Wren Alvin Blair was a Canadian ice hockey coach, scout and executive in the National Hockey League.
13 Facts About Wren Blair
1.
2.
Wren Blair grew up playing hockey on the rink outside Westmount Public School.
3.
Wren Blair was given the nickname "The Bird" and was known for his wild behavior on the bench.
4.
Wren Blair was founder, coach and General Manager of the Whitby Dunlops, who would win the Allan Cup in 1957 and 1959.
5.
In 1960, Wren Blair began negotiations with Boston Bruins president Weston Adams to begin building the new Oshawa Generals, a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League.
6.
Wren Blair then hired Blair as their first coach and general manager.
7.
Wren Blair was fired as GM and replaced by the North Stars' coach, Jack Gordon in 1974.
8.
Just before his death, Wren Blair disclosed his belief that North Stars center Bill Masterton, the first and only player to die as a result of injuries sustained on the ice on January 13,1968, had a pre-existing cerebral brain hemorrhage prior to the hit on the ice that was generally associated with his death.
9.
Wren Blair was the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from July 1975 to December 1976.
10.
From 1979 through 1985, Wren Blair, served as the player personnel director for the Los Angeles Kings.
11.
In 2002, Wren Blair brought the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League to Saginaw, Michigan.
12.
The franchise was renamed the Saginaw Spirit, with Wren Blair stayed on as a consultant for the team.
13.
Wren Blair died on January 2,2013, aged 87, in Oshawa, Ontario.