. From 1947 to 1956 he served as Vice President with Montreal. He spent the 1956-57 season as President of the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens were sold to Molson Family in summer of 1957, and Northey retired from hockey. William Northey name was engraved on the Stanley Cup 3 times in 1953, 1956, 1957.
Northey 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 1947.