George Owen (ice hockey)

Harvard George Owen Jr. (December 2, 1901 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.

Owen was a three-sport star at Harvard University, playing football, baseball and hockey.

He was awarded the university's Wingate Cup for best all-around athletic ability.

After he graduated, Owen entered the brokerage business while continuing to play hockey for the Boston University Club.

He was invited to play for the United States Olympic Team in 1924, but declined because of business obligations.

However, Marty Burke of the Montreal Canadiens is known to have worn a helmet briefly during a game in December 1928, before Owen entered the NHL.

Following his playing career, Owen became head coach of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology men's ice hockey team.

He later coached football, baseball and hockey at Milton Academy.

After retiring from Milton Academy, Owen worked as a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Owen was born in Hamilton, Ontario and moved to Massachusetts as a teenager, attending Newton High School in suburban Boston.

The Toronto Maple Leafs held Owen's professional rights; however, as Owen did not want to leave Massachusetts, the Maple Leafs traded his rights to the Boston Bruins on January 10, 1929, in exchange for Eric Pettinger.

Owen played five seasons with the Bruins, pairing on defense with players including Lionel Hitchman and Eddie Shore, and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1929.

Legend has it Owen was the first player to don a helmet in an NHL game, wearing the same leather helmet that he had worn when playing college football.

He died of a stroke in Milton, Massachusetts in 1986.