James Thomas Sutherland (1870-1955) - Find a Grave Memorial

Sportsman/Hockey Administrator. Born in Kingston, Ontario, he worked for many years on behalf of amateur hockey. His passion for the sport made him one of the most beloved administrators, it earned him the nickname, 'Father of Hockey.' He played hockey until the age of 17 with the Athletic Club of Kingston in the Dominion of Canada's first official league, later organizing the Frontenac Hockey Club. In 1910 he was appointed to the Ontario Hockey Association as an Executive. In 1915 he began a two-year reign as president of the same organizatin. During World War I he helped to establish the Memorial Cup to honor the war dead, the cup would later be used as an award to honor Canadian Junior Hockey. In 1915 he served as the President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association until 1918. In 1923 he helped to establish the annual exibition match between RMC and West point in 1923, later being instrumental in the decision with the NHL and the CAHA, about the location of the Hockey Hall of Fame. They selected Kingston as the home of the Hockey Hall of Fame but due to to many delays and money costs, the Hall of Fame was built in Toronto in 1961. He was inducted as a Builder into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947.

Bio by: The Silent Forgotten