Ambrose O'Brien

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John Ambrose O'Brien (May 27, 1885 – April 25, 1968), was an owner in the National Hockey Association, the forerunner to the National Hockey League.

Born in Renfrew, Ontario, O'Brien—with the backing of his father, businessman Michael J. O'Brien—almost single handedly started the National Hockey Association in 1909 because the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association rejected his plan for a franchise in Renfrew.

In 1910, he saw the opportunity to attract French speaking people in Montreal by starting a team called Les Canadiens—not to be confused with the subsequent Montreal Canadiens franchise—to be completely stocked with Quebecois players.

The O'Brien Trophy is named in his honor. O'Brien was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.