Flyers' First GM Passes Away

Hockey legend Bud Poile passes away

VANCOUVER (AP-CP) - Bud Poile, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the father of Nashville Predators GM David Poile, died Tuesday. He was 80.

"Bud devoted his life to the service of hockey, and with his passing, the game has lost a true friend and valued contributor," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "On behalf of the entire NHL family, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Poile family."

Poile, a native of Fort William, Ont., who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1947, was the first general manager of both the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

In 1976, he began an eight-year term as the commissioner of the Central Hockey League and during the 1983-'84 season he also took over as commissioner of the International Hockey league. He was the IHL commissioner until retiring in 1989.

Poile was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990, a year after he received the Lester Patrick award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to David Poile and the entire Poile family," Predators owner Craig Leipold said on the NHL club's website. "Bud was one of the true legends of hockey, having played the game at the highest level and then serving as one of the game's fine administrators.

"I had the great fortune to get to know Bud in his later years and will remember him as a gentleman always willing to share his insight and knowledge, and as a man who had great family values."

Poile also played for Chicago, Detroit, the New York Rangers and Boston and spent 13 seasons as a coach in the Western Hockey League, nine with the Edmonton Flyers and four with the San Francisco Seals.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday in Vancouver.