Alex McKinnon
Encyclopedia
Robert Alexander McKinnon (April 17, 1895 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
– October 8, 1949) was a Canadian professional ice hockey
forward
who played 5 seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Hamilton Tigers, New York Americans
and Chicago Black Hawks
in the 1920s.
After serving his country for two years during World War I
, McKinnon joined the Sudbury Wolves
of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
, with whom he had played a few games over three seasons prior to his tour with the army. In 1923–24 he joined the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
of the United States Amateur Hockey Association, and he made his NHL debut in 1924–25 with the Hamilton Tigers. In that season, he scored eight goals with three assists, mostly while playing defence.
The Hamilton franchise moved prior to the 1925–26 season, becoming the New York Americans
. McKinnon moved with the team, and played with them for three seasons. He was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks
for the 1928–29 season in exchange for Charley McVeigh. He played one season for Chicago, and subsequently retired from playing to become a coach for the Sudbury Wolves.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
– October 8, 1949) was a Canadian professional 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...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
who played 5 seasons 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...
for the Hamilton Tigers, New York Americans
New York Americans
The New York Americans were a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League and the second to play in the United States. The team never won the Stanley Cup, but reached the semifinals...
and 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...
in the 1920s.
After serving his country for two years during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, McKinnon joined the Sudbury Wolves
Sudbury Wolves
The Sudbury Wolves are the name of the ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World...
of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is minor and junior level ice hockey governing body. The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The major league run by the NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League...
, with whom he had played a few games over three seasons prior to his tour with the army. In 1923–24 he joined the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
The Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets was an amateur hockey team that existed between . They evolved from being an amateur to a semi-pro team and are one the earliest sports organizations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Yellow Jackets played primarily in the United States Amateur Hockey Association...
of the United States Amateur Hockey Association, and he made his NHL debut in 1924–25 with the Hamilton Tigers. In that season, he scored eight goals with three assists, mostly while playing defence.
The Hamilton franchise moved prior to the 1925–26 season, becoming the New York Americans
New York Americans
The New York Americans were a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League and the second to play in the United States. The team never won the Stanley Cup, but reached the semifinals...
. McKinnon moved with the team, and played with them for three seasons. He was traded to 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...
for the 1928–29 season in exchange for Charley McVeigh. He played one season for Chicago, and subsequently retired from playing to become a coach for the Sudbury Wolves.