After more than 15 years as the top dog in Hockey Canada, President and CEO Bob Nicholson announced today that he is leaving the position. Nicholson will remain in his role until June 1st, and will remain as the Vice-President of the International Ice Hockey Federation going forward.
The 60-year-old made the announcement official today.
“I saw that gold had just gone up, so I thought it was the right time to make this announcement,” Nicholson joked.
Bob Nicholson’s tenure will be remembered for 44 gold medals in men’s, women’s and sledge hockey at various levels in the past 15-plus years.
When he took the role, just prior to the 1999 Hockey Summit, Hockey Success was at a low point in Canada as the country was in the midst of a slump at the time, failing to win a medal with the men’s team in the Nagano Olympics, winning silver with the Women’s team, and the world junior team was in a slump. Bob Nicholson was part of the leadership that turned things around and has seen the country go through a gold rush since.
Bob Nicholson though, wants his legacy to be about participation in the game by children. “I want it to be about kids, kids playing the game,” Nicholson said. “If we have a lot of kids playing the game, we’re going to win gold medals.”
“A great man who only wanted gold for Canada at every level,” said Gretzky to TSN’s Darren Dreger. “Took a program and made Hockey Canada very special, he will be dearly missed.”
“(He was ) instrumental in making Canada a powerhouse in Hockey as well as making Hockey Canada the Gold standard for national sport organizations,” added Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe, who worked with Nicholson on many occasions.
While Hockey Canada will conduct a full search for a replacement, it is expected that current COO Scott Smith is the frontrunner to replace Nicholson.
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