Alan Eagleson was a prominent figure in the world of hockey, serving as a player agent, lawyer, and executive during his career. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and served as its executive director for over a decade.
Eagleson was born in 1933 in St. Catharines, Ontario, and played hockey at the junior level before attending law school at the University of Toronto. After graduating, he became a player agent and quickly gained a reputation for being tough negotiator on behalf of his clients.
In 1967, Eagleson was one of the key figures in the formation of the NHLPA, which was created to represent the interests of professional hockey players. He served as the organization's executive director for 12 years, during which time he negotiated several groundbreaking collective bargaining agreements with the NHL.
Eagleson was also involved in the international hockey scene, serving as the executive director of the Canada Cup tournament from 1976 to 1991. He was instrumental in the creation of the tournament, which brought together the best players from around the world to compete in a series of games.
Despite his many accomplishments, Eagleson's career was not without controversy. In 1994, he was indicted on charges of fraud and embezzlement related to his management of the NHLPA's pension fund. He ultimately pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Eagleson's legacy in the world of hockey is a complicated one. While he was a tireless advocate for players' rights and helped to improve their working conditions, his later actions tarnished his reputation and cast a shadow over his earlier accomplishments.
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