Bruce Landon
Encyclopedia
Bruce Landon is a retired professional ice hockey
goaltender who is the longtime general manager and owner of the Springfield Falcons
of the American Hockey League
.
of the Ontario Hockey League
, Landon was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Kings
of the National Hockey League
. He played three seasons for their minor-league affiliate Springfield Kings
, backing up future Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith
as the Kings won the AHL's Calder Cup
championship in 1971. In 1973, Landon signed with the upstart World Hockey Association
's New England Whalers and was the team's backup goaltender for five seasons. His best season was 1976, where despite a losing record provoked by the Whalers' anemic offense, he had a goals against average of 3.47, good for 9th place in the high scoring WHA.
He had a second stint with Springfield at the start of the 1977–78 WHA season, but suffered a career-ending knee injury in practice and retired at age 28.
Landon finished his WHA career with 50 wins, 50 losses and 9 ties in 122 games, recording two shutouts and a 3.46 goals against average.
as an executive and broadcaster, and won the AHL's Ken McKenzie Award
as the individual who best promoted his team in 1979 and the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
in 1981 as the league's top executive. In 1982, Landon became the general manager of the Springfield AHL team, and has remained in that position ever since, leading the Indians franchise to its final two Calder Cup championships in 1990 and 1991.
When the Indians were sold to out-of-town interests in 1994 and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
, Landon put together an investment group to secure an expansion franchise from the AHL, the Springfield Falcons
. He has been the president, general manager and owner of the Falcons since then.
On November 3, 2007, the American Hockey League, in recognition of his years of service to hockey, held a "Bruce Landon Night" in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender who is the longtime general manager and owner of the Springfield Falcons
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
Playing career
Following a successful junior career with the Peterborough PetesPeterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
, Landon was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He played three seasons for their minor-league affiliate Springfield Kings
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
, backing up future Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith
Billy Smith (ice hockey)
William John Smith, better known as Billy Smith, is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender and is best known for winning four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders and being the first goalie to be credited with a goal....
as the Kings won the AHL's Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championship in 1971. In 1973, Landon signed with the upstart World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
's New England Whalers and was the team's backup goaltender for five seasons. His best season was 1976, where despite a losing record provoked by the Whalers' anemic offense, he had a goals against average of 3.47, good for 9th place in the high scoring WHA.
He had a second stint with Springfield at the start of the 1977–78 WHA season, but suffered a career-ending knee injury in practice and retired at age 28.
Landon finished his WHA career with 50 wins, 50 losses and 9 ties in 122 games, recording two shutouts and a 3.46 goals against average.
Hockey executive
After his retirement, Landon was hired by the Springfield IndiansSpringfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
as an executive and broadcaster, and won the AHL's Ken McKenzie Award
Ken McKenzie Award
The Ken McKenzie Award is presented annually to an individual who accomplished the most during the season in promoting his or her American Hockey League team, by marketing and public relations. The award is named for Ken McKenzie, the co-founder and longtime president and publisher of The Hockey...
as the individual who best promoted his team in 1979 and the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
James C. Hendy Memorial Award
The James C. Hendy Memorial Award is presented annually to an executive who has made the most outstanding contribution to the American Hockey League....
in 1981 as the league's top executive. In 1982, Landon became the general manager of the Springfield AHL team, and has remained in that position ever since, leading the Indians franchise to its final two Calder Cup championships in 1990 and 1991.
When the Indians were sold to out-of-town interests in 1994 and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester IceCats
The Worcester IceCats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA at the Worcester Centrum...
, Landon put together an investment group to secure an expansion franchise from the AHL, the Springfield Falcons
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
. He has been the president, general manager and owner of the Falcons since then.
On November 3, 2007, the American Hockey League, in recognition of his years of service to hockey, held a "Bruce Landon Night" in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center.