Frank Calder was a Canadian sports executive who is best known for his role in the establishment of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born in 1877 in Nova Scotia and began his career in sports as a journalist, covering hockey and other sports for the Toronto Globe newspaper. He was an advocate for the sport of hockey and was instrumental in the formation of the NHL in 1917.

Calder was the first president of the NHL, a position he held from 1917 to 1943. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the league from four teams to twelve, and the introduction of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He also worked to improve the quality of play in the league, introducing a number of rules and regulations to ensure fair play and safety.

Calder was also a strong advocate for the players, and he worked to improve their working conditions and wages. He was the first president of the NHL Players' Association, and he worked to ensure that players were treated fairly and had a voice in the league.

Calder was also a major proponent of international hockey, and he was instrumental in the formation of the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1920. He was also a major force in the development of the sport in Europe, and he helped to organize the first international hockey tournament in 1930.

Calder's contributions to the sport of hockey were immense, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport, and his legacy lives on in the NHL today.

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