The Curious Case of Gil Stein
A Sportsecyclopedia.com Strange Stories Special for Barstool Sports
John Ziegler served as NHL President from 1977-1992
The events that led to Gary Bettman, becoming the first NHL Commissioner began 25 years ago. Previously the NHL had a President, and the final real President was John Ziegler, who was in office from 1977 until being forced out by the owners in 1992. Ziegler, who succeeded the longest tenured President Clarence Campbell, has seen the NHL through some of its leanest years. He helped the league with its merger with the World Hockey Association, but had trouble getting the NHL exposure in the United States. Ziegler’s biggest folly was in 1987 when, he agreed to put the NHL on Sports Channel America, instead of ESPN. Over the next five years NHL games were rarely seen national in the USA despite the trade that sent Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings.
John Ziegler’s tenure as Commissioner ended suddenly after the 1992, when he was forced to resign by NHL Owners. The 1991/92 season had seen the National Hockey League celebrate its 75th Anniversary amidst the gathering storm of labor strife. The season had been played without a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before players walked out on April 1st. The late season walkout had put the playoffs in jeopardy. The postseason was key to owners who needed the playoff revenue to make a profit due to the poor television contract. Desperate to save the season, Ziegler agreed to a short-term deal with the NHL Players’ Association after ten days. The season was salvaged and the playoffs went on as planned, but owners hated the deal and Ziegler was forced out.
For 75 years the NHL had a President, but owners wanted more control and they wanted so the position of commissioner was created, but while the league searched for its first commissioner, they needed an interim boss who served as the final league President, that man was Gil Stein. Stein, was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended Temple University, before studying law at Boston University. After passing the bar, Gil Stein worked for the City of Philadelphia for two decades, serving several different positions including Deputy District Attorney, before working for the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Labor Relations Board. After joining a private law firm, Gil Stein began working for the Philadelphia Flyers. After working with the Flyers, Stein was hired by the league office to serve as General Counsel and Vice President under John Ziegler.
Gil Stein vice-president and legal counsel for the NHL speaks at an event in June, 1992. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)
Gil Stein took over as President of the NHL on June 22, 1992 as the league was finally free of its terrible Sports Channel deal and returning to ESPN. Among the things Stein attempted to do was get a broadcast television deal for the NHL, though his time in office was short he was able to land the ground work for a deal with Fox, he also helped lay the groundwork for the NHL playing in the Olympics, though his attempts to get the league to participate in the 1994 Lillehammer games fell short. On a balance serving as an interim President, Gil Stein did some good work. His tenure would end following the 1993 season as his duties were handed over to Gary Bettman who became the National Hockey League’s first commissioner on February 1, 1993.
While still serving as a President in basically a figure head position, Gil Stein created the Hall of Fame board, for selecting members for the Hockey Hall of Fame. The board changed the Hall of Fame voting process to allow enshrinement by a simple majority and instead of a secret ballot, voting will be done by a show of hands. The first person chosen to be elected into the Hall of Fame under this questionable new policy, was none other than Gil Stein. When news of Stein’s election to the Hall of Fame was announced it created an uproar in Canada. The bubbling controversy led to Gary Bettman calling for an investigation on the voting process, and Stein’s selection as his first official duty as NHL Commissioner. It was decided that the Hall of Fame Board, had not consulted the NHL Board of Governors or Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Essentially it seemed Gil Stein created the new process to put himself in the Hall of Fame. Once the investigation was over Stein was forced to withdraw from the Hall of Fame and retired completely from the NHL. After leaving the league, Gil Stein returned to working for the government serving as a Special Assistant to Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and later served as an adjunct professor at Villanova Law School, teaching Sports Law. He also wrote a book telling his side of the story in 1997. However, whatever good he did in serving as the bridge from President John Ziegler to Commissioner Gary Bettman, it will always be remembered that he created a committee designed to put himself in the Hall of Fame, in a moment that can only happen in the NHL.
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