Robert Lebel

Robert Lebel or LeBel (September 21, 1905 – September 20, 1999) was a Canadian ice hockey administrator, who served as president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Lebel founded a senior ice hockey league during World War II, and then became president of the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association (QAHA). He was a mayor of Chambly, Quebec, before joining the CAHA as an executive member and later its president. He was president of the IIHF during the early Cold War era, the last Canadian to lead the federation. He later founded the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for junior ice hockey players. He received the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the IIHF Hall of Fame, three halls of fame in his native Quebec, and is the namesake of the Robert Lebel Trophy.

Early life Lebel was born September 21, 1905, in Quebec City, Quebec. He played junior ice hockey as a goaltender in the Beaupre Shore junior hockey league. He later played in the Quebec Senior Hockey League and several amateur hockey teams in New York state. He later worked as a bank teller and a bookkeeper at the Bank of Montreal branch in the Château Frontenac. He subsequently worked with the Huguenot Trust Company in New Rochelle, New York, for a year. Lebel then became president of the Quebec Amateur Hockey League from 1955 to 1957. When he was elected CAHA president on May 29, 1957, he became the first French Canadian to lead the country in hockey. When the Hockey Hall of Fame opened its first permanent building in 1961, Lebel represented the CAHA on its governing committee. and was made a trustee of the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, and the W. G. Hardy Trophy. Lebel served as IIHF president until 1962. Lebel warned that there would be sanctions if the West Germany team refused to play the East Germany team as had happened in the previous year's championships. In response, Lebel reiterated that East Germany was a member in good standing with the IIHF, entitled to play at the event, and that the IIHF would do everything in its power to enable East Germany to travel. Lebel declined requests to relocate the event, said that it would go on as planned, and appealed to the travel bureau on behalf of the East Germans. Canada wanted to use former professionals at the event, but Lebel defended the IIHF decision to exclude players reinstated as amateurs after September 1, 1961, even though it worked against many Canadian players. Lebel was satisfied with the overall event including 14 teams despite the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia not attending. After the event, Soviet news agency TASS called for Lebel to be replaced at the IIHF, and for measures put in place to prevent politics in sports.

Lebel said that once his term expired, it would be Europe's turn for the presidency. Lebel resigned his IIHF council post in May 1964. He agreed that Bunny Ahearne, his successor as president of the IIHF, was correct in his decision to place Canada fourth at the 1964 World Ice Hockey Championships, according to IIHF statutes.

Return to Quebec hockey Lebel returned to hockey in Quebec, and in 1969, he facilitated the merger of the Quebec Junior Hockey League with the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League, forming the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He retired from his position with Bennett Limited in Chambly, in 1971. and received the Ontario Hockey Association Gold Stick award in 1959. In 1964 after completing his IIHF service, he was made a life member of both the CAHA, and the QAHA. While with the QMJHL in 1970, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder. he was among the first class of inductees. Lebel was also made an honorary life member by USA Hockey. He died at home on September 20, 1999, on the eve of his 94th birthday. He was predeceased by his wife Lucille Bégin in 1987, and survived by his son Jean, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. After his death, the town named a boulevard for Lebel.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League renamed its west division to the Lebel division for the 1976–77 QMJHL season. The league also created the Robert Lebel Trophy in the 1977–78 QMJHL season, awarded to the team with the best goals against average.