Story Summary
George N. Gillett Jr., the American businessman who owned the Montreal Canadiens from 2001 to 2009, has died at age 87, the Canadiens announced. His tenure included several notable moments in franchise history, including Saku Koivu’s return after cancer on April 9, 2002, the renaming of the arena to Bell Centre on Sept. 1, 2002, and the start of preparations for the club’s centennial season in 2009-10. Canadiens owner, president and CEO Geoff Molson and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman paid tribute to Gillett’s commitment to Montreal and his contributions to the game. Gillett bought the team and its arena on Jan. 31, 2001, and sold the Canadiens, Bell Centre and Groupe Spectacles Gillett on June 20, 2009, to Molson and a consortium of investors.
Key Facts
- George N. Gillett Jr. died at age 87, the Montreal Canadiens announced on social media.
- Gillett Jr. owned the Montreal Canadiens from 2001 to 2009.
- He became owner of the Canadiens and the arena on Jan. 31, 2001, paying Molson Inc. C$275 million for 80.1 per cent of the club and full ownership of the arena.
- Gillett Jr. sold the Canadiens, their arena and Groupe Spectacles Gillett to Geoff Molson and a consortium on June 20, 2009.
- During his ownership the Canadiens posted a record of 254-198-52 with 18 ties; the 18 ties occurred before the shootout was introduced following the 2004-05 lost season.
- Montreal reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times in Gillett Jr.’s six-and-a-half seasons, losing three Eastern Conference Semifinal series and two Quarterfinal rounds.
- Notable moments during his tenure include Saku Koivu’s return after beating cancer on April 9, 2002, and the renaming of the team’s arena to Bell Centre on Sept. 1, 2002.
- Gillett Jr. oversaw the start of preparations for the Canadiens’ 2009-10 centennial season.
- Born Oct. 22, 1938, in Racine, Wisconsin, Gillett Jr. began working in 1948; he recalled his first job picking weeds in a Racine onion patch for his great-uncle Wally.
- The Canadiens initially faced criticism after his purchase, including reminders of a 1992 bankruptcy from which he recovered and objections that an American owned the provincial franchise.
- Gillett Jr. owned the Harlem Globetrotters and recalled their 100-99 overtime loss to the New Jersey Reds in March 1971 that ended a 2,495-game winning streak.
IHM Discussion
George Gillett Jr.’s tenure with the Canadiens combined commercial ambition with an evident attachment to the club’s history and people. He arrived amid scepticism, prompted by his 1992 bankruptcy and by objections to an American owning a Quebec institution, but gradually earned greater respect through his engagement with alumni, fans and civic traditions.
He acquired the franchise and arena in early 2001 and, over the following six and a half seasons, the Canadiens posted a winning regular-season record and made five playoff appearances. The team did not advance beyond the Eastern Conference Semifinals during his ownership, but the period included Saku Koivu’s return after cancer, the arena’s renaming as Bell Centre and preparations for the 2009-10 centennial season. His interest in alumni, the engraved bricks outside the arena and the statues honouring franchise icons reflected his appreciation of the club’s heritage.
Gillett Jr. also relished the theatre of sport. His recollection of the Harlem Globetrotters’ 1971 loss and the Doug Gilmour prank involving broken penalty-box glass illustrated his sense of humour. By the time he accepted Sports Media Canada’s executive of the year award in 2008, he was able to joke publicly about the criticism that had greeted his arrival in Montreal.
Why It Matters
Gillett Jr.’s death marks the passing of an owner whose time with the Canadiens coincided with enduring institutional moments: an arena rebrand, Koivu’s celebrated return and preparations for the centennial season. His attention to alumni, public ceremonies and ties to the city left cultural traces beyond the team’s record. For a franchise whose history is central to Canadian hockey, those traditions remain an important part of how major milestones are remembered.
Mini Q&A
When did George Gillett Jr. own the Montreal Canadiens?
He owned the Canadiens from 2001 until June 20, 2009; he became owner on Jan. 31, 2001.
How did the Canadiens perform during Gillett Jr.’s ownership?
Under his ownership the team had a record of 254-198-52 with 18 ties and reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times in his six-and-a-half seasons, losing three Eastern Conference Semifinal series and two Quarterfinal rounds.
What notable franchise events occurred while he was owner?
Notable events included Saku Koivu’s return after beating cancer on April 9, 2002, the renaming of the arena to Bell Centre on Sept. 1, 2002, and the start of preparations for the Canadiens’ centennial season in 2009-10.
Did Gillett Jr. own other sports properties?
Yes.
How did the Canadiens and the NHL respond to his death?
Canadiens owner Geoff Molson issued a statement offering condolences and praising Gillett’s immersion in the Montreal community. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also paid tribute, noting Gillett’s passion for the Canadiens and his contributions to the game.
Coach Mark Comment
Owners are not simply balance-sheet figures; they shape the daily culture that staff and players inhabit. That cultural work rarely shows up in standings alone but matters to cohesion and institutional memory.
IHM Final View
George Gillett Jr. arrived in Montreal amid controversy and left a complex but visible legacy. He combined business interests with evident affection for the Canadiens’ history and people, presided over important institutional milestones and earned respect within the organisation over time. His death closes a distinctive chapter in the club’s modern era, shaped by commemoration, community and on-ice competition.