Joe Fisher

Joe Fisher won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1943. He played a total of 65 NHL games over four seasons, and another 12 in the playoffs. He also had a solid career in the AHL, mostly with Indianapolis, and a lengthy amateur career in Western Canada

But Joe Fisher's greatest contribution to hockey was not in the NHL or even as a player. It was as one of the founding members of the Medicine Hat Tigers junior club in 1970.

The Tigers are a community driven success story, and one of the most fabled franchises in all of Canadian junior hockey. And Fisher helped lay the foundation to that success.

"He was very definitely a driving force in the hockey community," said business partner Fred Hall.

Fisher was born and raised in Medicine Hat. Once his playing career was over he returned to "The Hat" and coached a different Medicine Hat team also named Tigers back in the 1950s.

Off the ice Fisher established himself with a successful insurance career. Previously, when Fisher was still playing in Detroit, he had his own restaurant in Medicine Hat.

In 1970 Fisher, Rod Carry and George Maser brought the Western hockey League to town.

"Joe Fisher's reputation around the hockey world added instant credibility for attaining an expansion franchise for the city of Medicine Hat," said Tigers' current owner and team president Darrell Maser.

"His hockey expertise was instrumental in garnering the like of Tom Lysiak, Lanny McDonald, Don Murdoch and Kelly Hrudey, which ensured the team's on-ice success for the years to come."

Fisher sold his interests in the Tigers in 1979 but remained a season ticket holder and was always very interested in the team.

Joe Fisher passed away in 2002. He was 85 years old.