Gil Stein (ice hockey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gil Stein
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|---|---|
| 5th President of the National Hockey League | |
| In office 1992 – July 1, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | John Ziegler Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Gary Bettman (as commissioner) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gilbert Stein
January 11, 1928 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 24, 2022 (aged 94) |
| Alma mater | Temple University Boston University |
| Profession | Attorney |
Gilbert Stein (born January 11, 1928 – died March 24, 2022) was an American lawyer. He was also a teacher and a leader in professional ice hockey. Gil Stein worked for the National Hockey League (NHL) for almost 15 years. He was a vice-president and legal advisor. In 1992, he became the fifth and last president of the NHL.
Early Life and Hockey Start
Gil Stein was born in Philadelphia in 1928. He went to Temple University and studied law at Boston University. Before working in hockey, he was a lawyer for the city of Philadelphia. He also worked for the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team. There, he was a top leader, helping to run the team.
Working for the NHL
Stein worked for the NHL as a main legal advisor. He was also a vice-president for 15 years. He worked under the NHL President, John Ziegler Jr..
In 1992, the NHL team owners wanted a new leader. They decided to create a new role called "commissioner." While they looked for a commissioner, Gil Stein became the NHL President. After taking over, he made some changes. He took charge of player discipline himself. He also wanted NHL players to play in the 1994 Winter Olympics. He believed this would help hockey grow in Europe.
During his time as president, two new teams joined the NHL. These were the Anaheim Ducks and the Florida Panthers.
Transition to Commissioner
Gil Stein was NHL President for about a year. The owners then chose Gary Bettman to be the first NHL Commissioner. Bettman started his new job on February 1, 1993. Stein continued to serve alongside Bettman until his term as president ended on July 1, 1993. After that, he became a special advisor to Bettman.
Stein also worked with the Hockey Hall of Fame. He helped change how people were chosen for the Hall of Fame. He wanted a simple vote with no secret ballots. Stein was chosen as the first person under this new rule. However, some people thought he might have influenced his own selection. Because of this, he decided not to accept his nomination. He also left his role with the NHL.
Later Life
After leaving the NHL, Gil Stein continued to work in law. He was a special advisor for the U.S. Senate. Starting in 2000, he taught sports law at Villanova University.
Gil Stein was married to Barbara and they had three children. He passed away on March 24, 2022, at 94 years old.
