Brent Ladds

Brent Ladds (born 1951) is a Canadian former ice hockey administrator. He served as president of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) from 2016 to 2022, president of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1980 to 2012, commissioner of Allan Cup Hockey from 2013 to 2016, and chairman of the Hockey Canada junior hockey council from 2014 to 2016. He marketed the CJHL as a development program for players seeking a professional career or an education, with exposure to National Hockey League talent scouts at the annual CJHL Prospects Game and World Junior A Challenge. He also sought to increase marketing opportunities, have consistent administrative practices, and to co-ordinate public relations across the CJHL. His tenure as president also saw the withdrawal of the British Columbia Hockey League, and subsequent format change of the Centennial Cup tournament to include all nine league champions.

Ladds began working in hockey administration with the OHA in 1975, overseeing its program for on-ice officials. He was appointed secretary-manager of the OHA in 1977, then became the first paid full-time president of the OHA in 1980. When the Ontario Hockey Federation was established in 1989, Ladds was named its executive director. As president, he sought to reduce on-ice violence and penalties in the game, and to eliminate hazing from the OHA. His reforms included lengthier suspensions for misconduct, and education for players and coaches. He envisioned a junior ice hockey league that was more provincial in nature, and to improve the quality of coaching and the player experience. He felt that junior hockey in Ontario needed to be more attractive to players, who were departing the OHA for leagues elsewhere in Canada. From 2006 to 2008, he directed the Canada East team at the World Junior A Challenge, and Ontario's hockey teams at the Canada Games. His administration career was recognized with the OHA Gold Stick Award in 1992, the Hockey Canada Order of Merit in 1997, and the President's Award from the Ontario Hockey Federation in 2012.