Keith Allen (ice hockey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keith Allen |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1992 (Builder) | |||
Keith Allen pictured with the Saskatoon Quakers, circa 1941
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| Born | August 21, 1923 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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| Died | February 4, 2014 (aged 90) Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Coached for | Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Playing career | 1941–1957 | ||
| Coaching career | 1956–1969 | ||
Courtney Keith "Bingo" Allen (August 21, 1923 – February 4, 2014) was a Canadian ice hockey legend. He was a professional ice hockey defenceman, a successful coach, and a general manager in the National Hockey League (NHL). Allen played 28 games in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1953–54 and 1954–55 seasons. Most of his playing career, from 1941 to 1957, was spent in other hockey leagues.
After he stopped playing, Keith Allen became a coach and manager. He started in the minor Western Hockey League. In 1967, he joined the NHL as the very first coach and general manager for the Philadelphia Flyers. He coached the Flyers from 1967 to 1969. Then, he stayed on as their general manager until 1983. From 1980 until he passed away, he was the executive vice-president of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992 for his amazing contributions to the sport.
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Keith Allen's Hockey Playing Days
Starting His Journey in Hockey
Keith Allen began his hockey career playing junior hockey for the Saskatoon Quakers in 1940. He then joined the Washington Eagles in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1941–42 season. After that, he played a year with the Buffalo Bisons in the American Hockey League. During World War II, he played for the Saskatoon Navy hockey team. Later, in the 1945–46 season, he played for the Saskatoon Elks.
Playing in the AHL and NHL
In 1946, Allen joined the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. He played there for five seasons. The team moved to Syracuse in 1951 and became the Warriors. Keith Allen was a strong player for them for the next two and a half seasons. In February 1954, he was sold to the Detroit Red Wings. He played 10 games for Detroit in the 1953–54 season. He even played in the playoffs and had his name engraved on the famous Stanley Cup! Allen played 18 more games for the Red Wings in the 1954–55 season. These were his last games in the NHL.
Finishing His Playing Career
For most of the 1954–55 season, he played in the Western Hockey League. He was with the Edmonton Flyers, which was a farm team for Detroit. On that team were future Hockey Hall of Fame players like Johnny Bucyk and Glenn Hall. After that, he played one season with the Brandon Regals. In 1956, he was hired by the Seattle Americans as a player-head coach. He officially stopped playing in 1957 to focus on coaching full-time.
Allen's Coaching and Management Career
Leading Teams in the Western Hockey League
From 1956 to 1965, Keith Allen was a head coach in the Western Hockey League. He coached the Seattle Americans and later the Seattle Totems. He had only one losing season in eight years, which showed he was a great coach.
Building the Philadelphia Flyers Dynasty
When the NHL expanded in 1967, Allen was chosen as the first head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. His former coach and teammate, Bud Poile, was the general manager. In their first season, the Flyers finished first in their division. They had the best record among all the new teams! In the 1968–69 NHL season, they finished third in their division. After that, Allen became the Flyers' general manager. He also managed the Quebec Aces at the same time.
As general manager, he helped create the famous "Broad Street Bullies." This was the nickname for the Flyers team that won two Stanley Cups in a row, in 1974 and 1975! He also helped start the AHL's Maine Mariners. This team became one of the most successful in that league's history.
Hall of Fame Recognition
Keith Allen was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992. He was recognized as a "Builder" for his incredible work in shaping teams and the sport. He continued to be an important part of the Flyers organization as their executive vice-president.
About Keith Allen's Life
Keith Allen was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was married to Joyce Webster for 65 years. They had a daughter named Traci and two sons, Brad and Blake. In the 1960s, he and Joyce moved from Seattle and made their home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Keith Allen passed away on February 4, 2014, at the age of 90.
See also
- List of NHL head coaches
