Art Ross
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arthur Howey Ross (January 13, 1886 - August 5, 1964) was a Canadian ice hockey executive and defenceman in the National Hockey League and its predecessor, the National Hockey Association.
Born in Naughton, Ontario, Ross grew up in Montreal where he learned to play hockey. He played in the NHA for Haileybury, Ottawa and for the Montreal Wanderers throughout eight seasons. He won two Stanley Cups: in 1907 with the Kenora Thistles and the next season with the Wanderers.
He was a fearless and rugged defenceman and never shied away from a fight. One of his most legendary was with Minnie McGiffen of the Toronto Blueshirts in which both players were arrested for assault and referee Cooper Smeaton almost got arrested.
He was also a fighter for players rights.In 1910 he joined other players in demanding no salary cap and nearly created a new league. He did the same thing in 1915 and was banned from the NHA. The league's owners, though, thought that they had acted too harshly and reinstated Ross.
When the Wanderers joined the newly created NHL for the inaugural 1917-18 NHL season, Ross only played three games before a fire destroyed the Wanderers' arena, forcing the team to fold.
He refereed in the NHL following his playing career, and then coached the Hamilton Tigers for the 1922-23 season. He could not get the Tigers out of the cellar, and was let go.
When the NHL placed a team in Boston for the 1924-25 NHL season, the new team's owner, grocery store magnate Charles Adams, hired Ross as vice president, general manager and head coach. Adams told Ross that the new team's nickname must portray an untamed animal displaying speed, agility, and cunning. Ross' choice was "Bruins," after the brown bear. He served as the Bruins' general manager until 1954, leading the team to three Cups. He also coached the Bruins on four separate occasions from 1924 to 1945, and is still the winningest coach in team history.
He was a fighter even as a league governor. He had a habit of insulting other governors. On one occasion in 1936-37, he unfortunately chose Red Dutton of the New York Americans as his target.Dutton held his anger until James Norris of Detroit interceded to make peace. Unfortunately, Ross was throwing a punch and Norris took it. Dutton then proceeded to pummel Ross until Ross had a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone and had lost some teeth.
Ross was one of the first 12 inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame 1945, as a player.
Ross is credited as being the first to promote the use of hockey pucks made of synthetic rubber instead of natural rubber, which provide for more consistent play.
Ross also invented the modern B-shaped goal which cuts down on dangerous rebounds coming out of the net.
He donated the trophy which bears his name to the NHL.
| Preceded by: Richard 'Dickie' Boon |
Head Coaches of the Montreal Wanderers 1913-1914 |
Succeeded by: Richard 'Dickie' Boon |
| Preceded by: Richard 'Dickie' Boon |
Head Coaches of the Montreal Wanderers 1917-1918 |
Succeeded by: none |
| Preceded by: Percy Thompson |
Head Coaches of the Hamilton Tigers 1922-1923 |
Succeeded by: Percy LeSueur |
| Preceded by: none |
Head Coaches of the Boston Bruins 1924-1928 |
Succeeded by: Cy Denneny |
| Preceded by: Cy Denneny |
Head Coaches of the Boston Bruins 1929-1934 |
Succeeded by: Frank Patrick |
| Preceded by: Frank Patrick |
Head Coaches of the Boston Bruins 1936-1939 |
Succeeded by: Cooney Weiland |
| Preceded by: Cooney Weiland |
Head Coaches of the Boston Bruins 1941-1945 |
Succeeded by: Dit Clapper |
| Boston Bruins Head Coaches |
|---|
| Ross • Denneny • F. Patrick • Weiland • Clapper • Boucher • L. Patrick • Schmidt • Watson • Sinden • Johnson • Guidolin • Cherry • Creighton • Cheevers • Goring • O'Reilly • Milbury • Bowness • Sutter • Kasper • Burns • Keenan • Ftorek • O'Connell • Sullivan • Lewis |
