Major Danny McLeod
KINGSTON – On Tuesday, 14 January, Major Danny McLeod, a founding member of CIS, passed away at the age of 92. Major William John “Danny” McLeod is the 2011 recipient of the Austin-Matthews Award, presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to interuniversity sport.
Major McLeod grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Medicine Hat, Alta., in the 1920s and 30s. At the outbreak of WWII, he left the farm to serve his country, rising from the rank of private to captain and becoming the first Canadian to graduate from Sandhurst, the historic home of British officer training. After winning the Military Cross for valour in action, he remained in the army following the war and achieved the rank of major.
In 1960, Major McLeod became the first director of athletics at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. A driving force behind the creation of CIAU (now CIS) as we know it today, he was the organization’s founding secretary-treasurer, a position he held until 1971 when he retired from RMC. During his tenure, he successfully presented CIAU’s application to join FISU and was Canada’s chef de mission at the 1968 International Student Games. Also involved at the provincial level, he was president of the Ottawa-St. Lawrence Athletic Association (OSLAA) in the 1960s.
A respected and successful hockey coach, Major McLeod simultaneously coached the RMC team, the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League and the Kingston Aces (Senior A), who represented Canada at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. He was twice named OHL coach of the year. Following his retirement from RMC, he joined the NHL as supervisor of officials in the expanded 12-team league and trained all on-ice officials on international rules for the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the USSR. The trophy awarded annually to the MVP of the CIS men’s hockey championship – the University Cup – is named in his honour (Major W.J. ‘Danny’ McLeod Award).
In 2004, Major McLeod received an Honorary Doctorate of Military Science from RMC. The NHL Officials Association honoured him in 2007 with the prestigious Birchell Leadership Award.
On Saturday, a moment of silence will be observed before every CIS men’s ice hockey game.
(Source: CIS)