Famed Boston University hockey coach Jack Kelley dies at 93 - The Boston Globe
Jack Kelley, who coached Boston University to NCAA hockey championships in 1971 and 1972 before being named the first coach and general manager of the New England Whalers, has died, the school confirmed. He was 93.
Born in Malden, Kelley starred at Belmont High before attending BU, where he led the Terriers to the NCAA finals in 1950 and 1951. He finished his playing career in 1952 by being named first-team All-New England and All-East, and team MVP.
He coached at Colby College for seven years beginning in 1955 and was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1962 after leading Colby to the semifinals of the first ECAC hockey tournament at Boston Arena. The following year, after Harry Cleverly resigned, Kelley returned to BU and took over as coach.
After the 1972 season, Kelley joined the Whalers as they began their first season in the World Hockey Association, and led them to the inaugural Avco World Trophy.
"Dear Whaler Nation.
It’s a sad day not only for all Whaler fans but for all hockey fans. Jack Kelley, was always the heart and soul of the Whalers.
Lest we all forget, the Whaler history began in Boston. The franchise was awarded to our group in November 1971. In February we announced the signing of famed Boston University coach and Colby college coach, Jack Kelley. He was our first General Manager and coach. And he proceeded to put a team together from all arms of the sport, NHL, AHL, and the college ranks. A perfect blend of Canadian players and American players. And there were very very few Americans in the league then.
This blend of great players led by Jack Kelley, everyone of them with a point to prove, went on to win everything there was to win that first year. We played in the “belly of the beast”, the Boston Garden. We shared the building with three other tenants. The Bruins, the Celtics and the Boston Braves of the AHL.
Many laughed at the notion of this group achieving anything much less winning everything. And at the end of the year Jack Kelley and I stood on the Garden ice lifting our makeshift Trophy (the league had forgotten to get one) and challenged the Montréal Canadians to a winner take all game. They declined our offer.
This year was my favorite year in hockey. And this year was because of Jack Kelley. He led us all. And we prevailed.
I loved this man. As a partner, as the great hockey man he was but most of all as my friend.
Whaler Nation and all of hockey mourns his loss. We send our deepest sympathies and love and prayers to all the Kelley family.
And for those hockey players up there, get ready, coach Kelley is amongst you now."
Howard Baldwin
“It’s a sad day not only for all Whaler fans but for all hockey fans,” Whalers Founder Howard L. Baldwin
said in a statement. “Jack Kelley was always the heart and soul of the Whalers.”
He worked later as an administrator in the Detroit Red Wings organization, and served as president of the Pittsburgh Penguins until his retirement in 2001. In 1993, he was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.