Ron Robison
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey executive (born 1955)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ron Robison
| image =
| alt =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1955}}
| birth_place = Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = University of Saskatchewan
| occupation =
| known_for = Commissioner of the Western Hockey League
}}
Ron Robison (born 1955) is a Canadian ice hockey executive, who has served as the commissioner of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since September 15, 2000. He previously worked in senior managerial roles for the Canadian Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. As commissioner, Robison has expanded the WHL by introducing new teams and broadcasting partners.
Early life
Robison was born to parents Allan Robison and Elinor Anderson in 1955. His grandfather Jim was the mayor of Indian Head, Saskatchewan and ran a general store.{{cite news |last1=Florence |first1=Bob |title=Rockets once ruled Indian Head |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/regina-leader-post/20120616/282308202178292 |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |date=June 16, 2012}} Robison attended, and played ice hockey, at the University of Saskatchewan before graduating in 1977.{{cite web |title=Ron Robison, BSPE'77 |url=http://www.usask.ca/100/alumni/ron_robison.php |website=usask.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019}} In 2007, he was honoured by the University as one of their 100 Alumni of Influence.{{cite web |title=ROBISON TO BE HONOURED |url=http://wheatkings.com/article/robison-to-be-honoured |website=wheatkings.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=September 16, 2007}}
Career
=Early career=
After graduation, Robison was hired as an assistant coach for the Saskatchewan Huskies and faculty member of the Physical Education department until 1981. From there, Robison joined the Canadian Hockey Association, which later became known as Hockey Canada. In June 1997, Robison resigned as senior vice-president of Hockey Canada's Business Operations but continued to work for the association on a contract basis.{{cite web |title=CANADIAN HOCKEY COMPLETES STAFF RESTRUCTURING |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/1997-nr-073-en |website=hockeycanada.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=June 7, 1997}} During his years with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey Association, Robison helped manage seven Ice Hockey World Championships and three Winter Olympic Games.{{cite web |title=THANK YOUR COACH UPDATE -2013 PotashCorp CIS University Cup Championship presented by Co-op |url=http://saskatoon.goalline.ca/news.php?news_id=692968&pv=1 |website=saskatoon.goalline.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=March 12, 2013}}{{cite web |title=SPECIAL GUEST PROFILES |url=http://www.hockeymanitoba.ca/members/season-opener/special-guest-appearances |website=hockeymanitoba.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019}}
=WHL=
In September 2000, Robison was named the commissioner of the Western Hockey League (WHL), replacing Dev Dley.{{cite web |title=Robison named WHL commissioner |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/robison-named-whl-commissioner-1.220626 |website=cbc.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=September 13, 2000}}{{cite web |title=Ron Robison appointed as WHL Commissioner |url=http://whl.ca/article/ron-robison-new-whl-commissioner |website=whl.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=September 11, 2000}} Five years later, Robison helped introduce a new team in British Columbia and the sale of the Tri-City Americans.{{cite web |title=WHL Announces New Ownership for Tri-City Americans and Expansion to Chilliwack, B.C. |url=http://pgcougars.com/whl-announces-new-ownership-for-tri-city-americans-and-expansion-to-chilliwack-b-c/ |website=pgcougars.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=April 21, 2005}} He also partnered with the Canada West Universities Athletic Association to add new scholarship programs for players in the WHL{{cite web |title=WHL announces Canada West University Partnership |url=http://tigershockey.com/whl-announces-canada-west-university-partnership-and/ |website=tigershockey.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=November 28, 2005}} and sat on the National Junior Team Policy Committee and Branch.{{cite web |title=NATIONAL JUNIORS ROSTER |url=http://wheatkings.com/national-juniors-roster/ |website=wheatkings.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=December 15, 2005}} As well, he helped the WHL and Interactive Netcasting Systems Incorporated begin to webcast WHL games starting in the 2005–06 season.{{cite web |title=WHL Announces New Internet Streaming Agreement – LIVE Internet Broadcasts |url=http://pgcougars.com/whl-announces-new-internet-streaming-agreement-live-internet-broadcasts/ |website=pgcougars.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=September 14, 2005}}
In 2006, under Robison's watch, the WHL expanded to include a new team in Edmonton,{{cite web |title=WHL Grants Expansion Franchise to Edmonton |url=http://whl.ca/whl-grants-expansion-franchise-to-edmonton |website=whl.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=March 16, 2006}} and his contract was extended for three more years.{{cite news|title=WHL re-jigs playoff format for next season|date=June 22, 2006|newspaper=Brandon Sun|location=Manitoba|page=12|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jun-22-2006-1163052/}}{{free access}} The following year, Robison and the WHL extended their partnership agreement the Saskatchewan Hockey Association to continue providing additional support for the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League under the Saskatchewan Development Model. The model was created to encourage the development of ice hockey players in Saskatchewan.{{cite web |title=WHL Enters into New Partnership with Saskatchewan Hockey Association |url=http://mjwarriors.ca/whl-enters-into-new-partnership-with-saskatchewan-hockey-association/ |website=mjwarriors.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=December 6, 2007}} Two years later, Robison continue expanding WHL's broadcasting rights by encouraging Shaw TV to sign a five-year contract with the WHL. The contract allowed Shaw TV to cover the WHL regular season and playoff games across Western Canada.{{cite web |title=SHAW TV AND WHL EXTEND PARTNERSHIP |url=http://mjwarriors.ca/shaw-tv-and-whl-extend-partnership/ |website=mjwarriors.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=May 26, 2009}}
In 2011, Robison's contract was extended for five years through a unanimous vote by the WHL Board of Governors.{{cite web |title=WHL COMMISSIONER SIGNS NEW FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT |url=http://wheatkings.com/whl-commissioner-signs-new-five-year-deal/ |website=wheatkings.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=February 9, 2011}} He was later appointed to Hockey Canada's 2012–13 Governing Board{{cite web |title=HOCKEY CANADA'S 93RD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CONCLUDES IN HALIFAX, N.S. |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2012-nr-084-en |website=hockeycanada.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=May 27, 2012}}{{cite web |title=Hockey Canada Agm Recap; Boudreau & Kost Win National Awards |url=https://www.hockeyalberta.ca/news/052012/team-pacific-management-committee-announces-head-scout-staff-2013-team-pacific-227/ |website=hockeyalberta.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=May 28, 2012}} and Program of Excellence Policy Committee.{{cite web |title=TODD GILL NAMED HEAD COACH OF CANADA'S NATIONAL MEN'S SUMMER UNDER-18 TEAM; YANICK JEAN AND SCOTT WALKER TO SERVE AS ASSISTANT COACHES |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2012-nr-080-en |website=hockeycanada.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=May 22, 2012}}
In 2015, Robison introduced the "WHL Player Impact Program" to address challenges player might face such as mental health issues and drug abuse problems.{{cite web |title=WHL LAUNCHES PLAYER IMPACT PROGRAM |url=http://whl.ca/whl-launches-player-impact-program |website=whl.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=October 5, 2015}}{{cite web |title=WHL General Managers & Coaches Seminar puts Players First |url=http://whl.ca/article/whl-puts-players-first |website=whl.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=September 18, 2016}} He also personally collaborated with Athabasca University to create a hockey executive Master of Business Administration program.{{cite web |title=Hockey MBA through Athabasca University touted as world's first |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/hockey-mba-through-athabasca-university-touted-as-world-s-first-1.2897997 |website=cbc.ca |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=January 12, 2015}} The following year, the WHL Board of Governors extended his contract until the 2021 season.{{cite web |title=Board of Governors extend contract of Commissioner Ron Robison |url=http://hitmenhockey.com/board-of-governors-extend-contract-of-whl-commissioner-ron-robison-3 |website=hitmenhockey.com |accessdate=May 1, 2019 |date=February 9, 2016}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{WHL Commissioner}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robison, Ron}}
Category:Canadian Hockey League executives
Category:Canadian sports executives and administrators
Category:Hockey Canada personnel
Category:Ice hockey people from Saskatchewan
Category:Sportspeople from Saskatchewan