B.J. Seaman, D.K. Seaman And Harley Hotchkiss
D.K. (Doc) Seaman, B.J. Seaman, and Harley Hotchkiss played an instrumental role in bringing NHL hockey to Calgary in 1980 by acquiring and moving the Atlanta Flames Hockey Team to Alberta. The team became the Calgary Flames and the men were majority owners. The three men have also made an incredible contribution to grass-roots hockey in Alberta and Canada.
In 1980, they created Project 75 - named to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Province of Alberta. Since 1980, Project 75 has generated nearly $10 million dollars and has contributed more than $4 million dollars directly to grass-roots player development, coaching development and training for officials. Project 75 also enabled Hockey Canada to move its Head Office from Ottawa to Calgary.
Project 75 established and supported the Hockey Canada Centre for Excellence in Calgary. Four more Centres of Excellence have opened across the country in Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Hundreds of thousands of young hockey players are the beneficiaries. All of the Centres of Excellence have earned recognition for the work they have done with young hockey players in Canada.
Project 75 presents the annual Lanny McDonald Hockey Award Scholarship to a male player at the University of Calgary, along with scholarships in the names of all three men - all of which are anonymous donations that are matched by them personally.
The men have also played an integral role in the development of the Saddledome Foundation which each year puts money back into amateur sports in Calgary. No other pro team or pro team owners match this type of contribution.
Harley Hotchkiss was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, as a builder, in 2006. He and D.K. (Doc) Seaman were appointed as Officers of the Order of Canada – Seaman in 1993, and Hotchkiss in 1998.
After Induction
May 2010 – “Project 75” has generated over 13 million dollars and has already contributed more than 6 million dollars.
“Project 75” is now called the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation.
Harley Hotchkiss
1998 – Alberta Order of Excellence
2010 – Harley Hotchkiss received the Gordon Juckes Award (contribution to the development of amateur hockey in Canada at the national level).
2010 – Hotchkiss was promoted to “Companion” in the Order of Canada.
D.K. “Doc” Seaman
1992 – Officer of the Order of Canada
1997 – Canadian Oilman’s Hall of Fame
2004 – Calgary Business Hall of Fame
2007 – Alberta Sports Hall of Fame
2008 – Alberta Order of Excellence
2010 - Doc Seaman – Hockey Hall of Fame (and the archives where named the D.K. (Doc) Seaman Hockey Resource Centre in his honour
2012 – Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman passed away - January 11, 2009 at age 86
Harley Hotchkiss passed away - June 22, 2011 (b. July 10, 1927)
Byron J. (BJ) Seaman passed away April 24, 2021 at 97 years old.
