SSHoF logoEd Chynoweth

Builder (2008)

Hockey

Ed ChynowethEd Chynoweth rose from Saskatchewan roots to become one of the most influential men in Canadian hockey.

Originally from Dodsland, he came to Saskatoon where he became active in hockey and softball. In hockey, he was president of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association, the Saskatoon Referees Association and joined the Saskatoon Blades as assistant general manager in June, 1970.

In softball, he played for the College Lads, appeared in four national playoffs, and was considered the driving force behind the building of the Gordie Howe Park.

He joined the Western Hockey League in 1972. He was its commissioner until 1996 and for 20 of those 23 years; he was also Canadian Hockey League president. He played leading roles in the guaranteed education program and the development of Canada's world junior team program.

As a team owner, he led Kootenay Ice to a Memorial Cup victory in 2002.

** Deceased

" I have been out of step with the sports-minded parents. I have hollered, yelled and yelped about the over-organizing, the regimentation, the long schedules and the winning-is-everything credo. Let’s put some fun back into the game. " -- Ed Chynoweth, president of the Western Hockey League