Frank Greenleaf

Greenleaf served two years as first vice-president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) from March 1930 until April 1932,[25][26] and oversaw playoffs in Eastern Canada both years for junior and senior hockey.[27] In 1931, the CAHA began selecting the final venue for the Allan Cup and the Memorial Cup championships a year in advance, instead of deciding only one month in advance.[28] He brought forth a proposal from the QAHA to allow the forward pass in the centre ice area instead of an offside infraction stopping the play. The change was declined and sent to the provincial branches for further discussion.[25]

In December 1930, the CAHA was faced with the new situation of players returning from professional tryouts without signing a contract, and wanting to playing amateur hockey and obtain an AAU of C registration card. The AAU of C had a policy which stipulated that any player who had tried out for a professional team would be classified a professional and ineligible for amateur play. Since the policy had not been enforced before, the CAHA cancelled those players' cards without penalty to the team.[29] In an effort to combat growing professionalism in hockey, the CAHA asked to swear an oath during the playoffs that they were indeed amateurs.[28] The CAHA also declined to allow teams to play against professionals in any competition, including exhibition games.[26][28]

The Canadian Olympic Committee named Greenleaf to its winter sports committee to prepare for the upcoming Winter Olympics,[30] and he served as a technical advisor to the organizing committee for ice hockey at the 1932 Winter Olympics.[31]

The Allan Cup was the championship trophy for amateur senior ice hockey overseen by the CAHA.

Greenleaf was elected CAHA president to succeed Jack Hamilton in April 1932. At the same, the CAHA approved teams to go on exhibition tours in Europe with the co-operation of the British Ice Hockey Association.[32][33] The CAHA wanted to reduce the number of players migrating between countries for hockey, and set a registration deadline of January 1. Greenleaf warned that players who migrated from Canada to the United States for hockey, would be ineligible to register with the CAHA for one year after the deadline.[34]

In January 1933, Greenleaf forbade any CAHA team from playing against the Atlantic City Seagulls, in response to the raiding of rosters in Canada and importing players to Atlantic City by offers of employment. The AAU of C promised to investigate and possibly cancel the players' registration cards due to hockey "tourism".[35] The Amateur Athletic Union of the United States defended the players by stating that they worked for hotels in Atlantic City and could play there legitimately.[36][37] In response to the ban on the Seagulls, American teams refused to play exhibition games with any Canadian teams. Greenleaf felt that the American boycott was "the finest thing that ever happened", and that the CAHA would not suffer.[38] He then suspended all Canadians playing in the United States who had not returned to Canada by the January 1 deadline.[38]

Greenleaf scheduled the 1933 Allan Cup semifinals in Montreal, and the Maritime Amateur Hockey Association declined to travel since the association felt it broke an agreement to alternate hosting of the semifinals. Greenleaf felt it was more economical for a team in the Maritimes to stop in Montreal on route to the finals in Vancouver, whereas the Maritimes' champion wanted to play on home ice where ticket sales were more profitable.[39] Greenleaf acquiesced and the QAHA champion travelled to the Maritimes.[40]

Greenleaf was re-elected president in April 1933.[41] At the 1933 general meeting, the CAHA debated using the same playing rules as the National Hockey League (NHL), and adopted the forward pass in all zones on the ice to reduce the number of stoppages in the game.[42] Greenleaf enforced the residence rule as adopted at the general meeting in 1932, and suspended all player for the upcoming season who had who moved from one CAHA branch to another since January 1. The rule was implemented to prevent a geographic shift in talent, but exceptions were allowed due to employment, a junior-aged player moving with his parents, or students who established residence while attending school.[43] By extension of the residence rule, Greenleaf determined that any amateur playing hockey in Europe on their own initiative, could not be reinstated until the following CAHA season.[44]

In September 1933, Greenleaf announced the end of the ban against the Seagulls and resumption of exhibition games versus Canadian teams.[45] In January 1934, he proposed for the Allan Cup winner to play the American amateur champion in a post-season title for North America. He asked CAHA branches to mail-in their votes on the proposal and travelled to the United States to discuss the plans.[46] An agreement was reached where an all-American team met the Allan Cup winners, and any Canadian seasonally playing on an American-based team would be ineligible for the series.[47] Greenleaf announced successful negotiations, and stated that the international championship would be a two-year experiment in a best-of-three format.[48] The Moncton Hawks won the international series in 1934, and Greenleaf stated the team was entitled to the Hamilton B. Wills Trophy, but that it had become lost somewhere in the United States.[49]

At the 1934 general meeting, Greenleaf opposed a motion by the Ontario Hockey Association to allow commercial hockey teams in Allan Cup playoffs.[46] The CAHA voted against the proposal, and approved roster replacements for teams who had lost players signed to professional contracts. Greenleaf was succeeded by E. A. Gilroy as president in April 1934.[50]

Greenleaf was named to the CAHA registration committee in November 1934, and given the task of deciding on applications for transfers between branches of the CAHA.[51] He submitted a resolution at the 1935 CAHA general meeting, to decline permission for amateurs to try out with professional teams after December 1. The CAHA agreed on the concept of a deadline but felt that more discussion was needed and did not approve the resolution.[52]

The Halifax Wolverines who were 1935 Allan Cup champions, had lost players after the team had been chosen to represent Canada in ice hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics and were unsure if they could play. Greenleaf suggested a playoff between the Port Arthur Bearcats who were Allan Cup finalists, and the Montreal Royals who were the Eastern Canada finalists.[53] He advocated for sending the best possible team to the Olympics and felt that the Royals were stronger, since their playoffs series against Halifax required more games for a decision.[54] E. A. Gilroy replied that the decision to send the Bearcats was final, and that if the Royals were considered, then the other semi-finalists also would have deserved consideration.[55] Greenleaf oversaw scheduling for the 1936 Allan Cup and the 1936 Memorial Cup, while Gilroy was overseas at the Olympics.[56]