Ken Wilson Ken Wilson , born July 23 , 1923 , in Craik , Saskatchewan , was a minor hockey league General Manager and or owner for forty years . Twenty One years in the International Hockey League , five years in the Continental Hockey League and single seasons in the National Hockey League , Western Hockey League and , Eastern Hockey League . Wilson was known for having a keen eye for young talent as evidenced by his players winner ' Rookie Awards ' a total of seven times . Wilson played for the Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Mayfair Public School hockey team . In 1937 , Mayfair won the J . D . McDonald Cup for Saskatoon public schools Hockey Championship , with Ken playing center and left wing . In 1946 , he moved from Trail , British Columbia to Fort Worth , Texas to work for the Rangers , a hockey team in the United States Hockey League ( 1945 - 51 ) , owned by Eddie Shore . In 1950 , Wilson became the Manager of the brand new Hobart Arena , in Troy , Ohio . Starting in 1951 and for the next eight seasons , he owned and operated the Troy Bruins a team in the IHL . Wilson spent the 1959 - 1960 hockey season , as General Manager of the Greensboro Generals in the EHL . For three seasons , starting in 1960 , Ken was the General Manager of the Omaha Knights in the IHL . In 1963 , Wilson moved to Toledo , Ohio , where he owned and started the Toledo Blades in the IHL . Over the next three seasons , he filled the roll of General Manager and as a mid season replacement in 1966 , coach . In 1964 , the Toledo Blades won the Fred A . Huber Trophy , awarded for " Most Points in the Regular Season ' and the Turner Cup awarded to the Playoff Champions . In 1966 , Wilson was named Manager of the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Hockey League . Bert Olmstead was the Coach . In 1967 the National Hockey League expanded and Bert Olmstead was hired as General Manager and Coach of Oakland Seals after the June 7 , 1967 NHL player draft . Olmstead hired Wilson , with the plan of Wilson running a farm team the following season . The entire hockey staff was fired at the end of the first season . Wilson was assistant manager of the Muskegon Mohawks in the IHL for two seasons , 1970 - 1971 and 1971 - 1972 . In 1972 Wilson was hired as General Manager of the Des Moines , Iowa franchise in the IHL . Feeling the franchise needed a new look and image , Wilson , changed the name to the Des Moines Capitols . In 1973 - 1974 , the Capitols won the Fred A . Huber Trophy and the Turner Cup . This was the only season the a Des Moines based IHL team finished first and won the playoffs . The Capitols disbanded in 1975 . Wilson went on to Manage the Flint Generals in 1975 - 1976 and the Dayton Gems in 1976 - 1977 , both in the IHL . In 1981 , Wilson formed a group of investors to put an IHL team in Peoria , Illinois . The Peoria Prancers , began play , with the 1982 - 1983 season . After years of good labor relations , the United Auto Workers went on strike against Caterpillar Inc . on October 1 , 1982 . At the time 50 % of Peorians were employed directly or indirectly by Caterpillar . The strike lasted the entire first hockey season . The Prancers were never able to recover from the effects of the strike and folded after the 1983 - 1984 season . Wilson moved to Danville , Illinois and took over full time duties for the Danville Dashers in the Continental Hockey League for the next two seasons . Ken retired from hockey following the 1985 - 1986 season . Team Awards . 1963 - 1964 Toledo Blades Fred A . Huber Trophy Most Points in the Regular Season 1963 - 1964 Toledo Blades Turner Cup Playoff Champions 1970 - 1971 Muskegon Mohawks Fred A . Huber Trophy Most Points in the Regular Season 1971 - 1972 Muskegon Mohawks Fred A . Huber Trophy Most Points in the Regular Season 1973 - 1974 Des Moines Capitols Fred A . Huber Trophy Most Points in the Regular Season 1973 - 1974 Des Moines Capitols Turner Cup Playoff Champions 1981 - 1982 Danville Dashers Most Points Regular Season 1981 - 1982 Danville Dashers Wal - Mar Cup Playoff Champions 1983 - 1984 Danville Dashers Wal - Mar Cup Playoff Champions Individual Player Awards . 1955 - 1956 Troy Bruins , Bill Tibbs , James Norris Memorial Trophy IHL Least goals against during the regular season 1961 - 1962 Omaha Knights , Glenn Ramsay , James Norris Memorial Trophy IHL Least goals against during the regular season 1962 - 1963 Omaha Knights , Glenn Ramsay , James Norris Memorial Trophy IHL Least goals against during the regular season 1962 - 1963 Omaha Knights , John Gravel , Rookie of the Year Trophy 1963 - 1964 Toledo Blades , Don Westbrook , Rookie of the Year Trophy 1964 - 1965 Toledo Blades , Bob Thomas , Rookie of the Year Trophy 1964 - 1965 Toledo Blades , William " Chick " Chalmers , James Gatschene Memorial Trophy Outstanding Playing Ability and Sportsmanlike Conduct 1970 - 1971 Muskegon Mohawks , Darrel Knibbs , Leo P . Lamoureux Memorial Trophy Regular Season League ' s Leading Scorer 1971 - 1972 Muskegon Mohawks , Gary Ford , Leo P . Lamoureux Memorial Trophy Regular Season League ' s Leading Scorer 1971 - 1972 Muskegon Mohawks , Glenn " Chico " Resch , Rookie of the Year Trophy 1971 - 1972 Muskegon Mohawks , Glenn " Chico " Resch , James Norris Memorial Trophy IHL Least goals against during the regular season 1972 - 1973 Des Moines Capitols , Danny Gloor , Rookie of the Year Trophy 1973 - 1974 Des Moines Capitols , Frank DeMarco , Rookie of the Year Trophy 1973 - 1974 Des Moines Capitols , Pete Mara , Leo P . Lamoureux Memorial Trophy Regular Season League ' s Leading Scorer 1973 - 1974 Des Moines Capitols , Pete Mara , James Gatschene Memorial Trophy Outstanding Playing Ability and Sportsmanlike Conduct 1982 - 1983 Peoria Prancers , Paul Fenton , Ken McKenzie Trophy IHL Most Outstanding American Born Rookie