Bob Nicholson
Category: Builder
Induction Year: 2004
Bob Nicholson’s hockey roots can be traced back to Penticton, where he played his minor and junior A hockey. His play in junior earned him a scholarship at Providence, where he was a teammate of former Vancouver Canucks’ president and general manager Brian Burke.
After four years at Providence, Nicholson took his game from the ice to the office, as he accepted a position with the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association. For almost a quarter-century, he worked behind the scenes with the BCAHA and then at the national level, directly involved in developing national programs and overseeing our international teams.
The 20 gold medals won by Canada during Bob¹s era are a testament to his leadership. Nicholson added the double gold — won by Canada’s men’s and women’s teams at the Salt Lake Olympics – ranked as a highlight of his career. “It¹s pretty hard to top double gold, as it had never been done before at the Olympics. It was also very special because there were millions of Canadians watching that were able to celebrate and be proud of our country,” said Nicholson in a recent interview.