John Ziegler, Jr.
National Hockey League President 1977-1992.

John Augustus Ziegler, Jr - Born February 9, 1934 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, - Died October 25, 2018 was the fourth president of the National Hockey League.

Ziegler was a amateur Hockey player himself from 1949 to 1969, playing in Michigan.

Having graduated from Michigan's law school, Ziegler joined the Detroit Red Wings front office in 1959 to do legal work. He rose up the team's ranks, serving as the club's vice president and an alternate governor on the NHL's Board of Governors. He was elected chairman of board in 1976.

In 1977, Ziegler became the fourth president of the NHL, succeeding Clarence Campbell.

Ziegler oversaw the growth of the NHL from 18 to 24 teams, including the 1979 addition of four teams from the WHA / World Hockey Association.

In August 1979, Ziegler, announced that protective helmets would become mandatory in the NHL. "The introduction of the helmet rule will be an additional safety factor," he said. The only exception to the rule are players—after signing a waiver form—who signed pro contracts prior to June 1, 1979. Essentially, this grandfather clause allowed Hockey's veterans to choose whether or not they wanted to wear helmets but forced all new players to wear them.

Under Ziegler, the number of European-born NHLers rose from two per cent to 11 per cent, including the first Russian players to play in the league

Ziegler received the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1984.

Ziegler was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.