William Dickenson ("Wild Bill") Hunter CM (May 5, 1920 - December 16, 2002) was a Canadian hockey owner, general manager and coach. Hunter was involved in hockey, football, baseball, softball and curling but he is best known for founding the Western Hockey League, being a key player in the upstart World Hockey Association and for his efforts to bring professional hockey to previously overlooked Western Canadian cities, especially in Edmonton and (unsuccessfully) in Saskatoon.
Hunter was born in Saskatoon and founded his first competitive sports team when he was 18. Hunter's Saskatoon Dukes football club eventually became the Saskatoon Hilltops who as of 2004 had won 12 national junior titles. Hunter then attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan from 1938 to 1940, where he managed the college baseball team.
Following the outbreak of World War II Hunter left school to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and served for about four years as a pilot based in England. Hunter flew ...
Created by dipity
on Feb 7, 2008
Last updated: 03/05/10 at 11:08 PM