Northey, William, 1872-1963 : Born in Leeds Village, Quebec, on April 29th, 1872, William Northey moved with his family to Lennoxville when he was eight. During this period he played several sports including hockey and laid the groundwork for his lifelong dedication to amateur sports. In 1893, he moved to Montreal and became associated with the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) and some of its affiliated sports teams, the Montreal Lacrosse Club and the Montreal Hockey Club. In 1920, Northey was elected as a director of the Montreal Athletic Association and moved forward as vice-president in 1922 and president from 1924 to 1926.
In 1898, some members of the MAAA, including Northey, formed the Montreal Arena Company, which built the Westmount Arena, considered the world's first rink designed specifically for hockey. The arena opened on December 31, 1898, and Northey was appointed Secretary-Treasurer and Manager for the facility. Northey was also involved in the ownership of the Canadian Arena Company, which built the Montreal Forum in 1924. In 1940, he would serve as the vice-president and managing director of the Forum and the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club before filling the position of President of the Forum. He also was president of the Montreal Canadiens in 1956-1957.
Northey was an integral part of the formation of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association in 1906 and served as the league's secretary-treasurer. Sensing that amateur hockey needed a positive reinforcement, Northey convinced his associate Sir Montagu Allan to donate a trophy for which the best senior amateur clubs in Canada would compete. As a result of Northey's efforts, a new tradition of amateur hockey competition was born. In 1913, Northey succeeded Sir Edward Clouston as a Trustee of the Allan Cup.
Northey played a key role in the establishment of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1914. He acted as the chair of the first ever meeting of the new organization.
A hockey innovator, Northey was the chief influence behind two significant rule changes shortly after the turn of the century. Firstly, he convinced the owners of the ECAHA clubs to adopt three periods in place of two halves. In 1911 he saw to the introduction of six-man hockey as opposed to the original configuration that was based on seven skaters.
Northey was a vital component of a number of other sporting enterprises in Montreal. In 1900 he served as the co-founder and secretary-treasurer of the Montreal Horse Show Association. Six years later he performed the same function with the Montreal Jockey Club. He was a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee and served on the advisory board of the Canadian Olympic Association. Additionally, he was an honourary president of the Canadian Amateur Skating Association and Canadian Wheelmen's Association and the honourary vice-president of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada and the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada. Northey was also a driving force behind the construction of the Montreal Children's hospital.
Northey was appointed an honourary president of the International Hockey Hall of Fame in 1944. In 1947, he was admitted to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder. In 1948 he was elected as the first life member of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada.
William Northey passed away on April 9th, 1963.
