The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Along with wheat and potash, hockey players remain one of Saskatchewan's greatest exports. Over the years, the province has produced many players that have enjoyed great success in the NHL. Yet, a Saskatchewan man became one of the most important and influential figures in the league without scoring a single goal. As president of the NHL from 1946 to 1977, Clarence Campbell was the league's longest serving president and the most powerful man in hockey. Born in Fleming, Sask. on July 9, 1905, Campbell was an outstanding athlete and avid sportsman in his youth. He graduated with honours from the University of Alberta with a law degree before heading to Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship. Campbell returned to Canada six years later and took a job with an Edmonton law firm, and officiated hockey games in his spare time. In 1936 Campbell's skills attracted attention from the NHL, and he quickly established himself as one of the better officials. The Second World War interrupted Campbell's duties when he enlisted in 1940. He quickly rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to lieutenant-colonel. Setting aside his law career, Campbell assumed the position of assistant to then NHL president Mervyn "Red" Dutton after returning from the war. Upon Dutton's resignation a few months later, Campbell succeeded him as president. Campbell wasted little time making his mark on the game. He increased the regular season from 50 to 70 games, introduced the concept of an all-star game and helped create the Hockey Hall of Fame. Campbell also played a large role in setting up the NHL Pension Plan. Under Campbell, the NHL went through a period of unprecedented growth and popularity. From 1967 to 1975 the league tripled in size from six to 18 teams. For all of Campbell's contributions to the game, he may be best known for the controversy. During his time as president, Campbell often incurred the wrath of French-Canadian stars, who accused him of being anti-French. By 1955, Campbell may have been the most hated man in Quebec. With Maurice 'Rocket' Richard of the Montreal Canadiens on pace to win his first scoring title, he swung his stick at an opponent and then punched an official during a game late in the season. Campbell reacted by suspending Richard for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. Ignoring warnings, Campbell attended the Canadiens' last game of the regular season. However, the game was anything but regular. Campbell's appearance incited Montreal fans, who hurled insults and then objects at the NHL president. Once the game was called off, the Richard Riot spilled outside to the streets. Despite the incident, Campbell lasted 22 more years as president. He died on June 24, 1984, a couple of weeks before his 79th birthday. Paul Spasoff is a Saskatchewan freelance writer. Paul can be reached at [email protected].
