Murray Costello
Murray Costello South Porcupine, Ontario, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nationality | Canadian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Assumption University, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation(s) | Ice hockey executive Lawyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years active | 1959–2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Known for | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Family | Les Costello | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Murray Costello OC (born February 24, 1934) is a Canadian retired ice hockey player, executive and administrator who dedicated a lifetime to the advancement of ice hockey in Canada. He played four seasons in the National Hockey League, and was the younger brother of Les Costello. He was a lawyer by trade, and was president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association from 1979 to 1994, then and its successor Hockey Canada from 1994 to 1998, when he facilitated the merger of the two organizations.
Costello helped establish the program of excellence for the
Early life
Costello was born in
Playing career
"was a very special time in the sense you still traveled by train. It was the
Jean Beliveau in Montreal and Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay in Detroit and Fernie Flaman and Leo Labinein Boston, were great times."
—Murray Costello, 2012[6]
Costello was noticed by scouts as a teen and was convinced by his older brother Les, to enrol at
Costello was signed by the
Costello felt that he had the skills to play in the NHL, but not "the mindset to be an NHL player, the way they sacrificed their bodies.”[12] Costello finished his playing career with the Windsor Bulldogs in OHA senior hockey, while he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption University in 1959.[12][13]
From Seattle to Ottawa
After graduation, Costello moved to
CAHA and Hockey Canada
“I was the right guy in the right spot at the right time. Changes were in the air with amateur hockey in Canada. We were among the first team sports to recognize that we had to become more corporate-like in our approach.”
—Murray Costello, 2017[17]
Costello was recruited to become the first paid staff to lead the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) in 1979, when it was decided to have a full-time president instead of volunteers.[12][14] He was chosen because he had previously worked for the CAHA on contract work, and had a legal background.[18] He succeeded Gord Renwick as CAHA president.[19][20] When he originally accepted the job, he understood it to be a five-year commitment, but that evolved into a lifetime career.[14]
The first major project by Costello was to address the lack of success by the
In 1990, the International Olympic Committee and
Costello and Hockey Canada president Bill Hay, negotiated a merger between the two organizations in 1994, under the Canadian Hockey Association name, which has operated as Hockey Canada since 1998.[29] Combining the two groups allowed for the profits from Hockey Canada events such as the Canada Cup, and the Summit Series, to be used at the grassroots level, and it also allowed access by professionals in the NHL to international competitions such as the Ice Hockey World Championships, and eventually the Olympics.[14]
Costello also spoke out against violence in sport, and was a member of the fair play advisory committee for Ontario Hockey Association.[30] In the wake of the Graham James scandal in 1997, Hockey Canada implemented a screening program with background checks for hockey staff, and teamed up with the Canadian Red Cross to create the Speak Out against bullying and harassment, which evolved into the Respect In Sport Program.[31] As president of Hockey Canada, Costello always recognized the volunteers who helped in the development of minor hockey in Canada.[11] He retired as president of Hockey Canada, effective July 1, 1998 at the annual general meeting.[32] He was replaced with vice president, Bob Nicholson, who said that Costello was a great mentor, and "made every decision based on what he thought was the best interest of the sport".[18]
IIHF council member
Costello was a member of the
Impact on women's hockey
The 1990 Women's World Cup succeeded in creating media coverage that was lacking for the women's game. Costello says it was partially due to the decision to wear pink jerseys, but he was prouder to have showcased the talent in the women's game to the International Olympic Committee.
Personal life
Costello resides in Ottawa with his wife Denise, and they have six children.[4][14] They met while attending school together in Windsor,[8] and spent their honeymoon in Seattle, when he moved there for work.[12] His older brother Les, played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, was an ordained priest, founded the Flying Fathers in 1963, and died in 2002.[7][15]
Costello was on the board of directors for the Hockey Hall of fame for 17 years, and was also on the selection committee.[15] He has also spoken out against the rising cost of minor competitive hockey, calling it an elitist sport.[35] Costello himself was able to reach the NHL coming from a poor background by using hand-me-down equipment, but he fears that "hockey is becoming an opportunity only for the people who can pay their way in", and suggested a return to wooden sticks for minors.[35]
Honours and awards
— from USA Hockey
"I was more than a little surprised because it's not often you get recognized by a nation other than your own and, for a Canadian, any award with the name Gretzky attached to it makes it that much more special."
—Murray Costello, 2012[6]
Year | Honour / award | |
---|---|---|
2005 | Hockey Hall of Fame – Builder | [11] |
2006 | Hockey Heritage North | [4] |
2008 | University of Windsor Sport Achievement Award | [13] |
2012 | Wayne Gretzky International Award | [34] |
2012 | IIHF Lifetime Member |
[36] |
2013 | Officer of the Order of Canada | [37] |
2013 | Canada's Sports Hall of Fame | [38] |
2014 | IIHF Hall of Fame | [39][40] |
2017 | Order of Hockey in Canada | [17] |
2023 | Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame | [41] |
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
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Playoffs | |||||||||||||
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Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1950–51
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Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 50 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1951–52
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Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 51 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 4 | ||
1952–53
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Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 51 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 38 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 13 | ||
1953–54
|
Galt Black Hawks | OHA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1953–54 | Chicago Black Hawks
|
NHL | 40 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1953–54 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 26 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | ||
1954–55 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 54 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1955–56 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 41 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1955–56 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1956–57 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1956–57 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL
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65 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 37 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||
1958–59 | Windsor Bulldogs | OHA-Sr. | 35 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1959–60 | Windsor Bulldogs | OHA-Sr. | 43 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 23 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 | ||
NHL totals | 162 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Source:[9]
References
- ^ "Murray Costello hockey statistics and profile". hockeydb.com. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Murray Costello". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "Call to the Bar of the Graduates of the Bar Admission Course" (PDF). The Law Society of Uppeer Canada. April 9, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ a b c Ferguson, Bob (2005), p. 90
- ^ a b c d e "Another honour for Timmins' own Murray Costello". Timmins Press. June 20, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Morreale, Mike G. (October 8, 2012). "Murray Costello's impact on hockey extends to U.S." National Hockey League. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "Father Les Costello". London, England: The Daily Telegraph. December 19, 2002. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Scanlan, Wayne (October 31, 2012). "Murray Costello has enjoyed a full hockey life". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Costello, Murray — Statistics, Awards & Career — Honoured Builder". Legends of Hockey. HHOF. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ Young, Scott (1989), p. 217
- ^ a b c d e f g "Induction Showcase - Murray Costello". Legends of Hockey. HHOF. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cleary, Martin (October 9, 2013). "Costello enters Canada's Sports Hall of Fame". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved March 17, 2018 – via PressReader.
- ^ a b "Murray Costello BA '59". University of Windsor. Alumni Association. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Edmonds, Paul (June 19, 2017). "The man with the plan". Hockey Canada. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Murray Costello - 2017 Order of Hockey in Canada Honouree". Hockey Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Murray Costello Team Staff Profile". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c Mitchell, Kevin (June 19, 2017). "Rider, Bowman, Costello honoured for their life's work in hockey". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Murray Costello au Panthéon" (in French). Montreal, Quebec: Le Devoir. November 7, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ Constitution, By-laws, Regulations, History. Gloucester, Ontario: Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. May 1990. p. 132.
- ^ "Past Officers". Hockey Canada. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ Joyce, Gare (2011), p.1
- ^ a b Podnieks, Andrew (1998), p.78
- ^ a b c d e McKinley, Michael (2014), p.201–202
- ^ a b c Joyce, Gare (2011), p.3
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (1998), p.92
- ^ Rupal, Ranjan (July 15, 2015). "Erie Otters' Sherry Bassin prepares to step aside". BayToday.ca. Bluelines Summer Edition. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Elicksen, Debbie (February 9, 2012). "From The Very Beginning, Sherry Bassin Believed in Canada's National Junior Team". Hockey Canada. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Women's Game 'May Just Be The Pinnacle of Hockey'". ICSO. March 12, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ "Hay, Bill — Biography — Honoured Member". Legends of Hockey. HHOF. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Young, Scott (1989), p. 302–307
- ^ McKinley, Michael (2014), p.289–291
- ^ "Bob Nicholson named president of Canadian Hockey Association". Hockey Canada. February 2, 1998. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ McKinley, Michael (2014), p.382
- ^ a b "Costello Named Wayne Gretzky International Award Winner". USA Hockey. September 5, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ a b MacGregor, Roy (November 30, 2012). "Increasingly high cost of hockey is making the game an elitist sport". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ Merk, Martin (September 26, 2012). "Outgoing members honoured". IIHF. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (July 1, 2013). "Costello and Drake honoured". IIHF. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ "Stories". Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Yzerman, Lidstrom get IIHF Hall call". Ottawa Sun. Ottawa, Ontario. QMI press agency. January 3, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ^ Sanful, John (May 25, 2014). "Class of 2014 inducted: IIHF Hall of Fame welcomes new members". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ^ "Murray Costello". Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame. 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-7710-9093-5.
- ISBN 1-55022-382-8
- Joyce, Gare (2011), Thirty Years of the Game at its Best, Toronto, Ontario: ISBN 978-0-670-06594-3
- McKinley, Michael (2014). It's Our Game: Celebrating 100 Years Of Hockey Canada. Toronto, Ontario: ISBN 978-0-670-06817-3.
- ISBN 1-55041-855-6.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database