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Bud Poile
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Norman Robert "Bud" Poile (February 10, 1924 – January 4, 2005) was a professional ice hockey player, coach, general manager, and league executive. Bud was the brother of Don Poile, and the father of David Poile.
Key Information
Overview
[edit]Poile was born in Fort William, Ontario, and played junior hockey for the Fort William Rangers. He began his professional career in 1942 as an 18-year-old right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs and—after a break in his career to serve in the Second World War—was a member of the Leafs' Stanley Cup-winning team of 1947. The next season, he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in a multi-player deal for Max Bentley. A year later he was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings. Before the 1949–50 season he was acquired by the New York Rangers and was traded mid-season to the Boston Bruins, which would be his final stop in the NHL.
Poile would spend five more years playing in minor professional leagues as a player-coach, first for the Tulsa Oilers of the United States Hockey League in 1950–51. He then rejoined the Red Wings organization in 1951–52 as player coach of the Red Wings' Maritime Major Hockey League affiliate, the Glace Bay Miners. He moved up to the Wings' Western Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Flyers, in 1952–53. He retired as a player in 1954, but would continue to coach the Flyers until 1962. Poile then became head coach of the San Francisco Seals from 1962 to 1966.
With the NHL expansion in 1967, Poile became general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, acquiring key members of the team that would win the Stanley Cup in the 1970s. In 1970, Poile became general manager of another NHL expansion team, the Vancouver Canucks, building that club until leaving in 1973 to join the World Hockey Association as executive vice-president. He left the WHA in May 1976 in the fallout from a brawl in the playoffs between Quebec and Calgary.[1]
In August 1976, Poile became president of the Central Hockey League. During the 1983–84 season he also became commissioner of the International Hockey League. The CHL wound down its operations at the end of that season, and Poile continued in his role with the IHL until retiring in 1989.
Poile was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1990 after a hockey career that spanned six decades. He died in Vancouver on January 4, 2005, of Parkinson's disease. His son, David Poile, has also had a long management career in the National Hockey League and was the first general manager of the Nashville Predators.
Poile has had two professional hockey trophies named after him. The first was the N.R. "Bud" Poile Trophy of the International Hockey League, awarded from 1989 to 2001 to the most valuable player of the Turner Cup Playoffs. The second is the Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy of the American Hockey League, awarded to the team that finishes the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference.
Awards
[edit]- 2nd team NHL All-Star in 1948.
- Awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1989.
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.
Career statistics
[edit]Regular season and playoffs
[edit]| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1940–41 | Fort William Rangers | TBJHL | 17 | 25 | 10 | 35 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1941–42 | Fort William Rangers | TBJHL | 18 | 36 | 29 | 65 | 55 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 11 | ||
| 1941–42 | Fort William Forts | TBSHL | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1941–42 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1942–43 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 1943–44 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 11 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1943–44 | Toronto RCAF | OHA-Sr. | 8 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1943–44 | Toronto Bowsers | TMHL | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 2 | ||
| 1945–46 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1946–47 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 59 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1947–48 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1947–48 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 54 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1948–49 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1948–49 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 56 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1949–50 | New York Rangers | NHL | 28 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1949–50 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 38 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1950–51 | Tulsa Oilers | USHL | 60 | 15 | 38 | 53 | 48 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 1951–52 | Glace-Bay Miners | MMHL | 84 | 33 | 60 | 93 | 69 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1952–53 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 70 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 62 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 12 | ||
| 1953–54 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 49 | 12 | 39 | 51 | 34 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1954–55 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1954–55 | Edmonton Flyers | Ed-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 311 | 107 | 122 | 229 | 91 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | ||||
Coaching statistics
[edit]| Season | Team | League | Type | G | W | L | T | OTL | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952–53 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 60 | 21 | 28 | 11 | 0 | .442 |
| 1953–54 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 29 | 30 | 11 | 0 | .493 |
| 1954–55 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 39 | 20 | 11 | 0 | .636 |
| 1955–56 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 33 | 34 | 3 | 0 | .493 |
| 1956–57 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 39 | 27 | 4 | 0 | .586 |
| 1957–58 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1959–60 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 37 | 29 | 4 | 0 | .557 |
| 1960–61 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 27 | 43 | 0 | 0 | .386 |
| 1961–62 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 39 | 27 | 4 | 0 | .586 |
| 1962–63 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 44 | 25 | 1 | 0 | .636 |
| 1963–64 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | Head Coach2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1964–65 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | Head Coach | 70 | 31 | 37 | 2 | 0 | .457 |
| 1965–66 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | Head Coach² | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 Midseason replacement
² Replaced midseason
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Willes, Ed (2004), The Rebel League, McClelland & Stewart, p. 167, ISBN 0-7710-8947-3
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database
Bud Poile
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Playing Career
Early Life
Norman Robert "Bud" Poile was born on February 10, 1924, in Fort William, Ontario, a lakeside town now amalgamated into Thunder Bay.[1] He grew up in a family of five children, the youngest being his brother Don Poile, who would later follow a path into professional hockey.[5] The Poile household fostered an early interest in the sport, with their father affectionately nicknaming Don "Beaver," a moniker that reflected the close-knit, hockey-oriented environment of their upbringing in the working-class community of Fort William.[5] Poile's initial exposure to organized hockey came through the local youth leagues in Fort William, where he progressed from bantam to midget, juvenile, and eventually junior levels, honing his skills on home ice against regional competition.[6] The town's strong hockey culture, centered around teams like the Fort William Hurricanes-Rangers, provided key influences, including competitive play in the Thunder Bay League that built his foundational abilities as a right winger.[6] These early experiences, marked by standout performances such as leading the league in scoring during the 1941-42 season, solidified his ambition to pursue hockey professionally.[6] By his late teens, Poile's talent in these local circuits caught the attention of National Hockey League scouts, prompting his decision to commit fully to a professional career and leading to his signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.[3]Junior and Professional Playing Career
Poile developed as a right winger in the junior ranks with the Fort William Rangers of the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League during the early 1940s.[7] In the 1940–41 season, he contributed 25 goals and 10 assists in 17 regular-season games, adding five points in two playoff contests as the team advanced.[7] The following year, Poile emerged as a standout scorer, leading the league with 36 goals and 29 assists over 18 games, while accumulating 12 points in three playoff appearances en route to the 1942 Memorial Cup final, where the Rangers fell to the Regina Pats in Toronto.[7] His performance earned him a professional contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs at age 18, marking his transition to the big leagues amid wartime roster shortages.[8] Poile made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in the 1942–43 season, appearing in 48 games during his rookie year and contributing to the team's Stanley Cup championship.[3] He remained with Toronto through parts of five seasons, including stints in 1943–44 (11 games), 1945–46 (9 games), 1946–47 (59 games), and a brief 1947–48 appearance (four games), before being traded to the Chicago Black Hawks on November 1, 1947, for cash considerations.[9] With Chicago, he played 54 games in 1947–48, then appeared in four games in 1948–49 before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings on October 25, 1948, for Jim Conacher, Bep Guidolin, and Doug McCaig, where he played 56 games that season.[3][10] Poile was traded to the New York Rangers prior to the 1949–50 campaign, suiting up for 28 games, and finished that year with the Boston Bruins after a midseason deal on January 12, 1950, appearing in 38 contests.[9] As a right winger, Poile was recognized for his physical presence at 6 feet tall and around 190 pounds, combining size with effective skating to drive play, score goals, and set up teammates during his NHL tenure.[11] Over 311 regular-season games across five Original Six teams, he established himself as a versatile forward capable of contributing offensively in a demanding era.[3] Following his NHL career, Poile continued playing in the minor leagues, joining the Tulsa Oilers of the United States Hockey League for the 1950–51 season, where he appeared in 60 games as a player-coach.[9] In 1951–52, he played for the Glace Bay Miners of the Maritime Major Hockey League, logging 84 games. He then transitioned to the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Flyers in 1952–53, appearing in 70 games, followed by 49 games in 1953–54 and a brief three-game stint in 1954–55, effectively concluding his on-ice playing days.[9]NHL Achievements and Statistics
Bud Poile's National Hockey League career spanned eight seasons from 1942 to 1950, during which he established himself as a reliable right winger known for his scoring touch and versatility across multiple teams. Over 311 regular-season games, he recorded 107 goals, 122 assists, and 229 points, while accumulating 91 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, Poile appeared in 23 games, contributing 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points and 8 penalty minutes.[9][12] Poile's production varied by team, with his most prolific output coming during stints with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings. He began and ended his Toronto Maple Leafs tenure with solid contributions, totaling 131 games, 44 goals, and 52 assists for 96 points. His peak season came in 1947–48 with Chicago, where he tallied 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points in 54 games, showcasing his offensive prowess on a line that helped the team compete in the standings. Another strong year followed in 1948–49 with Detroit, as he scored 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 56 games, demonstrating consistency amid frequent trades. Shorter tenures with the New York Rangers (28 games, 9 points) and Boston Bruins (38 games, 30 points) rounded out his career, where he provided depth scoring in his final season.[9][12]| Team | Seasons | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1942–43, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48 | 131 | 44 | 52 | 96 | 52 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 1947–48, 1948–49 | 58 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 19 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1948–49 | 56 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 6 |
| New York Rangers | 1949–50 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Boston Bruins | 1949–50 | 38 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 6 |
| NHL Totals | 1942–50 | 311 | 107 | 122 | 229 | 91 |
Coaching Career
Western Hockey League Tenure
Bud Poile commenced his coaching career as a player-coach with the Tulsa Oilers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in the 1950–51 season, before fully retiring as a player in 1952. He then assumed the head coaching position with the Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 1952, a professional minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.[2] He guided the team through a decade of development, focusing on constructing rosters capable of contending in the competitive WHL environment, which served as a key pipeline for NHL talent during the post-war era.[9] Poile's tenure with Edmonton spanned from 1952 to 1962, during which he emphasized player development to nurture prospects for higher levels of professional hockey, contributing to the Flyers' reputation as a breeding ground for skilled athletes.[2] Throughout his time in Edmonton, Poile's strategic approach highlighted disciplined defensive structures combined with opportunistic offensive plays tailored to the fast-paced, physical style of minor professional leagues.[15] Key events included leading the Flyers to consistent playoff appearances, fostering a culture of resilience amid roster turnover and league rivalries. However, coaching records show incomplete seasons, including a midseason takeover in 1957–58 and gaps in available data for 1958–59 and 1960–61, reflecting periods of transition or dual roles as player-coach and manager.[9] These efforts solidified Edmonton's standing in the WHL before the franchise's eventual decline in the early 1960s. In 1962, Poile transitioned to the San Francisco Seals, where he served as both head coach and general manager until midseason of the 1965–66 season, navigating the club's relocation and operational shifts within the WHL's evolving structure as teams adapted to increasing NHL affiliations.[16] With the Seals, he continued his philosophy of disciplined play and player progression, building squads that emphasized balanced lineups and aggressive forechecking suited to the league's demanding schedule.[17] Records for this period also note incomplete seasons, with full data available for 1962–63 and 1964–65, but midseason replacements in 1963–64 (by Nick Mickoski) and 1965–66, during which Poile managed amid ownership changes and competitive pressures.[9] This era marked Poile's adaptation to West Coast hockey dynamics, further enhancing his legacy in minor professional development.[2]Coaching Records and Successes
Bud Poile's coaching career spanned over a decade in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he achieved notable success with the Edmonton Flyers and the San Francisco Seals. His verified full-season records in the WHL include three championships with the Flyers in 1953, 1955, and 1962, and one with the Seals in 1963. In the 1952–53 season, Poile led the Flyers to a 31–28–11 regular-season mark before securing the championship with victories over the Saskatoon Quakers in the finals.[18] The 1954–55 campaign saw another title, with the team posting a 39–20–11 record and defeating the New Westminster Royals in the playoffs.[19] By 1961–62, Poile guided Edmonton to a 39–27–4 regular-season finish and the President's Cup, overcoming the Spokane Comets in the final series. These successes highlighted Poile's ability to build competitive rosters and excel in postseason play, contributing to the Flyers' reputation as a WHL powerhouse. Poile transitioned to the San Francisco Seals in 1962. In 1962–63, he led them to a second-place finish in the Southern Division with a 44–25–1 record before defeating the Portland Buckaroos and Seattle Totems in the playoffs to win the Lester Patrick Cup.[20] The Seals finished the 1963–64 regular season third with a 32–35–3 record, but Poile was replaced midseason by Nick Mickoski, who coached the team through the playoffs, where they upset the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Blades to claim the Lester Patrick Cup.[21][22] Later seasons were more challenging, with 31–37–2 in 1964–65 (fifth place) and a midseason stint in 1965–66 (team finished 32–36–4, lost in semifinals), reflecting roster transitions amid league expansion.[23][24]| Team | Seasons | Regular Season Record (W-L-T) | Playoff Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Flyers (WHL) | 1952–53 | 31–28–11 | Won WHL Championship |
| Edmonton Flyers (WHL) | 1954–55 | 39–20–11 | Won WHL Championship |
| Edmonton Flyers (WHL) | 1961–62 | 39–27–4 | Won President's Cup |
| San Francisco Seals (WHL) | 1962–63 | 44–25–1 | Won Lester Patrick Cup |

