Art Hodgins
Encyclopedia
Arthur "Art" Hodgins also known as The Timmins Tiger and Husky Hodgins, was a Canadian
ice hockey
player who was born in Timmins
, Ontario
, Canada
of Irish
ancestry. He played mainly in the United Kingdom
and is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
, after answering an advertisement in a Timmins newspaper. At the end of his first season in Scotland
he was voted 'Rookie of the Year'. He played a second season for Paisley before being taken to England
by Harvey "Red" Stapleford
to join the Streatham Royals of the English National League
. In England he was again named 'Rookie of the Year' becoming the only player to receive he award on both sides of the border. Hodgins was the only player to be retained by Stapleford when he rebuilt Streatham in 1950 and at 23 was made Captain
. It was around this time that the NHL
's New York Rangers
tabled an offer of $7500 to sign Hodgins but he chose to stay with his best friend and mentor Red Stapleford at Streatham. He remained with Streatham until the rink closed its doors to ice hockey in 1954. He then joined the Harringay Racers
in the inaugural season of the British National League
.
After a short retirement due to sinus trouble Hodgins signed for the Nottingham Panthers
in 1959–60 after a brief spell with the Brighton Tigers
. In 1961 he was appointed player-coach
of the newly formed Altrincham Aces. He then went to play for Milan
in Italy
. It was in Milan where Hodgins earned his other nickname, "Il Leone" or "The Lion". During a game he received a stick to the face, shattering his nose, and left the ice for treatment. Convinced this was the last they would see of him the Milanese crowd were amazed to see him take to the ice minutes later to shore up the defence.
Hodgins returned to Britain when the Wembley Arena
re-opened its doors to hockey in 1963 with the Wembley Lions
. He finally retired when the Lions folded in 1968 a year after the birth of his son Richard.
Hodgins died in March 1988 in Nottingham
, England after losing his battle with lung cancer. He was elected posthumously into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who was born in Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
ancestry. He played mainly in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Career
Hodgins crossed the Atlantic in 1946 to play for the Paisley PiratesPaisley Pirates
The Paisley Pirates were founded in 1946 and are one of the oldest ice hockey clubs in Scotland and the UK . The Pirates were the epitome of the game in Scotland during the 1950s...
, after answering an advertisement in a Timmins newspaper. At the end of his first season in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
he was voted 'Rookie of the Year'. He played a second season for Paisley before being taken to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Harvey "Red" Stapleford
Harvey Stapleford
Harvey "Red" Stapleford is a former Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He played for Streatham between 1934 and 1938 before joining the Wembley Lions for the 1938–39 season. He returned to Streatham as player-coach in 1946. After retiring from playing, Stapleford remained as the coach for...
to join the Streatham Royals of the English National League
English National League
For the current league see English National Ice Hockey LeagueThe English National League was an early ice hockey league in England. It was founded in 1935 by most of the teams who had previously competed in the English League. It was suspended during the Second World War, but returned in 1946...
. In England he was again named 'Rookie of the Year' becoming the only player to receive he award on both sides of the border. Hodgins was the only player to be retained by Stapleford when he rebuilt Streatham in 1950 and at 23 was made Captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
. It was around this time that the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
tabled an offer of $7500 to sign Hodgins but he chose to stay with his best friend and mentor Red Stapleford at Streatham. He remained with Streatham until the rink closed its doors to ice hockey in 1954. He then joined the Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers was a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The side was founded in 1936 and initially played alongside Harringay Greyhounds at the Harringay Arena. Both sides entered the English National League, which Racers won in 1937/8. After a break during World War II, the...
in the inaugural season of the British National League
British National League (1954 - 1960)
The British National League was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1954 by the merger of the English National League and the Scottish National League, due to a declining number of teams, as many ice rinks previously fielding several sides chose to cut...
.
After a short retirement due to sinus trouble Hodgins signed for the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in 1959–60 after a brief spell with the Brighton Tigers
Brighton Tigers
The Brighton Tigers were an English ice hockey club based in Brighton. The team existed from 1935 until 1965 and were one of the United Kingdom's most successful sides during that period...
. In 1961 he was appointed player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
of the newly formed Altrincham Aces. He then went to play for Milan
Hockey Club Junior Milano Vipers
Hockey Club Junior Milano Vipers was an Italian professional ice hockey team from Milan. Founded in 1998 as Hockey Club Junior Milano, was renamed Vipers in 2000....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It was in Milan where Hodgins earned his other nickname, "Il Leone" or "The Lion". During a game he received a stick to the face, shattering his nose, and left the ice for treatment. Convinced this was the last they would see of him the Milanese crowd were amazed to see him take to the ice minutes later to shore up the defence.
Hodgins returned to Britain when the Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
re-opened its doors to hockey in 1963 with the Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions
The Wembley Lions were an English ice hockey team.The team were founded in 1934 but showed a continuity with the London Lions team which had played at various venues since 1924. The Wembley team were based at the newly built Empire Pool which they shared with the Wembley Monarchs until 1950.The...
. He finally retired when the Lions folded in 1968 a year after the birth of his son Richard.
Hodgins died in March 1988 in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England after losing his battle with lung cancer. He was elected posthumously into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.
Awards
- Named to the Scottish National LeagueScottish National League (1932 - 1954)The Scottish National League was the first ice hockey league in Scotland. It was founded in 1932 by five teams from a single ice rink in Glasgow. The league gradually expanded to encompass teams from many areas of Scotland. It was suspended during the Second World War, but returned in 1946, and...
All-star A Team in 1946–47 and 1947–48. - Named to the English National LeagueEnglish National LeagueFor the current league see English National Ice Hockey LeagueThe English National League was an early ice hockey league in England. It was founded in 1935 by most of the teams who had previously competed in the English League. It was suspended during the Second World War, but returned in 1946...
All-star A Team in 1948–49 and 1950–51. - Named to the English National League All-star B Team in 1951–52 and 1952–53.
- Named to the British National LeagueBritish National League (1954 - 1960)The British National League was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1954 by the merger of the English National League and the Scottish National League, due to a declining number of teams, as many ice rinks previously fielding several sides chose to cut...
All-star A Team in 1954–55. - Named to the British National League All-star B Team in 1959–60.
- Named to the Non League English 'Home' Tournament (All-star) A Team in 1963–64.
Career statistics
| All British competitions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
| 659 | 86 | 176 | 262 | 665 | |