Johnny Coward
| Johnny Coward | |
|---|---|
| Red | |
| Died | 1989 |
Johnny Coward was a hockey left winger and builder who won an Olympic gold medal with Great Britain and served as a local sports administrator in Fort Frances. Johnny Coward was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as an athlete.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Johnny Coward was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 28 September 1991 in the athlete category for hockey, representing Fort Frances.[1]
Career
Growing up in Fort Frances, Ontario during the 1920s, Coward developed his skills in Hockey and began a career that spanned four decades. Throughout the 1930s, he competed for several local squads, including the Fort Frances Cadets, Fort Frances Tigers, Fort Frances Vics, and Fort Frances Quakers. His early playing career also took him to the United States, where he suited up for the Duluth Hornets and the Minneapolis Millers.[1]
In 1935, Coward moved to Great Britain to join the Richmond Hawks at the invitation of coach Percy Nicklin, a former teammate from Fort Frances. Because Coward was born in Great Britain, he was eligible to try out for the national team. He earned a roster spot and served as a notable left winger recognized for his defensive contributions and back-checking abilities. During the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, he helped the Great Britain squad capture the Olympic gold medal, which also secured the World and European titles.[1]
Coward remained with the Richmond Hawks for two additional seasons before returning to Northwestern Ontario to play for the Fort Frances Maple Leafs in Senior Hockey. During World War II, specifically from 1940 to 1945, he was stationed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he played for the Canadian Army hockey team.[1]
Following his playing days, Coward became a prominent figure in the development of the sport in his home community. He coached Minor Hockey teams and contributed to local infrastructure as a member of the management board for the Community Memorial Arena. Additionally, he represented the town within the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association, maintaining his involvement in the game until the 1960s.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Won the Olympic gold medal in hockey at the 1936 Winter Olympics
- Captured the World Hockey Championship title in 1936
- Won the European Hockey Championship in 1936
- Played professionally and at the senior level in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain
- Served on the management board of the Community Memorial Arena in Fort Frances
- Represented Fort Frances on the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association board[1]
Associates
- Percy Nicklin, former teammate and coach[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Johnny Coward", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/495ea098-409a-47f1-b775-292482b9779e (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.