Hart, Cecil M.

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HART, CECIL M.

HART, CECIL M. (1883–1940), Canadian ice hockey pioneer. Born in Bedford, Quebec, a direct descendant of Aaron *Hart, Canada's first Jewish settler, Cecil Hart organized, managed, and played for the Star Hockey Club from 1900 to 1922. In 1910 he formed the Montreal City Hockey League, and his Stars became champions in 1914–15 and 1916–17. Hart organized the first international amateur hockey series between Canada and the United States. Entering professional hockey in 1921, Hart secured the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League for a group of businessmen and became manager. For six straight seasons they reached the championship playoffs. The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup (emblematic of the world professional championship) in 1929–30 and 1930–31.

bibliography:

B. Postal et al. (eds.), Encyclopedia of Jews in Sports (1965), 333–4.

[Jesse Harold Silver]