Jack Devine | |
|---|---|
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| Born | February 22, 1919 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | April 27, 1989 (aged 70) Belleville, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | CJBQ sports director |
| Years active | 1945–1984 |
| Known for | Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey Association president |
| Awards | Belleville Sports Hall of Fame |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
William John Devine (February 22, 1919 – April 27, 1989) was a Canadian ice hockey administrator and radio sports commentator. He worked for CJBQ radio in Belleville, Ontario for 40 years as the sports director. He was involved with the local sports scene, and was president of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1967 to 1969. He moved up to the national level in 1969 becoming vice-president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) in 1969, and later served as its president from 1973 to 1975.
Devine was president of the CAHA during a period when the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association were competing for junior ice hockey players. He spent significant time over two years negotiating the drafting and development agreements with the respective professional leagues. He oversaw the split of Canadian Junior A hockey into Tier 1 and Tier 2, and the subsequent draft system. He helped lay the groundwork for a national midget hockey tournament which later became the Telus Cup. He was involved in planning both the 1974 Summit Series, and the 1975 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships partially hosted in Canada. He was part of the negotiations for Canada returning to play at the Ice Hockey World Championships, and the planning stages of what became the Canada Cup. He later represented Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation, and was inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame.