Daniel Smith Cox (hockey player)
| Daniel Smith Cox | |
|---|---|
| Danny | |
| Born | 1903 Little Current, Ontario |
| Died | 1983 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | 1912–1926; 1942–1983 |
Daniel Smith Cox (1903–1983) was a professional hockey player and coach who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League and later served as a prominent official and baseball organizer in Northwestern Ontario. Daniel Smith Cox was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 as an athlete.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Daniel Smith Cox was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 1 October 1983 in the athlete category for hockey and baseball, representing Port Arthur.[1]
Career
Born in Little Current, Daniel Smith Cox moved to the Lakehead with his family in 1912. He developed his Hockey skills on the outdoor rinks of Port Arthur, competing in local church and junior circuits. He eventually joined the Port Arthur Seniors, where he contributed to consecutive Allan Cup championships in the 1924-25 and 1925-26 seasons.[1]
His professional career commenced with the Hamilton Tigers at the start of the 1926-27 season. He soon reached the National Hockey League, joining the Toronto St. Pats. He remained with the franchise when they were renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1927. During the 1929-30 season, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Frank Nighbor. When the Senators paused operations for the 1931-32 season, he played on loan for the Detroit Falcons. He returned to Ottawa for the 1932-33 campaign and concluded his NHL career with the New York Rangers in 1933-34. Over 319 games in the league, he recorded 47 goals and 49 assists while playing as a left winger, centre, and defenceman.[1]
Following his time in the NHL, he moved to the United States to serve as a playing coach for several teams. His tenure included roles with the Minneapolis Millers, Philadelphia Ramblers, Seattle Seahawks, Wichita Skyhawks, Seattle Olympics, and Philadelphia Rockets. He retired from active play in 1942 and returned to the Lakehead region.[1]
Back in Port Arthur, he coached the Port Arthur Shipbuilders senior team during the 1942-43 season. He transitioned into officiating, acting as the Referee-in-Chief for the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association. In this role, he officiated three Allan Cup finals, two Memorial Cup championships, and seven Western Canada Allan Cup finals. He was also a founding member of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
During the summer, he was a fixture in local Baseball. He played for the PASCO's, Port Arthur Elks, Garrison Club, and the Old Timers, and served as a player-manager for the Port Arthur Grads. He was a versatile athlete on the diamond, appearing as a Pitcher, home plate player, first baseman, and Outfielder. In 1964, he became the Chief Umpire Consultant for the local Little League district.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (1912–1926; 1942–1983) rests on the following dated evidence. He moved to Port Arthur in 1912, played for local teams until joining a Hamilton team in 1926, then returned in 1942 and remained active in the community until his death in 1983.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Won back-to-back Allan Cup titles with the Port Arthur Seniors in 1924-25 and 1925-26
- Played 319 games in the National Hockey League over eight seasons
- Recorded 96 total points in the NHL as a versatile forward and defenceman
- Served as a playing coach for six different professional teams in the United States
- Officiated multiple national championships including the Memorial Cup and Allan Cup
- Served as Referee-in-Chief for the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association
- Acted as Chief Umpire Consultant for regional Little League baseball starting in 1964[1]
- Possibly the same as Dan Cox; the name matches, but too little is shared to merge the pages.
- Possibly the same as Daniel Smith Cox; the name is identical, but too little is shared to merge the pages.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Daniel Smith Cox", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/d0b654ac-5221-4369-bc24-28b0ac86dac8 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.