Hockey players-turned-Politicians (Kerry, Dryden, etc)

I know of only two politicians who were hockey players: Ken Dryden, one of the NHL greats in net, is presently a member of Parliament in Canada; and John Kerry, forward on century-old hockey-playing tradition-filled St. Paul's varsity team, is running for U.S. President.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/kerry/040726

"He was the kind of guy ... you know what a 'rink turn' is? When the puck starts going the other way, you're supposed to jam on the brakes and sprint back. If you're lazy, you don't stop and start; you do a rink turn. And John was the kind of guy that would do rink turns. But he'd sort of look cool doing it. And he was a good stick handler, and a good passer -- when he wanted to pass."

What other politicians used to play the greatest game on earth?

Frank Mahovlich is a Senator
Jean Belivéau was offered the job of Governor General (but turned it down because of family commitments)

I would bet that a large percentage of Canadian politicians played hockey.

Peter Stastny is a member of European Parliament.

Fetisov is Minister of Sports in Russia

Bob Kilger (Chad's father) is a former NHL ref and former liberal mp for Cornwall, ON.

Tretiak is a member of the Duma in Russia...

http://rushockey.com/print.php?i=iihf&stream=iihf_news&id=166


Going back many years, Howie Meeker (Conservatives in the early 1950's) and Red Kelly (Liberals in the mid-1960's) were both elected to the House of Commons in Canada while active players with the Toronto Maple Leafs...

I know of only two politicians who were hockey players: Ken Dryden, one of the NHL greats in net, is presently a member of Parliament in Canada; and John Kerry, forward on century-old hockey-playing tradition-filled St. Paul's varsity team, is running for U.S. President.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/kerry/040726

"He was the kind of guy ... you know what a 'rink turn' is? When the puck starts going the other way, you're supposed to jam on the brakes and sprint back. If you're lazy, you don't stop and start; you do a rink turn. And John was the kind of guy that would do rink turns. But he'd sort of look cool doing it. And he was a good stick handler, and a good passer -- when he wanted to pass."

What other politicians used to play the greatest game on earth?


Interesting.

I drive by St. Paul's every day. :jump:

Lionel Conacher was a federal MP. Dugger McNeil, who played on defence for the Montreal Royals was a provincial rep in Nova Scotia in the 60s.

Bruce Hood was a candidate in the most recent federal election but I think he went down to defeat.

Quebec premier, Jean Charest's father, Red, played in the QSHL and, I think in the AHL.

Wasn't Red Kelly an MP while playing for the Leafs? :dunno: Maybe I'm mistaken.

Wasn't Red Kelly an MP while playing for the Leafs? :dunno: Maybe I'm mistaken.

Nope, you're right, he was:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=7598&s=M

Syl Apps Sr. (http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p196101&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo)

"In 1947 he was appointed the athletic commissioner for sport in Ontario. Later he became a Conservative member of the Legislature, representing Kingston. Apps was chairman of the select committee on youth until appointed Correctional Services minister in 1971."

John Kerry was DISPISED by his teammates in high school, because he would NOT pass the puck, and when playing on the ponds, would steal little kids' pucks or shoot them way out in the snow so they would leave. Nice. His nickname was JFK: Just For Kerry, because he was such a puckhog. He never advanced past high school hockey, but he still plays it when the photo op is there, I guess.