Henry Brabham

Henry Brabham founded the ECHL, formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League, in 1988-89 with five teams in four states. Brabham owned three of the original five teams, including the legendary Johnstown Chiefs who were the last original ECHL team to play in their original city. The dedication of the Virginia businessman was crucial to the league surviving to span from coast-to-coast while advancing more than 700 players and countless coaches, on-ice officials and front office personnel to the National Hockey League.

Brabham passed away on March 30, 2020 at the age of 90.