William Hunter

Born May 5, 1920 ; died Dec. 16, 2002

Occupation: Sports manager, owner

Contribution: The founding father of professional hockey in Edmonton formed his first competitive sports team at 17 and went on to own or manage franchises ranging from ladies’ softball to junior hockey. A one-time owner of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Hunter bought the Edmonton Oil Kings. He formed the Western Canadian Hockey League (now the WHL) and helped start the World Hockey Association in 1972, introducing the Alberta Oilers to Edmonton. A showman to the end, Hunter had ceremonial pucks given away at his funeral.

Quote: “If there is a Mr. Hockey for the fans and the community of northern Alberta, northern Saskatchewan, maybe all of Western Canada — I don’t think anybody outranks Bill Hunter,” said Patrick Laforge, former Edmonton Oilers president.