Bunny Ahearne

John Francis "Bunny" Ahearne ( born November 19, 1900 in Wexford, Ireland, † 11 April 1985) was a great patron of hockey and president of the IIHF 1957-1960, 1963-1966, and from 1969 to 1975.

Life

In 1933 he became secretary of the British Ice Hockey Association ( BIHA ), a position which he held for over 40 years. He is the great merit attributed established the sport of ice hockey in Great Britain and the British national ice hockey team to a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games to have helped.

He was honored in 1977 with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame and in 1997 with the entry into the IIHF Hall of Fame. He is also the namesake of the Ahearne Cup.

In 1968 he received the Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria.