Gilles Leger

1941 - 2024

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of NHL Hockey Executive, devoted husband and loving father Gilles Leger, on August 6th, 2024 at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, Ontario at the age of 83.

Born in Cornwall Ontario on July 16th,1941, Gilles is survived by his loving wife Bess, daughter Kim, son Mike (Tamara), and grandchildren Taylor, Winston, Emma, and Sara. As well as Gilles' sisters Helene Morris (Ted) and Francine Gillard (Hank). He is predeceased by his parents Antoinette and Arthur, and his eldest sister Lise.

A loyal gentleman with a fierce competitive spirit that belied his low-key demeanor, Gilles was most notably responsible for orchestrating the defection of Peter, Anton and Marian Stastny, the top line of the world champion Czechoslovakian National Hockey team, as well as a number of other Eastern European players in the prime of their careers. This irrevocably changed the face of the National Hockey League.

His six-decade career in professional hockey began with the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association, where he became the youngest head coach in league history, filling the shoes of Bobby Baun. Gilles then became General Manager of the team when they moved to Birmingham, Alabama.

After narrowly missing out on signing Wayne Gretzky, Gilles inked seven top-tier junior hockey players to pro contracts the year before they were eligible for the NHL Draft. Having a concentration of this much young talent, as well as future Hall of Fame defenseman Rod Langway, outside the grasp of the wealthier NHL was the tipping point that forced the merger between the two leagues.

The Birmingham franchise was disbanded and the "Baby Bulls" entered the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft with Rob Ramage selected 1st overall, Rick Vaive 5th, Craig Hartsburg 6th, Michel Goulet20th, Gaston Gingras 27th, Pat Riggin 30th, and Keith Crowder 37th.

Meanwhile, Gilles was quickly scooped up by the Quebec Nordiques where he worked in a number of executive roles for the team. He was Assistant General Manager, Director of Player Personnel, Director of Player Development, and Director of Hockey Operations, often holding other titles simultaneously.

He served as Alternate governor on the NHL's Board of Governors and was a member of their Pre-Professional Development Committee. As President of the Nordiques farm team, Gilles was also a governor for the American Hockey League and served on the league's Finance Committee and Expansion Committee, as well as being a member of their Constitutional Committee and Rules Committee.

He was awarded "La Medaille D'Or" from L'Association Le Mérite et Dévouement Français, for his dedication and exceptional service to humanity, at centre ice of the Collisée de Quebec.

Gilles also built multiple winning rosters for the Nordiques around:
1) Michel Goulet, Peter Stastny, Anton Stastny, Marian Stastny, Dale Hunter

2) Peter Stastny, Michel Goulet, Matts Sundin, Anton Stastny, Randy Moller

3) Joe Sakic, Owen Nolan (Eric Lindros traded for) Peter Forsberg & Mike Ricci, Craig Wolanin, Curtis Leschyshyn, Adam Foote, Adam Deadmarsh, Valeri Kamensky, Alexei Gusarov which formed the core of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup winning teams.

Following his time in Quebec, Gilles spent 23 years as a Pro Scout, joining Glen Sather with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers, including the latter team's 2014 Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

As a young man, Gilles was a multi-sport athlete who received accolades for individual and team excellence in football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and hockey. After graduating from CCVS high school, Gilles attended training camps for the Montreal Canadians and the CFL's Ottawa Roughriders, and was awarded a football scholarship to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas before returning to Canada to marry his high school sweetheart, and love of his life, Bess.

After playing semi-professional football and hockey for the Massena Warriors and Lake Placid Roamers, respectively, Gilles became a Coach and Athletic Director of Cornwall Classical College, winning two consecutive hockey championships, and two coach of the year awards.

In 1965 he coached the Bourget College Voltigeurs in Rigaud, Quebec, once again leading to hockey and football championships and two more coach of the year awards.

At the same time, Gilles began scouting for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Cornwall Royals, who made a run to the Memorial Cup that season. During summers, Gilles completed an officer training course and earned the rank of Lieutenant in the Canadian army.

From 1967-1972, Gilles' growing family moved to Antigonish, Nova Scotia where he was head coach of the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men. His hockey teams were consecutively ranked Top 10 in the country and eventually won a league championship.

He also founded a hockey school which became a long-standing Maritime institution. It was among the first to open its doors to girls hockey, and championed an initiative to give indigenous youth access to an immersive hockey training program. With a focus on education and excellence, the school was also a beacon to coaches and educators from across North America.

At the age of 78, while still working as a Pro Scout for the New York Rangers, Gilles had a near-fatal battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis until he became Toronto General Hospital's oldest lung transplant recipient. He survived and thrived with the support of his wife Bess and daughter Kim. This gave him and his family the gift of an extra four and a half years of life.

Through it all, Gilles never lost his sense of humour, often saying, "it was the only thing they didn't cut out of me."

His contributions as a player, educator, author, coach, manager and builder are incalculable. He literally changed the game of hockey. Forever.

Gilles greatest reward was the love and loyalty of his family and friends as well as the respect and recognition of his peers. He was a man of great faith, with a strong moral core. His legacy of caring and kindness can never be replaced and his loving spirit will live on through his children, grandchildren, and the many lives he touched.

The Memorial service and Celebration of life will be held on September 11th, 2024:

Funeral Mass will be 11:00 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 2473 Thorn Lodge Dr., Mississauga, Ontario.

Celebration of Life reception following the service 1:00 pm at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to:

The Canadian Lung Association

An abridged list of associated players not previously mentioned:
Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson, Vaclav Nedomansky, Richard Farda, Mark Napier,
Pat Hickey, John Garrett, Kenny Linseman, Tony McKegney, Dave "Killer" Hanson, Miroslav Frycer, Ron Hextal, Robbie Ftorek, Andrei Kovalenko, Roman Hamerlik, Bobby Holik, Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Ryan Callahan, Mats Zuccarello, and many more.