I’ve always wondered about the NHL’s Board of Governors. Who are they? Where do they meet? What do they do? And how do they do it? Their mantle is one of secrecy. Google and you may, or may not, be able to come up with a list of all of the members. I did just that and pieced together a list of current Governors and Alternates. I offer my list at the end of this article. If I have erred, I hope readers will advise me so that I can correct the list.
Recently, I reached out to Rich Nairn, VP of Communications, with my questions. He arranged an opportunity to visit with Anthony LeBlanc, one of the Arizona Coyotes Alternates to the Board of Governors. I want to thank Mr. LeBlanc for graciously giving of his time amid a very busy schedule and patiently answering my questions. It was a good discussion and I learned a great deal.
There are 30 NHL teams. All have different ownership situations and the Arizona Coyotes are no different. In the Coyotes case they have 9 owners. Who is the team’s Governor or Alternates on the Board of Governors? How were they chosen? There was never a formal vote by the team’s owners. George Gosbee is the largest equity partner and was charged with securing the rest of the equity partners and it was generally understood and accepted by all that he would be Governor. There are three alternates. They are Anthony LeBlanc, Craig Stewart, and Don Maloney. All have essential roles with the team. Again, there was no formal vote by the Board of Directors. These men assumed their positions because of the responsibilities they bear.
The Board of Governors meets three times a year. They typically meet in New York City in September; in Pebble Beach, California (or some other warm clime) in December; and in New York City again in June. If every team’s full compliment were to attend the same meeting there would be 123 Governors and Alternates representing the 30 teams. Some teams have as few as a Governor and 1 alternate but many have a Governor and 4 or 5 Alternates.
Since August of 2013 when the team was acquired by IceArizona, Gosbee as Coyotes Governor and two of the three Alternates, LeBlanc and Stuart, have attended the September 2013 meeting, the December 2013 meeting, and the June 2014 meeting. Due to the demands of his schedule Don Maloney attended one meeting. I asked LeBlanc if there were ever any emergency meetings of the Board of Governors. He said they do occur from time to time and used the example of the Board’s ratification of the purchase of the Coyotes by IceArizona. Since he has been attending board meetings no such special or emergency meeting has been necessary.
I also asked if any members of the Coyotes salaried management team attended in order to staff the Governor and Alternates. The answer was “no.” I asked if family members were usually taken on these trips. The answer again was “no.” Do the players’ union representatives or referees’ union representatives ever attend? Mr. LeBlanc indicated that he had not seen that, but that did not mean it didn’t happen. No one participates telephonically. If a Governor cannot attend, the team’s Alternates are charged with representing the team’s interests.
So how do these meetings work? They usually last one day in New York City and two days in a warmer location like Pebble Beach. These meetings are for the purpose of determining policy for the league. The meetings are formal with a written agenda. The agenda is prepared and distributed several weeks in advance giving each Governor and the team’s Board of Directors time to prepare. In the case of the Coyotes their Board of Director meetings are quarterly and usually occur just before the Board of Governors meeting. That gives the owners time to discuss the items on the agenda and to come to consensus on the position they want their Governor to take. As a side note, LeBlanc shared that he has informal, telephonic Coyotes Board of Directors meetings every Friday morning with as many owners participating as are available.
The Board of Governors meetings have become formal due to Bettman’s leadership. The NHL administrative staff or others make presentations and/or reports on agenda items. There can, and often is, discussion by the owners after each presentation. Robert’s Rules of Order are followed with recognition of each speaker. Each agenda item is decided by a roll call vote. Minutes are taken and distributed to each of the Governors. The meeting agendas are created by Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, and his staff. Bettman was the very first NHL Commissioner and has been at the helm since 1993, a period of 21 years. Bettman does not have a vote but as NHL Commissioner he often controls the flow of the meeting and requires that all Governors and Alternates defer to him with regard to press releases about any and all important decisions that flow from a Governors’ meeting. All of the Board of Governors meetings’ content remains confidential unless a public policy statement issued.
I asked Anthony if there are any opportunities for the Governors and Alternates to socialize with one another at these meetings. In the days before the Gary Bettman era the meetings had the flavor of a good ole boys meeting. Today social opportunities arise at luncheons or dinners. Breaking bread together gives the Governors and Alternates time to talk shop, share stories about their teams and renew acquaintances. It also can provide an opportunity for a Governor to gather support (or opposition) on an agenda item.
The Governors meetings are similar to what is experienced at any Executive Session of a corporate Board of Directors meeting or city council meeting. All contain the same elements; formal agendas, presentations, discussion and vote on policy items with confidentiality required. Socializations occur outside the meeting room.
Again, I want to express my thanks to Anthony LeBlanc for allowing me to take a peek into the world of the NHL’s Board of Governors meetings. He provided a rare glimpse into a world we hear very little about.
The National Hockey League Board of Governors
Chairman of the Board: Jeremy M. Jacobs
- Anaheim Ducks
- Governor: Henry Samueli
- Alternate Governor: Susan Samueli
- Alternate Governor: Michael Schulman
- Alternate Governor: Tim Ryan
- Alternate Governor: Bob Murray
- Boston Bruins
- Governor: Jeremy M. Jacobs
- Alternate Governor: Charles Jacobs
- Alternate Governor: Jeremy M. Jacobs Jr.
- Alternate Governor: Louis Jacobs
- Alternate Governor: Jarry J. Sinden
- Alternate Governor: Cam Neely
- Alternate Governor: Peter Chiarelli
- Buffalo Sabres
- Governor: Terry Pegula
- Alternate Governor: TedBlack
- Alternate Governor: Darcy Regier
- Alternate Governor: Ken Sawyer
- Alternate Governor: Cliff Benson
- Calgary Flames
- Governor: N. Murray Edwards
- Alternate Governor: Ken King
- Alternate Governor: Alvin Libin
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Governor: Peter Karmanos, Jr.
- Alternate Governor: Jim Rutherford
- Alternate Governor: Michael Amendola
- Alternate Governor: Jason Karmanos
- Alternate Governor: Ron Francis
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Governor: W. Rockwell Wirtz.
- Alternate Governor: Robert J. Pulford
- Alternate Governor: John A. Ziegler, Jr.
- Alternate Governor: John McDonough
- Colorado Avalanche
- Governor: Josh Kronenke.
- Alternate Governor: Mark Waggoner
- Alternate Governor: Greg Sherman
- Alternate Governor: Joe Sakic
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Governor: John P. McConnell
- Alternate Governor: Mark Priest
- Alternate Governor: John Davidson
- Dallas Stars
- Governor: Tom Gaglandi
- Alternate Governor: Jim Lites
- Alternate Governor: Jim Nill
- Alternate Governor: Mike Modeno
- Detroit Red Wings
- Governor: Michael Ilitch
- Alternate Governor: Jim Devellano
- Alternate Governor: Ken Holland.
- Alternate Governor: Cristopher Ilitch
- Alternate Governor: Rob Carr
- Alternate Governor: Tom Wilson
- Edmonton Oilers
- Governor: Daryl Katz
- Alternate Governor: Patrick LaForge
- Alternate Governor: Kevin Lowe
- Florida Panthers
- Governor: Cliff Viner
- Alternate Governor: Bill Torrey
- Alternate Governor: Michael Yormark
- Los Angeles Kings
- Governor: Philip F. Anschutz
- Alternate Governor: Dean Lombardi
- Alternate Governor: Dan Beckerman
- Minnesota Wild
- Governor: Craig Leopold
- Alternate Governor: Philip Falcone
- Alternate Governor: Jac Sperling
- Alternate Governor: Chuck Fletcher
- Montreal Canadiens
- Governor: Geoff Molson
- Alternate Governor: Kevin Gilmore
- Alternate Governor: Fred Steer
- Alternate Governor: Michael Andlauer
- Alternate Governor: Andrew T. Molson
- Alternate Governor: Marc Bergevin
- Nashville Predators
- Governor: Tom Cigarran
- Alternate Governor: Herbert Fritch
- Alternate Governor: David Pole
- Alternate Governor: Jeff Cogen
- Alternate Governor: Sean Henry
- Alternate Governor: Joel Dobberpuhl
- New Jersey Devils
- Governor: Joshua Harris
- Alternate Governor: David Biltzer
- Alternate Governor: Lou Lamoriello
- Alternate Governor: Scott O’Neil
- New York Islanders
- Governor: Charles Wang
- Alternate Governor: Roy Reichbach
- Alternate Governor: Arthur J. McCarthy
- Alternate Governor: Michael J. Picker
- Alternate Governor: Garth Snow
- New York Rangers
- Governor: James L. Dolan
- Alternate Governor: Glen Sather
- Alternate Governor: Hank Ratner
- Alternate Governor: Dave Howard
- Ottawa Senators
- Governor: Eugene Melnyk
- Alternate Governor: Sheldon Plener
- Alternate Governor: Cyril Leeder
- Alternate Governor: Erin Crowe
- Alternate Governor: Bryan Murray
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Governor: Edward M. Snider
- Alternate Governor: Philip I. Weinberg
- Alternate Governor: Peter Luukko
- Alternate Governor: Paul Holmgren
- Arizona Coyotes
- Governor: George Gosbee
- Alternate Governor: Don Maloney
- Alternate Governor: Anthony LeBlanc
- Alternate Governor: Craig Stewart
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Governor: David Morehouse
- Alternate Governor: Ronald Burkle
- Alternate Governor: Anthony Liberati
- Alternate Governor: Ray Shero
- Alternate Governor: Travis Williams
- Alternate Governor: Mario Lemieux
- St. Louis Blues
- Governor: Thomas Stillman
- Alternate Governor: Doug Armstrong
- San Jose Sharks
- Governor: Hasso Plattner
- Alternate Governor: Doug Wilson
- Alternate Governor: John Tortora
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Governor: Jeff Virik
- Alternate Governor: Steve Yzerman
- Alternate Governor: Tod Leiweke
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Governor: Larry Yanenbaum
- Alternate Governor: Dale Lastman
- Alternate Governor: Dave Norris
- Alternate Governor: Tim Leiweke
- Vancouver Canucks
- Governor: Francesco Aquilini
- Alternate Governor: Paolo Aquilini
- Alternate Governor: Robert Aquilini
- Alternate Governor: Michael Gillis
- Alternate Governor: Victor de Boris
- Washington Capitals
- Governor: Ted Leonsis
- Alternate Governor: Richard M. Patrick
- Alternate Governor: George McPhee
- Winnipeg Jets
- Governor: Mark Chipman
- Alternate Governor: Kevin Cheveldayoff
- Alternate Governor: Patrick Phillips
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