Gord Hannigan
Encyclopedia
John Gordon Hannigan was a professional ice hockey
forward
who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs
in the National Hockey League
.
and centre
for the Toronto Maple Leafs
(1952-1956) of the NHL
, Pittsburgh Hornets (1951-1952), (1954-1955), (1955-1956) and Rochester Americans
(1956-1957) of the AHL
and the Edmonton Flyers
(1957-1958) of the WHL
.
He played for the St. Michael's College School
Monarchs as a 155 pound, fast-skating left winger, in 1951. He worked out with Toronto for the first time in February 1949, along with Tim Horton
. The two college players were allowed to play in the
NHL
but not in the Ontario Hockey Association
, because of a strange rule. The OHA refused to permit Hannigan and Horton to play for the Toronto Marlboros
, a Maple Leafs affiliate. Leafs' President Conn Smythe
did not like the ruling but granted the junior players a trial after four of his team's forwards were injured. In October 1953 Hannigan sustained a rib injury in practice and was out of the Maple Leafs lineup for three weeks.
He was purchased by Edmonton from Toronto in October 1957. He played the previous season for the Rochester Americans
of the
American Hockey League
. Hannigan's first game for the Flyers was against the Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals
. He replaced Johnny Utendale, a rookie who had a sprained ankle
.
Jack Perrin, President of the Winnipeg Warriors
(1955–1961), made overtures to buy Hannigan from the Maple Leafs in September 1957. However, Hannigan told him that he would only consider an offer from Edmonton, if he could not play for Toronto. His younger brother, Pat Hannigan
, played for Winnipeg in (1956–1957), the New Westminster Royals
(1957–1959), the Maple Leafs (1959–1960) and the New York Rangers
(1960–1962).
Gord Hannigan was a partner in a successful Edmonton ice cream business at the time of his acquisition by the Flyers. He also had other interests in the Alberta
city. He married Ann Mary Conboy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in August 1953.
Together they had nine children, before he had a tragic death of a heart attack.
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 for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
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...
.
Playing career
Hannigan was a left wingerWinger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
and centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1952-1956) of 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...
, Pittsburgh Hornets (1951-1952), (1954-1955), (1955-1956) and Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
(1956-1957) of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and the Edmonton Flyers
Edmonton Flyers
The Edmonton Flyers are a defunct ice hockey team that was based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The team existed from 1940 until 1963, playing in various senior and minor professional leagues during that time...
(1957-1958) of the WHL
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
.
He played for the St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
Monarchs as a 155 pound, fast-skating left winger, in 1951. He worked out with Toronto for the first time in February 1949, along with Tim Horton
Tim Horton
Myles Gilbert "Tim" Horton was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in 24 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. He was also a businessman and a co-founder of Tim Hortons. He died in an...
. The two college players were allowed to play in 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...
but not in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
, because of a strange rule. The OHA refused to permit Hannigan and Horton to play for the Toronto Marlboros
Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
, a Maple Leafs affiliate. Leafs' President Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
did not like the ruling but granted the junior players a trial after four of his team's forwards were injured. In October 1953 Hannigan sustained a rib injury in practice and was out of the Maple Leafs lineup for three weeks.
He was purchased by Edmonton from Toronto in October 1957. He played the previous season for the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
of the
American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. Hannigan's first game for the Flyers was against the Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals
Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals
The Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals were an ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League that existed for one season in 1957-58. The franchise split its home games between Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and St. Paul, Minnesota, USA....
. He replaced Johnny Utendale, a rookie who had a sprained ankle
Sprained ankle
A sprained ankle, also known as an ankle sprain, twisted ankle, rolled ankle, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn.-Cause:...
.
Jack Perrin, President of the Winnipeg Warriors
Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro)
The Winnipeg Warriors were a minor league hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1955 to 1961. Owned by Winnipeg's prominent Perrin family, the Warriors represented the return of professional hockey to Winnipeg after a 27 year absence. In 1955, the Warriors Club was the first...
(1955–1961), made overtures to buy Hannigan from the Maple Leafs in September 1957. However, Hannigan told him that he would only consider an offer from Edmonton, if he could not play for Toronto. His younger brother, Pat Hannigan
Pat Hannigan
Patrick Edward "Hopalong" Hannigan was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers...
, played for Winnipeg in (1956–1957), the New Westminster Royals
New Westminster Royals
The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911....
(1957–1959), the Maple Leafs (1959–1960) and the 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...
(1960–1962).
Gord Hannigan was a partner in a successful Edmonton ice cream business at the time of his acquisition by the Flyers. He also had other interests in the Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
city. He married Ann Mary Conboy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in August 1953.
Together they had nine children, before he had a tragic death of a heart attack.