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Bobby Orr *** Bill Beagan *** Don Cherry
“In simple terms, the story of Bill Beagan is a story of success!!”
- Bobby Orr #4, Boston Bruins Legend
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When former NHL referee Bill Beagan became CCHA Commissioner he found it a bit ironic that he headed a prestigious U.S. college hockey league.
The story of a high school dropout and army apprentice’s rise to the top of the hockey world is a testimony of the value of a lot of hard work,
determination and a dash of good luck. Discover how he rose to the top of the hockey world and through collaboration with NHL Presidents and NHL team owners, he innovated changes in the world of hockey.
Shooting for the Moon: The Bill Beagan Story illustrates how one young man battled the odds to create his own story of success.
“Bill fought big odds in order to make his way to the top of the hockey world. Along the way, he has been able to accomplish things where others failed, and he always left his mark on the people he lead and served.” – Bobby Orr #4, Boston Bruins
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Bill parlayed a part-time position as a referee in various college and minor professional leagues into a contract to work as an on-ice official in the National Hockey League.
Sensing that there were further opportunities ahead, Beagan set to work developing a career path.
One of the first things he did was start to create a network of friends and advisers who could perhaps serve as mentors. Throughout his career you will read how Beagan developed relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world of hockey and how these connections paid off in many different ways.
Bill wrote letters to NHL President Clarence Campbell asking for advice. Perhaps because he was a former military man, Mr. Campbell corresponded with the young non-commissioned officer.
A few years later the NHL President helped Bill Beagan become the Commissioner of the International Hockey League (IHL).
Campbell’s influence and guidance are well-documented during Beagan’s tenure at the helm of the IHL. Examples of these documents are included in the book.
Beagan’s experience as an on-ice official in the NHL also had an impact upon the way he governed the various hockey leagues.
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Bill Beagan was on the ice in one of the most dramatic games in NHL history. When Bill Masterton died on the ice in a game between the Minnesota North Stars and the California Seals, becoming the first and hopefully, the last hockey player to die during an NHL game, Bill Beagan was in the middle of that event as a linesman in that hockey game.
NB Hockey historians and fans in general will be interested to know that the referee’s game report (including team rosters) of this historic and tragic hockey game can be found in the book’s Appendix.
The impact of that tragic event would play an import role in Beagan’s life and career. As Commissioner of the International Hockey League his actions led that league to become the first organized hockey league to adopt rules encouraging the use of hockey helmets.
Bill’s army training and officiating experience were considered invaluable by many when he took over the helm of the IHL. John Gugger, who covered IHL hockey for the Toledo Blade newspaper at that time, says
“the IHL was sort of the wild, wild west. Bill had a tough job. He was like a ringmaster trying to bring order out of chaos.”
The former newspaper reporter recalls that the league was located “pretty much in blue collar towns”. The hockey had to be entertaining to attract the fans. Sometimes the “entertainment” would be a little over the edge. Many of the teams seemed to load up on tough guys first and then fill in the rest of the roster with players who could score, but also had some grit.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Chase says that “Bill was brought in to take the IHL from a renegade league to professional league”.
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Beagan felt that it was important that his on-ice officials were a cohesive team in their right. The Commissioner held training camps for his officials. His goal was to create a mentally and physically fit team to “go to war with”.
Veteran NHL linesman Mark Pare, who spent three seasons working the lines in the IHL before moving on to the NHL recalls how Beagan operated his officials’ training camps.
“Commissioner Beagan would lead us on a cross-country run. He would run ahead of us and turn around and run backwards, and taunt us to catch him. He was in such great shape. I don’t think anybody ever did.”
Former NHL referee Kerry Fraser remembers Beagan’s influence on his career:
“When I started to officiate in 1973, I never imagined I would ultimately set a record for working the most games in the history of the NHL as a referee. As a matter of fact, after my first bench clearing brawl in the IHL early that year, I thought I would be fortunate if I made it to the end of that season. I quickly realized I didn't have the experience required and was in way over my head when the proverbial 'shit' hit the fan. If it wasn't for the coaching and fatherly advice I received from IHL Commissioner Bill Beagan following that fateful game and throughout the many games I worked in his league, my days as a referee would have been numbered!”
In the 1970's minor professional hockey was well depicted in the movie "Slapshot!" It was an intimidating era of the game of hockey, especially for a young, cocky upstart referee like Kerry Fraser to be successful. I never felt threatened when working in Bill Beagan's league because I knew that he ran a tight ship, had control of the players and coaches and in the end always had the officials’ backs!
Kerry Fraser, NHL referee
Mike “Doc” Emrick, Hall of Fame hockey broadcaster describes Bill Beagan’s role in the world of hockey:
“Bill Beagan has been a force through all eras of hockey, from its collection of rogues on the ice and in the boardroom, to the heavily-marketed game of this century. That he was a military man proved helpful--it is no small task to keep order, provide organization for a slippery sport, and now give all of us his stories and wisdom.”
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Bill Beagan polished the art of networking to the finest degree. And, through these efforts you will see how he furthered his own career.
But Bill Beagan was not someone who relied solely upon others to further his career aspirations. No, he constantly worked to hone his skills in a wide range of areas. He became a voracious student of building a vocabulary. Beagan was always working to create new and better marketing techniques.
Bobby Orr the greatest hockey player ever, says
Shooting for the Moon: The Bill Beagan Story “is a testament to his determination, his intelligence and his leadership. Once you finish reading these pages, you too will become a Bill Beagan fan!!”
Beagan was a Canadian but he actively worked to promote hockey in the United States.
Bill “had an impact on AHAUS (USA Hockey) in its formative years. It is fitting that your history is being shared with others who love this great game.”
“Our sport has had some very large personalities over the years. You were certainly one of the charismatic leaders of your time... your contributions to hockey continued throughout your life.”
Ron DeGregorio
President, USA Hockey, Inc.
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This book is the story of a 16-year old “boy” soldier’s incredible journey that would lead him to the boardrooms of power in the world of hockey.
Bill was born the eleventh of thirteen children. Not only was his family poor, but to make the situation worse Bill was born right in the middle of the worst depression ever to strike the Western World.
Beagan dropped out of school at sixteen to join the army.
For most people this would be their lifelong career. They would spend their life as a career military person, rising perhaps to the rank of a non-commissioned officer. However, Bill Beagan was not an ordinary person!
No, his career path would take him from a successful life in the military to the very heights of the world of hockey.
Ironically, the lad who dropped out of high school finished his career as the Commissioner of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Here, he governed prestigious schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan State and the University of Michigan.
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Under Commissioner Bill Beagan’s guidance, CCHA teams captured six national U.S. college hockey titles in 13 years. Before his arrival, the CCHA had garnered a mere two national championships in more than two decades.
The story of Bill Beagan’s rise to the position of Commissioner of the CCHA illustrates that success can happen to the most unlikely of people.
Shooting for the Moon: The Bill Beagan Story
Why did we choose this title for a story about the accomplishments of Bill Beagan?
Bill tell's it best himself.
When Bill Beagan was nearing the completion of Grade One he asked his parents if they would purchase a BB gun for him if he successfully passed into Grade Two. They agreed to his request and when he received passing marks Bill received a brand new Red Rider BB gun as his reward.
“I was really proud of my BB gun and regularly galloped up the hill from our home and played ‘Soldier’. I would climb a tree, or hide behind a rock and pretend I was a sniper preparing to ambush some enemy infiltrator. During periods of a full-moon I would load my BB gun with lead pellets and scamper to the highest point of land, behind our home. I would point my prized firearm directly at the center of the moon, discharging it, while simultaneously screaming ‘BOOM’, in an effort to amplify the petite ‘popping’ sound of my BB gun. I would fantasize that the tiny projectile discharged from my BB gun was en route to the moon; hardly, an attainable goal!”
“At the age of sixteen, I became a member of the Canadian Army's RCASC Soldier Apprentices. On one particular exercise, I found myself hoisting a 3.5 Rocket Launcher on my shoulder and aiming a "HEAT" (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rocket at a disabled WW11 Sherman tank, situated 500 yards down the firing range, in a wide open field in Camp Borden's Blackdown Park.
Bull's eye!”
“After I returned to my barracks, I had flashbacks to my BB Gun and 22 calibre rifle; comparing their impotence to the impact of this ‘HEAT’ rocket which I had launched, just hours before, capable of penetrating twelve inches of homogeneous steel.”
“In due course, I often applied my former childlike fantasy of ‘shooting at the moon’ as a metaphor for future challenges in my life.”
“It occurred to me years later that just about anything is attainable with the right tools, along with the proper attitude, motivation and commitment.”
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Throughout Beagan’s life he met and connected with some of the most powerful people in the world of hockey. These connections, hard work and a little good fortune helped Bill to rise to the position of Commissioner in not one, but four hockey leagues. Along the way he also co-owned his own minor professional hockey team.
The individuals you will meet along the way are as diverse in character as Bill Beagan’s life experience itself. Commissioner Beagan became friends with some of the most famous names in the history of the world of hockey. Men like former NHL Presidents Clarence Campbell and John Ziegler Jr., Detroit Red Wings’ owner Bruce Norris, Chicago Black Hawks owner Bill Wirtz and Harold Ballard the ever-flamboyant Toronto Maple Leafs owner all counted Bill Beagan as a friend. You will meet many more members of the world’s hockey fraternity who called Beagan business partner, friend, and even respected foe.
In 1985, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association made a decision that would have a dramatic impact on the future of that U.S. college hockey league. The CCHA hired Bill Beagan as their Commissioner.
Despite the fact that the job was only a part time position and the salary was a meagre $16,000, Beagan turned the CCHA into a dominant U.S. college hockey league. But, his success went far beyond the action on the ice. His marketing touch turned the league into a virtual profit-making machine.
Prior to Beagan’s arrival the CCHA had been at best a “not-for-profit” operation. The league’s account books revealed that it was barely breaking even. By the time Beagan had finished his first decade as CCHA commissioner, the league had amassed an astonishing $4 million profit. As a result of this increase in revenue, many of the smaller CCHA schools were able to build new “state-of-the-art” arena complexes.
On the ice, under Commissioner Beagan’s guidance, CCHA teams captured six national college titles in thirteen years. Prior to Beagan’s arrival the CCHA had claimed only one national title in more than two decades of college hockey action.
There are many reasons why the CCHA became so successful during Beagan’s years at the helm of the league. Primarily it was his marketing savvy and his fearless approach when it came to trying new ideas. You will enjoy the many stories about how the Commissioner built the CCHA into a successful College Hockey League.
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Beagan inked US college hockey’s first national television contract. And, through a partnership with the National Hockey League, Bill used televised CCHA games to initiate and explore the possibilities of the use of “instant replay”. Because of his pioneering efforts “instant replay” has become the norm, not only for improving television broadcasts of hockey games, but also an intricate part of the officiating of hockey games.
Bill Beagan’s magic management and marketing touch was not honed through years spent studying at various prestigious colleges.
No, the story of Bill Beagan’s rise to prominence in the world of hockey began when he made the decision to join the Canadian Army Apprentice Program. From this point forward, the 16-year-old “boy soldier” began an incredible journey that would one day lead to the boardrooms of power in the world of hockey.
How Bill Beagan rose to the highest levels of power in the sport of hockey is a story of hard work, perseverance and perhaps a dash of good luck.
It is a tale of one man’s quest for success. And, the idea of building success goes beyond personal growth to how effective marketing and management can build a business or a hockey league into a profitable entitiy.
What Will You Discover In This 176 Page, Indexed Book:
Interviews with various personalities from the world of Pro Hockey.
√ John Ziegler, Jr., former President of the National Hockey League;
√ “Red” Berenson, former NHL player and University Michigan hockey coach;
√ Tom Anastos, Commissioner CCHA;
√ Ron DeGregorio, President, USA Hockey;
√ Scotty Morrison, former Referee-in-Chief, NHL and Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame
√ Kerry Fraser, former IHL and NHL referee
√ Mark Pare, former IHL and NHL Linesman
√ John Gugger, retired sports columnist, Toledo Blade
√ Bob Chase, hockey broadcaster, WOWO Radio, Fort Wayne
√ Steve Cady, Associate Athletic Director, University of Miami (Ohio)
√ Mike Emrick, Hall of Fame NHL broadcaster
√ Ed Edwards, Dean of Business, Western Michigan University
√ and many more.
Over 15 Photographs and 10 Documents in Appendix:
√ Pictures of Bill’s childhood.
√ Photos from his military career.
√ Photos from Beagan’s career as an on-ice hockey official.
√ A number of photos of his career as a hockey administrator.
√ Several letters from well known figures in hockey.
√ Documents printed for the first time for the public to peruse.
It will appeal to:
 Hockey fans, especially those with a connection to US College and the CCHA in particular will discover how Bill Beagan brought the CCHA to the forefront of College Hockey.
Historians, especially hockey historians. The answers to who created innovations like instant replay, etc will be found in the pages of this book. There is an extensive Appendix containing pictures, letters, including one from the President of the United States and an NHL referees’ contract. There is an index to make searching for players and events easier and there are many interesting pictures.
Readers of military history.
Those seeking inspiration
Lovers of a good story
Hero worshippers
Shooting for the Moon:
The Bill Beagan Story is a book that everyone will enjoy!!!
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© Copyright 2011 Shooting For The Moon: The Bill Beagan Story by Paul White
All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
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