George Gillett Jr., former Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool owner, dies at 87

George Gillett Jr., the former majority owner of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and co-owner of Liverpool FC, has died at the age of 87. While a specific cause of death was not provided, reports indicate he had been battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Gillett owned the Montreal Canadiens and the Bell Centre from 2001 until 2009, when he sold the franchise and arena to the Molson family. During his tenure, he oversaw significant milestones, including the renaming of the Molson Centre to the Bell Centre and preparations for the team’s centennial season. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised his commitment to the Montreal community and his guidance through a significant chapter in the franchise's history.

Between 2007 and 2010, Gillett also co-owned the English Premier League club Liverpool FC alongside Tom Hicks. His tenure at Liverpool was marked by significant financial controversy and fan protests due to the club's heavy debt load, though the team achieved a second-place Premier League finish during that period. Beyond sports, Gillett was the founder of Brook Creek Management Corp. and held interests in the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and the Harlem Globetrotters.