Accomplishments
- Built the Johnstown Jets into a championship team in the former Eastern Hockey League in the 1960s.
- Spent 12 seasons as coach-general manager of the Pittsburgh Hornets in the American Hockey League.
- Joined Johnstown Jets as general manager in 1959-60 and forged a dynasty that won EHL playoff championships in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
- Advanced to the National Hockey League (NHL) as chief scout-assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings from 1962 to 1966.
- Returned to Johnstown in 1967, and as executive director/GM of the Jets.
- His 1974-75 Jets team won the North American Hockey League championship and served as the inspiration to the Paul Newman motion picture “Slap Shot.”
- Was instrumental in “Slap Shot” filming in Johnstown, allowing his players to participate in the picture.
- Helped revive hockey after the 1977 Johnstown Flood damaged the Cambria County War Memorial Arena so badly that there was no hockey during the 1977-78 season.
Leave a Comment