Newz Forum: HOCKEY: Bud Poile, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, dies at 80

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Hockey Hall of Famer Bud Poile, the father of Nashville Predators general manager David Poile, died Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was 80.

"Bud devoted his life to the service of hockey, and with his passing, the game has lost a true friend and valued contributor," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "On behalf of the entire NHL family, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Poile family."

Poile, who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1947, was the first general manager of both the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

In 1976, he began an eight-year term as the commissioner of the Central Hockey League, and during the 1983-84 season, he also took over as commissioner of the International Hockey league. He was the IHL commissioner until retiring in 1989.

Poile was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990, a year after he received the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Poile also played for Chicago, Detroit, the New York Rangers and Boston and spent 13 seasons as a coach in the Western Hockey League, nine with the Edmonton Flyers and four with the San Francisco Seals.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday in Vancouver.

source

CBS