Bruce Landon

Last updated
Bruce Landon
Born (1949-10-05) October 5, 1949 (age 72)
London, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goalie
Played for New England Whalers
NHL Draft 39th overall, 1969
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 1969–1978

Bruce Landon (born October 5, 1949) is a retired professional ice hockey hockey executive and goaltender who was the longtime part-owner, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League.

Contents

Playing career

Following a successful junior career with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League in which he finished second in the league in goals against average in his final season [1] , Landon was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. [2] He played three seasons for their minor-league affiliate Springfield Kings, finishing ninth in the league in 1970 and leading the league to the Calder Cup finals, and backing up future Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith as the Kings won the AHL's Calder Cup championship in 1971.

In 1973, Landon signed with the upstart World Hockey Association's New England Whalers and was the team's backup goaltender for five seasons. His best season was 1976, where despite a losing record provoked by the Whalers' anemic offense, he had a goals against average of 3.47, good for 9th place in the high scoring WHA. [3]

He had a second stint with Springfield at the start of the 1977–78 AHL season, but suffered a career-ending knee injury in practice and retired at age 28.

Landon finished his WHA career with 50 wins, 50 losses and 9 ties in 122 games, recording two shutouts and a 3.46 goals against average.

Hockey executive

After his retirement, Landon was hired by the Springfield Indians as an executive and broadcaster, and won the AHL's Ken McKenzie Award as the individual who best promoted his team in 1980 [4] , the James C. Hendy Memorial Award in 1989 as the league's top executive [5] , and the Thomas Ebright Award for outstanding contributions to the league in 2002. [6] In 1982, Landon became the general manager of the Springfield AHL team, and remained in that position for the remainder of the Indians' existence, leading the franchise to its final two Calder Cup championships in 1990 and 1991. [7]

When the Indians were sold to out-of-town interests in 1994 and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, Landon put together an investment group to secure an expansion franchise from the AHL, the Springfield Falcons. [8] The league, which is based in Springfield, was keen to maintain a presence in a city that has been hosted a team in the AHL and its predecessors for all but seven years since 1926. Landon was the president and general manager of the Falcons until 2014.

On November 3, 2007, the American Hockey League, in recognition of his years of service to hockey, held a "Bruce Landon Night" in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center. [9]

On February 4, 2014, Landon ended an era, stepping down as president, general manager and co-owner of the Springfield Falcons, and was named director of hockey operations by the team until the spring of 2016, when he retired shortly before the team was relocated to Tucson, Arizona. He was subsequently named a senior consultant by its successor franchise, the Springfield Thunderbirds, until retiring at the end of the 2016–17 AHL season. [10] Landon was honored by the city of Springfield by the renaming of a downtown street "Bruce Landon Way" [11] , and was inducted by the AHL into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2016. [12]

His autobiography, The Puck Stops Here: My (Not So) Minor League Life, was published in 2019. [13]

Related Research Articles

American Hockey League Ice hockey league in the United States and Canada

The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the league has an affiliation agreement with one NHL team. When NHL teams do not have an AHL affiliate, players are assigned to AHL teams affiliated with other NHL teams. Twenty-six AHL teams are located in the United States and the remaining five are in Canada. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and its current president is Scott Howson.

Hartford Whalers American professional ice hockey team

The Hartford Whalers were an American professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997. Originally based in Boston, the team joined the WHA in the league's inaugural season, and was known as the New England Whalers throughout its time in the WHA. The Whalers moved to Hartford in 1974 and joined the NHL in the NHL–WHA merger of 1979.

Houston Aeros (1994–2013)

The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL). The team played in Houston, Texas, at The Summit from 1994 until 2003 and the Toyota Center from 2003 to 2013. In the IHL, the team operated as an independent minor league team from 1994 to 2001, though the team occasionally accepted players on loan from various National Hockey League (NHL) clubs for development. Upon joining the AHL for the 2001–02 season, they became the primary affiliate of the one-year-old NHL expansion team, the Minnesota Wild, a partnership they maintained until the franchise's relocation in 2013. While the team's only formal partnership with the Dallas Stars was a partial affiliation agreement during the 2004–05 season, Dallas occasionally sent some of their prospects to the Aeros on individual loans from 1993 to 2005, until the establishment of the Iowa Stars gave Dallas its own primary farm team.

Hartford Wolf Pack American Hockey League team in Hartford, Connecticut

The Hartford Wolf Pack are a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. A member of the American Hockey League (AHL), they play their home games at the XL Center. The team was established in 1926 as the Providence Reds. After a series of relocations, the team moved to Hartford in 1997 as the Hartford Wolf Pack. It is one of the oldest professional hockey franchises in existence, and the oldest continuously operating minor league hockey franchise in North America.

Springfield Falcons Former ice hockey team in the American Hockey League

The Springfield Falcons were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) and played in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center.

Jeff Daniels (ice hockey) Ice hockey player

Jeffrey Dwayne Daniels is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current assistant coach to the Carolina Hurricanes. He was the former head coach and general manager of the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. In 2010–11, Daniels led the Charlotte Checkers to 44 wins and 94 points during the regular-season, the best totals for a Carolina affiliate since 2004–05. Daniels then guided the Checkers to the Eastern Conference Final, the deepest Calder Cup playoff run for Carolina’s AHL team since the 1996–97 Springfield Falcons.

Springfield Indians American ice hockey franchise (1926–1994)

The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with three interruptions. The Indians had two brief hiatuses from 1933 to 1935, and from 1942 to 1946. The team was known as the Syracuse Warriors from 1951 to 1954; in addition, the team was named the Springfield Kings from 1967 to 1975. The Indians won seven Calder Cup championships; six as the Indians, one in 1974 sandwiched between three consecutive from 1960 to 1962 and two consecutive in 1990 and 1991; and one as the Kings, in 1971.

Binghamton Whalers

The Binghamton Whalers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, playing in Binghamton, New York, USA, at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Maine Mariners (AHL)

The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Cleveland Barons (1937–1973)

The Cleveland Barons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cleveland Arena. The most successful team in AHL history, the original incarnation of the Barons played in the AHL from 1937 to 1973. In that time, they won ten division titles and nine Calder Cups, which, although the team had been defunct for over three decades, remained a record until 2009, when the Hershey Bears won their 10th Calder Cup. In 1973, they relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where they were known as the Jacksonville Barons; they lasted only through the 1973–1974 season before folding.

Ryan Craig

Ryan F. Craig is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and current assistant coach with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League. Prior to retirement, he was the captain of the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League (AHL). Craig was drafted 255th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Robbie Ftorek American ice hockey player and coach

Robert Brian Ftorek is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was enshrined as member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

John Stevens (ice hockey)

John A. Stevens is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach of the Dallas Stars. He is the former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Stevens was a defenceman for the Flyers and Hartford Whalers during his playing career. Stevens was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, but grew up in Turkey Point in Norfolk County, Ontario.

Larry Stuart Roy Johnston is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for over 14 years in seven different hockey leagues. He spent the most time with the Springfield Indians/Kings of the American Hockey League and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, where he served a short term as captain.

Cleveland Monsters American Hockey League team in Cleveland, Ohio

The Cleveland Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team began play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters and since 2015 has served as the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Monsters play home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland and have one Calder Cup championship, after winning their first title in 2016.

Michel Daniel Picard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Picard played in the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and Philadelphia Flyers. As of 2018, he serves as an amateur scout for the Blues.

Paul Christopher Gillis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Hartford Whalers between 1982 and 1993.

Charles Luksa is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman. He played 78 games in the World Hockey Association with the Cincinnati Stingers and 8 games in the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers between 1978 and 1980.

Anton Forsberg Swedish ice hockey player

Anton Forsberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Forsberg also played for the Lake Erie Monsters and went undefeated during the playoffs en route to winning the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs.

Springfield Thunderbirds American Hockey League team in Springfield, Massachusetts

The Springfield Thunderbirds are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League that began play for the 2016–17 season. They are the affiliate of the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues. Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Thunderbirds play their home games at the MassMutual Center.

References

  1. ↑ "OHL 1968-1969 Regular Season Goaltending Stats". eliteprospects.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  2. ↑ ""Bruce Landon"". Internet Hockey Database. Ralph Slate. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ ""Bruce Landon"". Internet Hockey Database. Ralph Slate. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  4. ↑ 2019-20 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book. Springfield, MA: American Hockey League. 2019. p. 25.
  5. ↑ 2019-20 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book. Springfield, MA: American Hockey League. 2019. p. 24.
  6. ↑ 2019-20 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book. Springfield, MA: American Hockey League. 2019. p. 25.
  7. ↑ 2019-20 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book. Springfield, MA: American Hockey League. 2019. p. 202.
  8. ↑ Chimelis, Ron (June 13, 2019). "Landon's hockey book is a promise kept". Springfield, MA: Springfield Republican. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ The Hockey News, November 20, 2007, page 41
  10. ↑ "After nearly 50 years, Bruce Landon's Springfield hockey career nears its end". masslive.com. February 28, 2017.
  11. ↑ Dillon, Kevin (July 19, 2016). "Bruce Landon Way officially revealed as city honors Springfield's 'Mr. Hockey'". Springfield, MA: Springfield Republican. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  12. ↑ 2019-20 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book. Springfield, MA: American Hockey League. 2019. p. 39.
  13. ↑ Frenier, Adam (November 27, 2019). "After Decades In Springfield's Pro Hockey Scene, Bruce Landon Tells His Story". NEPM. New England Public Radio. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.