Frank Robinson (ice hockey)

Frank Robinson
Robinson in military attire
President of the National Hockey Association
In office
1916–1917
Preceded byEmmett Quinn
Personal details
Bornc. 1878
DiedJuly 7, 1931

Major Frank Grey Robinson (c. 1878 – July 7, 1931) was a Canadian ice hockey executive, soldier and detective agency manager from Montreal.[1] He was an owner of the Toronto Blueshirts ice hockey team and later, president of the National Hockey Association (NHA), a predecessor organization of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Robinson was born in Beaverton, Ontario. From 1907 and until his death in 1931 he was the Montreal branch manager of the Thiel Detective Service Company.[2] He died in Montreal on July 7, 1931, aged 52.[3]

National Hockey Association

In 1911, Robinson, Toronto businessman Percy Quinn and other investors purchased an NHA franchise from Ambrose O'Brien, founder of the NHA. In 1912–13, the team, the Toronto Professional Hockey Club, or Toronto Blueshirts as they were nicknamed took to the ice. In 1913–14, the club won the NHA championship and the Stanley Cup. In 1916, Quinn and Robinson sold the franchise to Eddie Livingstone, the Toronto Ontarios/Shamrocks owner.

Robinson was elected president of the NHA after the resignation of Emmett Quinn in October 1916. Despite being re-elected in October, 1917 for a second term,[4] Robinson would only serve as president of the league for one year. During his term, bickering between team owners led to the suspension of the Toronto franchise and its players taken by the other franchises. Robinson opposed the moves of the owners and resigned due to his position being ineffective.

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Injunction Granted – Toronto Arena, Ltd., Cannot Hold Meeting Monday". The Gazette (Montreal). Jan. 21, 1921.
  2. ^ "Thiel Service is now in Canada" The Montreal Daily Star, July 8, 1907 (pg. 13). Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  3. ^ "Frank Grey Robinson Passes at Montreal" The Globe and Mail (Toronto), July 8, 1931 (pg. 2). Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  4. ^ "Re-elected President of N. H. A." The Province (Vancouver). Oct. 22, 1917 (pg. 10). Retrieved 2021-05-12.