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EditLyle Zealand Wright (Born September 28, 1898 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Died May 24, 1963 in Minnesota, USA, was a ice Hockey player, manager, president and builder.
Wright managed the Minneapolis Millers, who played in the American Hockey Association, from 1928 until 1931.
Wright then moved to Chicago to become business manager of the Chicago Black Hawks for the 1931-32 season.
Wright returned to Minneapolis in 1933 and remained there for most of his life serving in varying capacities with the Minneapolis Arena eventually attaining the office of the president.
Over the years of his affiliation with the Minneapolis Arena, he was involved with the minor-league professional Minneapolis Millers almost continuously during their existence. But the Millers were not his only Hockey interest. It was at the Arena that University of Minnesota Hockey got its start, justifying the construction of a Hockey arena on campus. It was also at the Arena that through Wright's cooperation, high school Hockey flourished to become a major high school sport in Minnesota.
Wright organized the International Amateur Hockey League in 1936 with the Duluth Zephyrs- under Laurie Scott, being the charter entry. Duluth played in the league with range teams such as Eveleth/Hibbing, Fort William, Port Arthur, Geraldton, and Fort Frances. The Zephyrs won the league title that first year. But after the roof on the Duluth Amphitheater collapsed in early 1939, the Zephyrs dropped out of the league with no arena to play in.
The American Hockey Association, led by acting president Lyle Wright of the Omaha Knights, voted to shut the league down in the fall of 1942. It returned after World War II as the United States Hockey League, starting with the 1945-46 season.
Wright was United States Hockey League Denver Falcons General Manager in 1951, as the Falcons were the old Minneapolis Millers who moved to Denver for one season. The Denver Falcons would be the 1st professional ice Hockey team in Colorado history.