Ernie Hicke

Ernest Allan Hicke (born November 7, 1947) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Oakland Seals, Atlanta Flames, New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings.

Ernie Hicke
Born (1947-11-07) November 7, 1947 (age 76)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
PositionLeft wing
ShotLeft
Played forOakland Seals
Atlanta Flames
New York Islanders
Minnesota North Stars
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career1963–1980

He left the NHL after the 1978 season, then retired as an active player at end of the 1980 season.

Playing career

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Hicke's hockey career began with the Regina Pats, where he played junior hockey. After five years, Hicke's first professional appearance was with the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League (CHL). In Hicke's first three professional seasons, he scored 45 goals and 63 assists in 139 games. Originally a member of the Montreal Canadiens organization, Hicke was traded to the Oakland Seals in the deal that included the draft pick the Canadiens used to draft Guy Lafleur.[1] Hicke's NHL career started with the Seals in 1970, where he joined his older brother, Bill, and played 146 games, producing 33 goals and 37 assists. He was then claimed in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft by the Atlanta Flames. After a single season in Atlanta, he was traded to the Flames' expansion partners, the New York Islanders. Hicke played 76 games with New York, but only managed to score 21 points for the team, the worst scoring slump of his career. Hicke's production improved after being traded to the Minnesota North Stars, with 68 goals and 53 assists. After four seasons with the North Stars, Hicke was signed by the Los Angeles Kings. He left the NHL after the 1978 season and went to play for the CHL's Dallas Black Hawks. Hicke ended his hockey career with another 8 goals and 24 assists, before he retired as a player after the 1980 season.

Post-playing career

Hicke went on to coach the California North Stars, a San Francisco Bay Area youth hockey team, with his son Shane.[2] Hicke is the former head coach, and general manager of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.[3] He served as a coach the DYHA Jr. Sundevils U14 A team in Tempe, Arizona in 2016–17.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1963–64Regina PatsSJHL41101626221911112244
1964–65Regina PatsSJHL48122234951205528
1965–66Regina PatsSJHL513962101151536910
1966–67Regina PatsCMJHL553766103184167121960
1967–68Houston ApollosCHL67162036142
1968–69Houston ApollosCHL7229437214630007
1969–70Salt Lake Golden EaglesWHL6529265583
1970–71California Golden SealsNHL7822254762
1971–72California Golden SealsNHL6811122355
1972–73Atlanta FlamesNHL5814233737
1972–73New York IslandersNHL10000
1973–74New York IslandersNHL55671326
1974–75New York IslandersNHL2026840
1974–75Minnesota North StarsNHL4215132851
1975–76Minnesota North StarsNHL8023194277
1976–77Minnesota North StarsNHL773020504121010
1977–78Los Angeles KingsNHL419152418
1977–78Binghamton DustersAHL21618246
1977–78Springfield IndiansAHL70112
1978–79Dallas Black HawksCHL398243269
1979–80Dallas Black HawksCHL7211263767
NHL totals52013214027240721010

References