IMAGE INFORMATION
EditCourtney Keith "Bingo" Allen - Born August 21, 1923 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Died February 4, 2014 in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania was a Canadian/American ice Hockey defenceman, coach and general manager.
- F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Champion 1943 with Buffalo Bisons.
- Calder Cup Champion 1943 with Buffalo Bisons.
- Prince of Wales Trophy Champion 1954 with Detroit Red Wings.
- Stanley Cup Champion 1954 with Detroit Red Wings, 1974, 1975 with Philadelphia Flyers (general manager).
Stanley Cup finalist 1976, 1980.
- Clarence S. Campbell Bowl Champion 1968 with Philadelphia Flyers (coach), 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 with Philadelphia Flyers (general manager).
- Lester Patrick Cup (President's Cup) Champion 1955 with Edmonton Flyers, 1959 with Seattle Totems (coach).
- 1976 Canada Cup Champion with Team Canada (general manager).
- Lester Patrick Award 1988.
Allen played his junior Hockey with Saskatoon Quakers.
Allen turned pro with the AHL Buffalo Bisons in 1942, then during the WWII years, played for Saskatoon Navy.
Allen would return playing the American Hockey League / AHL in 1946 with the Springfield Indians, playing there for 5 seasons.
Allen then signed with the AHL Syracuse Warriors in 1951, playing there until they sold him to the Detroit Red Wings in the early spring of 1954. Allen would make his NHL debut with the Red Wings on March 4, 1954 vs Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Olympia in a 3-3 tie. Allen would then play 10 games with Detroit to end the regular season, and another 5 NHL playoff games, as Detroit won the 1954 Stanley Cup championship.
Allen started the next season in Detroit, but after 18 games with 0 points, he was sent to the Edmonton Flyers in the Western Hockey League / WHL. He fit right in with Edmonton and helped them win the 1955 President's Cup (Lester Patrick Cup).
Allen finished his playing days with WHL Regina-Brandon Regals and Seattle Americans as a player coach for the 1956-57 season.
Allen then focused on coaching full time with Seattle, 1st known as the Seattle Americans, then the Seattle Totems for the 1958-59 WHL season, which would become the 1st WHL championship for Seattle in the spring of 1959. Allen was also their General Manager until 1966.
Allen was then hired to coach the new expansion NHL team Philadelphia Flyers for the 1967-68 season, also taking on the general manager duties in 1969.
It was with Philadelphia that Allen had his most success, building a roster than became known as the Broad Street Bullies. Allen himself would become known as “Keith the Thief” a shrewd trader with a sharp talent evaluating players, while also a tough-but-fair contract negotiator.
Allen’s most important deals were the reacquisition of Bernie Parent from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973, the acquisition of Reggie Leach from the California Seals in 1974 along with drafting Bill Barber. He made a host of smart drafting decisions and also knew whom to trust when it came to recommendations from scouts to sign undrafted players.
Allen became the 1st ever NHL GM to hire an assistant coach (Mike Nykoluk) in 1972.
The Flyers would win consecutive Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 reached the Stanley Cup Finals four times (1974, 1975, 1976, 1980) and established an NHL record 35-game unbeaten streak (25-0-10) during the 1979-80 season. The 1st Flyers Stanley Cup championship consisted of a roster that Allen put together - 9 drafted, 6 via trade, 3 free agents.
Allen’s teams compiled a 563-322-194 record (.612 winning percentage) and were the NHL’s best home team.
Allen was instrumental in launching the successful coaching career of Fred Shero and Pat Quinn as well as his eventual successor as Flyers GM, Bob McCammon.
Allen only played in 28 regular season NHL games, picking up 4 assists with 6 penalty minutes and 5 NHL playoff games with 0 points or penalties.
Allen played in 1954 NHL All Star Game.
Keith Allen was Inducted into the Philadelphia Flyers Hall Of Fame in 1989.
Keith Allen was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 1992.
Courtney (Keith) Allen was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame as a builder in 2017.
Keith Allen was posthumously inducted into Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
