Jim Neilson

James Anthony Neilson (November 28 1941 – November 6, 2020), Big River, Saskatchewan) was a National Hockey League defenceman for the New York Rangers, California Golden Seals and Cleveland Barons and completed his career in the World Hockey Association.

Total games played in the NHL, 1023 with 69 goals and 299 assists. He played from 1962–63 season to 1977–78 season in the NHL and 1978–79 in the WHA.

Neilson played junior hockey with the Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1958 to 1961. After a season (1961-62) with the Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League, Neilson became a regular with the New York Rangers in 1962-63. He played 12 solid seasons for the Rangers, making the second all star team in 1967-68.

In 1974 he was accquired by the California Seals. He played four seasons for them and their successors the Cleveland Barons. In 1978-79 Neilson ended his career with the WHA's Edmonton Oilers.

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Neilson at No. 42 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.

Neilson was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Neilson died on November 6, 2020.

Awards

 * 1961-62 EPHL Top Rookie