Jay Feaster
Encyclopedia
Harry Jay Feaster is a National Hockey League
(NHL) executive. He is currently the general manager of the Calgary Flames
, appointed on May 16, 2011, after serving as acting general manager since December 28, 2010, following Darryl Sutter
's resignation. He was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning
for six years, during which he was named the NHL's executive of the year by The Sporting News
in 2004 after guiding the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup
championship.
, and holds a JD
from Georgetown University
. As a young lawyer with Harrisburg firm McNees, Wallace & Nurick in 1988, he was assigned to deal with the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
. His dealings brought him in frequent contact with one of their properties, the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
(AHL). Though he had no background in hockey, Feaster preferred working with the hockey team, and quickly joined the organization as the assistant to the team's president before taking over the team and stadium's operations as general manager in 1990. He served in the post for eight years during which he was named the AHL's Executive of the Year in 1997 after the Bears won the Calder Cup
.
Shortly after, in 1998, he received a call from Tampa Bay Lightning
general Manager, Jacques Demers, who offered him a position as the team's assistant general manager. Feaster accepted, and quickly took over contractual and legal matters for the organization. He continued in that position through the tenures of Demers and Rick Dudley
until he was promoted as Dudley's replacement in February 2002. Under Feaster's management, the Lightning won consecutive Southeast Division
titles in 2003 and 2004. In the 2003–04 NHL season, the Lightning won the first Stanley Cup
in franchise history while The Sporting News
named Feaster as the league's executive of the year. Feaster remained general manager until 2008, when he grew frustrated at interference in the team's hockey operations by the Lightning's new owners Len Barrie
and Oren Koules
. He had three years remaining on his contract with the Lightning when he announced his resignation.
Though he interviewed for general manager positions with the Minnesota Wild
and Florida Panthers
, Feaster remained outside of the NHL for two years. He wrote a blog for The Hockey News
during that time, and participated in chats on NHL radio. He was hired by the Calgary Flames
to serve as assistant general manager to Darryl Sutter
in July 2010. and became acting general manager of the Flames on December 28, 2010 upon Sutter's resignation. On May 18, 2011, Feaster became the permanent GM of the Flames, removing the acting title.
Feaster and his wife Anne have five children: Theresa, Bobby, Libby, Ryan and Kevin.
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...
(NHL) executive. He is currently the general manager of the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, appointed on May 16, 2011, after serving as acting general manager since December 28, 2010, following Darryl Sutter
Darryl Sutter
Darryl John Sutter is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward and coach, and former general manager of the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League...
's resignation. He was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
for six years, during which he was named the NHL's executive of the year by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
in 2004 after guiding the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship.
Hockey career
Feaster is a graduate of Susquehanna UniversitySusquehanna University
Susquehanna University is a liberal arts college in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, United States, north of the state capital, Harrisburg.-Academics:...
, and holds a JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. As a young lawyer with Harrisburg firm McNees, Wallace & Nurick in 1988, he was assigned to deal with the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts , also known as "HERCO", is a privately owned company of the Hershey Trust Company.- History :The company was originally founded by Milton S...
. His dealings brought him in frequent contact with one of their properties, the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
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...
(AHL). Though he had no background in hockey, Feaster preferred working with the hockey team, and quickly joined the organization as the assistant to the team's president before taking over the team and stadium's operations as general manager in 1990. He served in the post for eight years during which he was named the AHL's Executive of the Year in 1997 after the Bears won the 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...
.
Shortly after, in 1998, he received a call from Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
general Manager, Jacques Demers, who offered him a position as the team's assistant general manager. Feaster accepted, and quickly took over contractual and legal matters for the organization. He continued in that position through the tenures of Demers and Rick Dudley
Rick Dudley
Richard Clarence Dudley is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. Dudley was previously the general manager of several hockey teams. Dudley played in the World Hockey Association and in the National Hockey League. Dudley has also served as a head coach in the National...
until he was promoted as Dudley's replacement in February 2002. Under Feaster's management, the Lightning won consecutive Southeast Division
Southeast Division (NHL)
The NHL's Southeast Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Eastern Conference due to expansion.The Southeast Division is the only one of the six divisions that does not have a precursor from the Wales/Campbell conference era ....
titles in 2003 and 2004. In the 2003–04 NHL season, the Lightning won the first Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in franchise history while The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
named Feaster as the league's executive of the year. Feaster remained general manager until 2008, when he grew frustrated at interference in the team's hockey operations by the Lightning's new owners Len Barrie
Len Barrie
Leonard G. Barrie is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 184 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, and Florida Panthers...
and Oren Koules
Oren Koules
Oren Koules is an American entertainment industry and professional sports industry executive. He was president of Evolution Entertainment, producer of the Saw film series...
. He had three years remaining on his contract with the Lightning when he announced his resignation.
Though he interviewed for general manager positions with the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
, Feaster remained outside of the NHL for two years. He wrote a blog for The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
during that time, and participated in chats on NHL radio. He was hired by the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
to serve as assistant general manager to Darryl Sutter
Darryl Sutter
Darryl John Sutter is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward and coach, and former general manager of the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League...
in July 2010. and became acting general manager of the Flames on December 28, 2010 upon Sutter's resignation. On May 18, 2011, Feaster became the permanent GM of the Flames, removing the acting title.
Feaster and his wife Anne have five children: Theresa, Bobby, Libby, Ryan and Kevin.