Gil Stein (ice hockey) facts for kids

Gilbert Stein (January 11, 1928 – March 24, 2022) was an American lawyer, law instructor and professional ice hockey executive. Stein served with the National Hockey League (NHL) as vice-president and legal counsel for nearly 15 years before becoming the fifth and last president of the NHL in 1992.

Early life and career

Born in Philadelphia on January 11, 1928, Stein attended Temple University and studied law at Boston University. Before joining the NHL, Stein was Deputy District Attorney for Philadelphia, then worked for the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Labor Relations Board. After leaving the public sector, he joined a law firm, and then was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers where he served as chief operating officer and executive vice president.

NHL

He served as the NHL's General Counsel and Vice President under John Ziegler, Jr., and held that role for 15 years. In 1982, he appeared before a United States Senate committee to discuss retransmission of television signals by cable operators.

After the owners disliked the way that Ziegler handled the 1991-92 NHL strike, they desired to abolish the position of President in favor of having a commissioner. In the interim time needed to appoint an NHL Commissioner, Stein was appointed as NHL President. After taking over from Ziegler, Stein fired Brian O'Neill, the longtime overseer of league discipline, and took over the position himself. Stein then instituted a policy of suspending players on non-game days. He also supported having NHL Players in the 1994 Winter Olympics as a way to grow NHL support in Europe. Stein also attempted to block O'Neill's Hall of Fame candidacy. Two expansion teams came in the Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers during his tenure (the announcement of the latter attracted the ire of Phil Esposito, manager of the young Tampa Bay Lightning)

Stein served in that role for a year until shortly after the owners appointed Gary Bettman to the newly created post of commissioner. Bettman took office on February 1, 1993; Stein served alongside Bettman until his term as president ended on July 1, 1993. He was then appointed a special advisor to Bettman. Stein was behind the Hall of Fame board while President, spearheading a change of the voting process by simple majority with no secret ballots. Stein was selected as the first member of this policy to the Hall of Fame, which attracted allegations that he manipulated his own induction; the Board did not speak with either the Board of Governors (headed by Bruce McNall, a friend of Stein) or Bettman, and Stein ultimately resigned his nomination and from the League.

Personal life

After his departure from the NHL, Stein served in Washington as special counsel to the U.S. Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence, and subsequently as special assistant to Sen. Arlen Specter. Beginning in 2000, he taught sports law as an adjunct professor at Villanova University. After leaving hockey, he served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and served as an adjunct professor for sports law at Villanova University.

Stein was married to Barbara and they have three children. As of 2017, he lived in an assisted living community in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Stein died on March 24, 2022, at the age of 94.