Hockey Hall of Famer Jim Gregory honored

Kelowna, BC -- The Canadian Hockey League on Tuesday announced that Hockey Hall of Famer Jim Gregory will be recognized annually at the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game with Player of the Game awards that will be named in his honor.

The announcement was made by CHL President David Branch on Tuesday evening at a special reception hosted by the CHL for those scouts attending the Top Prospects Game this week.

"The CHL and the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game has benefited from the support of builders such as Jim Gregory," Branch said in a statement released by the CHL. "Mr. Gregory's contributions to this event and to our game are countless and it is only fitting that he be recognized annually in an event that features future NHL greats."

Gregory grew up in Dunnville, Ont., and moved to Toronto to attend St. Michael's College School in 1953. In '61, he was part of a Majors' organization that won the Memorial Cup.

He moved to coaching and would win the Memorial Cup two more times with the Toronto Marlboros in 1964 and '67, when he added the role of manager to his title. Gregory, 76, emerged as a strong executive, and in 1979, was hired by the NHL as Director of Central Scouting.

In 1986, he was named Executive Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL. Today, he continues as Senior Vice President, Hockey Operations for the League. In addition to his duties with the NHL, Gregory has served as Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Selection Committee since 1998, and has also served as a member of the Ontario Hockey League's MasterCard Memorial Cup Site Selection Committee.  

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2007, Gregory recently received The Order of St. Michael awarded to individuals who embody the Basilian Fathers' motto "Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge."