Percy Nicklin
Encyclopedia
Percy Harold Nicklin was an ice hockey
coach
who is best known for putting together and coaching the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won gold at the 1936 Winter Olympics
(see Ice hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics
).
Nicklin had had a successful coaching career in Canada
with the Moncton Hawks
, leading them to Allan Cup
victories in 1933 and 1934. In 1935 he moved to England
where he coached for Richmond Hawks before taking up coaching duties for both Harringay Racers
and Harringay Greyhounds
.
In 1936, Nicklin, together with J.F. Ahearne, put together a Great Britain national team from players who had learned the game in Canada but who were qualified by birth to play for Great Britain. The team managed to win the gold medal, beating the favourites, Canada, along the way. Introducing more British players Nicklin coached the Great Britain to two European Championship
titles in 1937 and 1938.
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...
coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
who is best known for putting together and coaching the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won gold at the 1936 Winter Olympics
1936 Winter Olympics
The 1936 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1936 in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Germany also hosted the Summer Olympics the same year in Berlin...
(see Ice hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics
At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Great Britain won the men's ice hockey competition. While only one player on the team was born in Canada, nine of the thirteen players on the roster grew up in Canada, and eleven had played previously in Canada.-Medalists:...
).
Nicklin had had a successful coaching career in 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...
with the Moncton Hawks
Moncton Hawks
The Moncton Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1987 and 1994 operated as a minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum...
, leading them to Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
victories in 1933 and 1934. In 1935 he moved 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...
where he coached for Richmond Hawks before taking up coaching duties for both 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...
and Harringay Greyhounds
Harringay Greyhounds
Harringay Greyhounds were a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The side was founded in 1936 and initially played alongside Harringay Racers at the Harringay Arena. Both sides entered the English National League, which Greyhounds won in 1938/9 and again in 1939/40...
.
In 1936, Nicklin, together with J.F. Ahearne, put together a Great Britain national team from players who had learned the game in Canada but who were qualified by birth to play for Great Britain. The team managed to win the gold medal, beating the favourites, Canada, along the way. Introducing more British players Nicklin coached the Great Britain to two European Championship
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
titles in 1937 and 1938.