Ambrose O'Brien
| Ambrose O'Brien | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
John Ambrose O'Brien May 27, 1885 Renfrew, Ontario |
| Died | April 25, 1968 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Industrialist Ice hockey magnate |
| Awards | Hockey Hall of Fame (1962) |
John Ambrose O'Brien (May 27, 1885 – April 25, 1968), was an industrialist and sports team owner. He was a founder of the National Hockey Association (NHA), owner of the Renfrew Millionaires and the founding owner of the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey team.
Born in Renfrew, Ontario, O'Brien became involved in hockey. He played as a youth and eventually owned two clubs in northern Ontario in Cobalt, Ontario and Haileybury, Ontario. In 1909, he founded the National Hockey Association, the Montreal Canadiens and bought the Renfrew Creamery Kings. In the 1909–10 NHA season, the Creamery Kings received the nickname "Millionaires" as O'Brien signed up several stars of the time to extravagant contracts, including Fred "Cyclone" Taylor and brothers Frank Patrick and Lester "the Silver Fox" Patrick, and acquired Edouard "Newsy" Lalonde in an attempt to win the Stanley Cup for Renfrew. The attempt was unsuccessful and he folded the team after two seasons.
While in Montreal for business in November 1909, O'Brien was asked by the then owners of the Creamery Kings to apply to join the Canadian Hockey Association. He made the application but was turned down. Outside the hotel room where the CHA meetings were occurring he met Jimmy Gardner, manager of the Montreal Wanderers. Together, they developed the idea of starting their own league with O'Brien's Cobalt and Haileybury teams, the Wanderers and a new team "Les Canadiens" for Montreal to capture francophone Montrealers' interest as a rival for the Wanderers. As a result the Montreal Canadiens were born. O'Brien only owned the team for one season. After the season, he was sued by George W. Kendall (Kennedy) owner of the Club athlétique Canadien, claiming the legal rights to the Canadiens name. A settlement was reached and on November 12, 1910 Kendall acquired the team for $7,500.
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