Jack Adams

Jack Adams was born on June 14, 1895 in Fort William, Ontario.

Jack started playing hockey at the age of sixteen when he played in the Northern Michigan Senior League. He went on to have amateur stops in Peterborough and Sarnia. Adams decided against playing amateur and moved up to the professional league.

In 1918 he played for the Toronto Arenas. During his first year he helped Toronto to the Stanley Cup. He stayed there for another year before heading to Vancouver. It was when he was in Vancouver that he emerged as a scoring threat. In twenty four games he scored twenty four goals and eighteen assists. He joined the NHL's Toronto St. Pats the following year.

Jack spent four seasons with the St. Pats. The time he spent there showed him to be a steady goal scorer. He had three 26+ point seasons. In 1926-1927 seasons, Adams went to the Ottawa Senators where he had a dismal season...in forty games he had only five goals and one assist, but he did win the Stanley Cup that year.

Jack played along side such stars as King Clancy, George Boucher, Frank Nighbor, Cy Denneny, and Alex Connell.

Adams' face was not a stranger amidst the hockey world. He signed a contract with the Detroit Cougars who were starting their second season. His job was to be the coach and general manager. While in Detroit, Adams sold hockey on and off the ice. He also pioneered the farm system in hockey. He made a tradition of turning out winning teams. In his career he built twelve league championships, seven of them in a row. He can also add seven Stanley Cups to his resume. He is the only person to have his name on the Stanley Cup as player, coach and GM

In Adams' thirty five years with Detroit, they only missed the playoffs seven times. His personal satisfaction was bringing a young boy from Floral, Saskatchewan named Gordie Howe and made him a superstar and legend.

Adams was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959. He remained with Detroit until the end of the 61-62 season. When New York presented the Lester Patrick Trophy to the NHL in 1966 to recognize outstanding service to hockey in the United States, Jack Adams was named the first recipient.

Adams became president of the Central Hockey League after his departure from Detroit. Adams passed away on May 1, 1968 while working at his desk.