Original Flames Owner Harley Hotchkiss Passes Away at 83

Some very sad news for fans and members of the Flames organization and the city of Calgary broke when Harley Hotchkiss, one of the original part-owners that brought the team to Calgary from Atlanta in 1980, passed away early this morning at the age of 83.

Flames President and CEO Ken King released the following statement on behalf of the club: 

“With regret and sadness I inform you of the passing of Mr. Harley Hotchkiss. He died at 6 AM this morning in his home in Calgary. He was one of the original owners of the Flames and our friend and mentor. Remember him and cherish the privilege we all have in knowing him.”

As a prominent entrepreneur, an active member of the hockey community, and a World War II veteran, Hotchkiss served Calgarians and Canadians in more ways than one. After capturing the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989, he acted as the NHL Governor for the team, was currently serving his sixth two-year term as Chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, and was also a Director of the Hockey Hall of Fame following his induction in the Builder's Category in 2006. Amongst his many accolades, Hotchkiss was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1997 and awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence one year later in 1998. 

Hotchkiss was one of two remaining members of the original ownership group that purchased and relocated the Flames, the other being Byron Seaman, whose brother Daryl passed away in 2009. 

On behalf of the Matchsticks and Gasoline community and SB Nation, my condolences to the friends and family of Harley Hotchkiss; he did so much for hockey and the city of Calgary and he will be dearly missed. 

by Hayley Mutch