The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors has a new chairman.
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was unanimously elected on Tuesday. Leonsis, 69, succeeds Jeremy Jacobs of the Boston Bruins, who served in the role for the past 19 years. Murray Edwards of the Calgary Flames will serve as vice-chair.
“Long before I became an owner, I was a fan of this game and of the Washington Capitals,” Leonsis said in a statement. “I love hockey and have a profound belief in its potential – we have proven in Washington how investing in a team, its fans and in a community can create a true hockey city.”
A native of Brooklyn, Leonsis accrued his wealth through publishing and a public relations company with both ventures being sold to Reuters and American Online, respectively. He purchased the Capitals in 1999 from Abe Pollin. The chair of Monumental Sports, Leonsis is also the owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics.
Gary Bettman, the NHL’s commissioner, paid tribute to the departing Jacobs in a statement.
“His wisdom and unwavering commitment to this League have helped guide us through a period of unprecedented growth, both on and off the ice,” Bettman said of the 86-year-old Jacobs. “On behalf of the Board of Governors, our clubs and our fans, I want to express my deepest gratitude for his extraordinary service and his enduring legacy as one of the great leaders in the history of our game.”
A native of Buffalo, Jacobs also released a farewell statement.
“I’m proud of what the Board of Governors, and our commissioner Gary Bettman, have accomplished over the last two decades,” Jacobs said. “We’ve reached landmark media rights deals, expanded to reach fans in new geographies of North America, and have put hockey on the world stage in new markets and with marquee events, all while prioritizing making the game safer for players and more fun and accessible for fans.”
Edwards, 66, has been co-owner of the Flames since 1994. The Regina native currently heads the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation.
