Frank J. Selke
Inducted In
1972
A hockey coach, manager, executive and a National Hockey League Governor from 1904 to 1964, Frank Selke was born in Kitchener, May 7, 1893. Starting out as a manager of the Iroquois Bantams, he maintained an unbroken string of winning teams. He organized the Berlin Union Jack Athletic Club in 1910 and reorganized the Toronto Marlboros in 1921.
With the aid of a few good friends, Selke was able to finance his amateur clubs without financial aid. His earnings from his electrical trade provided the funds and his leisure time was devoted to management.
In 1929 he joined Conn Smythe, acting as his assistant during the erection and management of Maple Leaf Gardens. In 1946 he moved to Montreal and assumed the post of managing director of the Montreal Canadiens. His organization of a farm system of Junior Hockey across Canada resulted in making the Canadiens the strongest team in professional hockey. The club won many league championships and Stanley Cups. The team’s record of winning five successive Stanley Cups may never be equalled.