David Andrews (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
David Andrews is a Canadian
ice hockey
executive and former player. He is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hockey League
(AHL), the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League
. He has been inducted into both the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame (2005) and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
(2006). On September 2, 2010, it was announced by the NHL that Andrews had been named as one of the four recipients of the Lester Patrick Award for 2010.
Born in Nova Scotia
, Andrews attended Dalhousie University
in Halifax and the University of British Columbia
in Vancouver
, where he excelled in varsity hockey at both institutions as a goaltender
, garnering multiple conference all-star status. After graduation, he played four years of professional hockey in the Netherlands
.
David Andrews became the Hockey Development Coordinator for the Province of British Columbia
in 1975 and served in this capacity for five years until joining the Victoria Cougars
of the Western Hockey League
as a coach. In this time, Andrews was instrumental in the development of future hall-of-fame goaltender Grant Fuhr
, and the Cougars were Memorial Cup
champions in 1981. He took over as head coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Cougars in 1982. In addition to his involvement with the Cougars, Andrews was on the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
's Developmental Council for 10 years and was Chairman of its Coaching Committee. He was the head coach of Canada's National Under-18 club in 1982 and an assistant coach during the 1985 Canadian Olympic Team's training camp. He was also a senior consultant with the Government of Canada
through the Sport Canada
initiative and helped prepare for the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
.
From 1987 to 1994, Andrews was the Director of AHL Operations for the Edmonton Oilers
and guided the Oilers' AHL affiliates, the Nova Scotia Oilers
and Cape Breton Oilers
. This period was highlighted by Andrews being awarded the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
in 1990 as the AHL's outstanding executive, the Cape Breton Oilers setting a record with 36 sellouts in the 1990-91 season, and the Oilers capturing the 1992-93 Calder Cup
as AHL champions.
Andrews ascended to the presidency of the AHL in 1994, taking over from longtime President Jack Butterfield
. In 1995, Andrews oversaw the re-introduction of the AHL All-Star Classic after 35 years, which has become an annual internationally televised event. Under Andrews, the AHL pursued an aggressive marketing strategy and has secured several high-profile sponsors as well as broadcasters. In 2001, the AHL saw its main competitor, the International Hockey League, collapse and the AHL absorbed six of its franchises while becoming the only top developmental hockey league in North America. Annual AHL attendance has doubled under Andrews, and the league will operate with an all-time high of 30 teams for the 2010-11 season.
David Andrews and wife Marleen have three children and live in Wilbraham, Massachusetts
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
executive and former player. He is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL), the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He has been inducted into both the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame (2005) and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1964, to honor outstanding athletes, teams and sport builders in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The facilities are located at the World Trade and Convention Centre in the provincial capital city of Halifax.-External links:* website...
(2006). On September 2, 2010, it was announced by the NHL that Andrews had been named as one of the four recipients of the Lester Patrick Award for 2010.
Born in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Andrews attended Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, where he excelled in varsity hockey at both institutions as a goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
, garnering multiple conference all-star status. After graduation, he played four years of professional hockey in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
David Andrews became the Hockey Development Coordinator for the Province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 1975 and served in this capacity for five years until joining the Victoria Cougars
Victoria Cougars
The Victoria Cougars were a major league professional ice hockey team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1922 to 1924, and in the Western Hockey League from 1924 to 1926...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
as a coach. In this time, Andrews was instrumental in the development of future hall-of-fame goaltender Grant Fuhr
Grant Fuhr
Grant Scott Fuhr is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame...
, and the Cougars were Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
champions in 1981. He took over as head coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Cougars in 1982. In addition to his involvement with the Cougars, Andrews was on the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was the national governing body of amateur ice hockey play in Canada from 1914 until 1994 when it merged with the Canadian Hockey Association or Hockey Canada....
's Developmental Council for 10 years and was Chairman of its Coaching Committee. He was the head coach of Canada's National Under-18 club in 1982 and an assistant coach during the 1985 Canadian Olympic Team's training camp. He was also a senior consultant with the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
through the Sport Canada
Sport Canada
Sport Canada is a branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Its mission is "to enhance opportunities for all Canadians to participate and excel in sport." Sport Canada develops Federal sport policy in Canada, provides funding programs in support of sport, and administers special projects...
initiative and helped prepare for the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
.
From 1987 to 1994, Andrews was the Director of AHL Operations for the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and guided the Oilers' AHL affiliates, the Nova Scotia Oilers
Nova Scotia Oilers
The Nova Scotia Oilers were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1984 to 1988. The Oilers played their home games at the Halifax Metro Centre, and were the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, whose logo theirs resembled.The Oilers...
and Cape Breton Oilers
Cape Breton Oilers
The Cape Breton Oilers were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team relocated from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1988 and was renamed for Cape Breton Island. Home games were played in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Centre 200...
. This period was highlighted by Andrews being awarded the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
James C. Hendy Memorial Award
The James C. Hendy Memorial Award is presented annually to an executive who has made the most outstanding contribution to the American Hockey League....
in 1990 as the AHL's outstanding executive, the Cape Breton Oilers setting a record with 36 sellouts in the 1990-91 season, and the Oilers capturing the 1992-93 Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
as AHL champions.
Andrews ascended to the presidency of the AHL in 1994, taking over from longtime President Jack Butterfield
Jack Butterfield
Jack Butterfield was a professional ice hockey administrator and the long-time president of the American Hockey League, serving the longest tenure of any AHL executive...
. In 1995, Andrews oversaw the re-introduction of the AHL All-Star Classic after 35 years, which has become an annual internationally televised event. Under Andrews, the AHL pursued an aggressive marketing strategy and has secured several high-profile sponsors as well as broadcasters. In 2001, the AHL saw its main competitor, the International Hockey League, collapse and the AHL absorbed six of its franchises while becoming the only top developmental hockey league in North America. Annual AHL attendance has doubled under Andrews, and the league will operate with an all-time high of 30 teams for the 2010-11 season.
David Andrews and wife Marleen have three children and live in Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...
.