Leon Abbott

Leon Hedley Abbott
Born	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey coach, athletic director
Years active	1959–1991
Known for	Head coach at Boston University, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence; athletic director at Mount Allison University; president of Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union

Leon Hedley Abbott is a former collegiate ice hockey coach, primarily recognized for his termination by Boston University just six games into the 1973–74 season due to breaches of NCAA eligibility regulations.

Career

Born in Edmonton and raised in Montreal, Abbott completed his secondary education at Montreal West High School before enrolling at McGill University from 1959 to 1964, where he participated in both ice hockey and football. Following graduation, he took on teaching and coaching roles in football and basketball at Percival High School located in Val-d'Or. Subsequently, Abbott spent three seasons as head coach at Macdonald College prior to his appointment as head coach at Rensselaer in 1969. After a challenging initial season, he guided the Engineers to back-to-back winning campaigns and qualifications for the ECAC tournament.

Abbott’s most prominent position arose in 1972 when he succeeded Jack Kelley as head coach at Boston University. The Terriers, fresh off consecutive National Championships, concluded that season with a 22-6-1 record under his leadership. However, during the offseason, the ECAC declared two players ineligible after discovering they had received minor expense payments while competing in Canadian junior hockey. With Abbott’s backing, these athletes contested the decision in federal court, which issued an injunction permitting their continued participation.

At a December 1973 ECAC rehearing, Abbott testified that although he did not instruct the players to falsify information regarding compensation, he also did not insist they fully disclose it. On December 22, 1973, BU athletic director Warren Schmakel dismissed Abbott, citing his knowledge of false statements made in affidavits without informing university officials—a situation that brought discredit to BU. Abbott maintained he was unfairly targeted amid efforts by the ECAC and NCAA to uphold eligibility standards and BU’s interest in avoiding sanctions. Assistant coach Jack Parker replaced him.

During the 1974–75 season, Abbott served as head coach and general manager of the Austin Mavericks. In 1975, he assumed the head coaching role at the University of Alberta for one year while Clare Drake was on leave to coach the Edmonton Oilers.

In 1976, Abbott accepted the head coaching position with the St. Lawrence program, aiming to revive its competitive standing. Over three seasons, his teams compiled a 28-59-2 record without qualifying for postseason play. After a disappointing start to his fourth season and a significant defeat against Clarkson on December 1, Abbott resigned from his post.

From 1980 until 1991, Abbott held the position of athletic director at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. Additionally, between 1988 and 1990, he was president of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union.

Head coaching record

{{CIH yearly record subhead |name = St. Lawrence Saints |color = color:white; background:#AF1E2D; |startyear = 1976 |conference = ECAC Hockey |endyear = 1979 |}

^BU forfeited 11 wins after the 1972–73 season due to an ineligible player. Without forfeits, record is 22-6-1 (13-4-1 ECAC).

†BU terminated Abbott on December 21, 1973; Jack Parker completed the season. BU attributes first six games of the 1973–74 season to Abbott, remainder to Parker.

‡Abbott stepped down mid-season.