Hickey Nicholson
Encyclopedia
John Ivan "Hickey" Nicholson (September 9, 1911 – November 22, 1956) was a professional ice hockey
player who played two games in the National Hockey League
. Born Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
, he played with the Chicago Black Hawks
.
Hockey - Major John Ivan "Hickey" Nicholson
Inducted Date:Jul 18, 1976
Inducted By: Gordon S. Storey (1975)
John Ivan "Hickey" Nicholson was born on September 9, 1912 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. He learned the basics of hockey while a student at West Kent School before beginning his career with the Intermediate Victorias of the Island Hockey League in the 1920s. In the 1930s, he moved on to the Charlottetown Abbies, playing on a line with the late Walter Lawlor [inducted 1978] and John Squarebriggs [inducted 2005]. "Hickey" was the darling of the Abbies much like the late George "Chick" Gallant [inducted 1981] was for Summerside Crystals. He was the drawing card for the Abby and Crystal games before the formation of the Original Big Four Hockey League. When that league was formed, he was one of only a handful of Maritimers to make the grade, as 95% of the players were imports. "Hickey" was then a linemate of the late Jackie Kane and Pete Kelly, two of the most famous imports to play with the Abbies.
In the season of 1936-37, "Hickey" Nicholson displayed his talents in England where he was with the Harringay Racers in the London area. The next season saw him turn professional with the Kansas City Greyhounds of the American Hockey Association. An article written in the Kansas City paper said of Nicholson, "For a beginner, he has greater polish that any first year man in the American Hockey Association. He takes a regular turn on the ice, is an excellent back-checker, a good smart stick-handler who can make plays. "Hickey" possesses all the attributes of greatness in a hockey player. The Referees Association voted "Hickey" the best major league prospect." Before the 1937-38 season concluded, he was called up by the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League. He scored a goal in his very first game with the Hawks against the Boston Bruins on February 5, 1938, making him the first native Prince Edward Islander to score a goal in the N.H.L. He was back with the Kansas City Club in 1938-39 because the price tag put on him by Kansas City was too high. He had the ability but Chicago didn't have the money – a situation rarely encountered in today’s N.H.L. He scored 16 goals and added 35 assists for a season's total of 51 points. In 1939-40, his points totalled 28, comprising 14 goal and the same number of assists.
"Hickey" Nicholson quit professional hockey in 1940 to join the Canadian Army, where rose to the rank of Major. While serving in the European Conflict, he was awarded the Military Cross for Bravery. His last hockey performances were with the Canadian Army Team of the Halifax City league.
John Ivan “Hickey” Nicholson died in Charlottetown on November 22, 1956. Truly worthy of recognition, he was posthumously inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame.
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 played two games in the National Hockey League
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...
. Born Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, he played with the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.
Hockey - Major John Ivan "Hickey" Nicholson
Inducted Date:Jul 18, 1976
Inducted By: Gordon S. Storey (1975)
John Ivan "Hickey" Nicholson was born on September 9, 1912 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. He learned the basics of hockey while a student at West Kent School before beginning his career with the Intermediate Victorias of the Island Hockey League in the 1920s. In the 1930s, he moved on to the Charlottetown Abbies, playing on a line with the late Walter Lawlor [inducted 1978] and John Squarebriggs [inducted 2005]. "Hickey" was the darling of the Abbies much like the late George "Chick" Gallant [inducted 1981] was for Summerside Crystals. He was the drawing card for the Abby and Crystal games before the formation of the Original Big Four Hockey League. When that league was formed, he was one of only a handful of Maritimers to make the grade, as 95% of the players were imports. "Hickey" was then a linemate of the late Jackie Kane and Pete Kelly, two of the most famous imports to play with the Abbies.
In the season of 1936-37, "Hickey" Nicholson displayed his talents in England where he was with the Harringay Racers in the London area. The next season saw him turn professional with the Kansas City Greyhounds of the American Hockey Association. An article written in the Kansas City paper said of Nicholson, "For a beginner, he has greater polish that any first year man in the American Hockey Association. He takes a regular turn on the ice, is an excellent back-checker, a good smart stick-handler who can make plays. "Hickey" possesses all the attributes of greatness in a hockey player. The Referees Association voted "Hickey" the best major league prospect." Before the 1937-38 season concluded, he was called up by the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League. He scored a goal in his very first game with the Hawks against the Boston Bruins on February 5, 1938, making him the first native Prince Edward Islander to score a goal in the N.H.L. He was back with the Kansas City Club in 1938-39 because the price tag put on him by Kansas City was too high. He had the ability but Chicago didn't have the money – a situation rarely encountered in today’s N.H.L. He scored 16 goals and added 35 assists for a season's total of 51 points. In 1939-40, his points totalled 28, comprising 14 goal and the same number of assists.
"Hickey" Nicholson quit professional hockey in 1940 to join the Canadian Army, where rose to the rank of Major. While serving in the European Conflict, he was awarded the Military Cross for Bravery. His last hockey performances were with the Canadian Army Team of the Halifax City league.
John Ivan “Hickey” Nicholson died in Charlottetown on November 22, 1956. Truly worthy of recognition, he was posthumously inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame.