Jack Kilpatrick
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Kilpatrick (7 July 1917 – 18 December 1989), also known as Jack Kilpatrick, was an ice hockey
player who played in the English National League
(ENL). He also played for the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won the gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics
(see Ice hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics
). He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
near Liverpool
, he learned to play ice hockey in Canada
. Kilpatrick played in the 1935–36 and 1936–37 seasons for the Wembley Lions
as a checking
forward
getting limited ice time.
At just 18-years-old Kilpatrick was selected to play of the GB national team in the 1936 Winter Olympics. He only played in GB's opening game against Sweden
, which GB won 1–0. However, this was enough to earn him a gold medal when GB went on to win the tournament. This made Kilpatrick Britain's youngest Winter Olympic gold medallist at the time.
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 in 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...
(ENL). He also played for the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won the gold medal 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:...
). He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Career
Although Kilpatrick was born in BootleBootle
Bootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England, and a 'Post town' in the L postcode area. Formally known as Bootle-cum-Linacre, the town is 4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640.Historically part of...
near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, he learned to play ice hockey 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...
. Kilpatrick played in the 1935–36 and 1936–37 seasons for 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...
as a checking
Checking (ice hockey)
Checking in ice hockey is any one of a number of defensive techniques. It is usually not a penalty.- Types :There are various types of checking:...
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...
getting limited ice time.
At just 18-years-old Kilpatrick was selected to play of the GB national team in the 1936 Winter Olympics. He only played in GB's opening game against Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, which GB won 1–0. However, this was enough to earn him a gold medal when GB went on to win the tournament. This made Kilpatrick Britain's youngest Winter Olympic gold medallist at the time.
Awards
- OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalist in 1936. - Inducted to the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.