James T. Sutherland

Captain
James T. Sutherland
Black and white photo of Sutherland
Born(1870-10-10)October 10, 1870
DiedSeptember 16, 1955(1955-09-16) (aged 84)
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Resting placeCataraqui Cemetery
NationalityCanadian
OccupationSoldier & salesman
OrganizationOHA & CAHA
Known for
Military career
Allegiance Canada
Service / branchCanadian Expeditionary Force
Years of service1887–1904, 1916–1918
RankCaptain
Battles / warsWorld War I

James Thomas Sutherland (October 10, 1870 – September 16, 1955) was a Canadian ice hockey administrator, and founding father of the game in Canada. Sutherland was a pioneer of hockey's early years, helping to develop amateur hockey, and spread the game's popularity throughout the country, and into the United States. He played in the inaugural season of the Ontario Hockey Association, and later coached and refereed the game. He founded the original Kingston Frontenacs, and later became president of the Ontario Hockey Association, and then the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. He was instrumental in founding the Memorial Cup in 1919, and was at the forefront of the discussion on the origins of hockey.

Sutherland was born into a military family, and was a travelling shoe salesman by trade. He served overseas in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I, reaching the rank of Captain. Sutherland was the driving force behind the creation of the Hall of Fame, and later the International Hockey Hall of Fame. His many writings helped preserve the history of ice hockey in Canada, and his arguments for Kingston being the birthplace of hockey were a major reason why the National Hockey League and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association selected Kingston as the original home of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was one of the original inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and often referred to as the "Father of Hockey".[1][2]

  1. ^ "Capt. James Sutherland". Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "Sutherland, Capt. John T. — Biography". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 25, 2018.