| Gord Hannigan | |
| |
| Position | Centre |
| Shoots | Left |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 163 lb (74 kg) |
| Teams | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Nationality |  Canadian
|
| Born | January 19, 1929, Schumacher, ON, CAN |
| Died | November 16, 1966 (aged 37), |
| Pro Career | 1951 – 1958 |
John Gordon Hannigan (January 19, 1929 in Schumacher, Ontario – November 16, 1966) was a professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League.
Playing career[]
Hannigan played junior hockey for the St. Michael's Majors and the Toronto Marlboros from 1947- to 1950.
He played for the major amateur Toronto St Michaels Monarchs as a 155 pound, fast-skating left winger in 1951. He worked out with Toronto for the first time in February 1949, along with Tim Horton. The two college players were allowed to play in the NHL but not in the Ontario Hockey Association, because of a strange rule. The OHA refused to permit Hannigan and Horton to play for the Toronto Marlboros, a Maple Leafs affiliate. Leafs' President Conn Smythe did not like the ruling but granted the junior players a trial after four of his team's forwards were injured. In October 1953, Hannigan sustained a rib injury in practice and was out of the Maple Leafs lineup for three weeks.
Hannigan played for the Leafs from 1953 to 1956, with brief spells in the minors with the Pittsburgh Hornets.
He was purchased by Edmonton from Toronto in October 1957. He played the previous season for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. Hannigan's first game for the Flyers was against the Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals. He replaced Johnny Utendale, a rookie who had a sprained ankle.
Jack Perrin, President of the Winnipeg Warriors (1955-1961), made overtures to buy Hannigan from the Maple Leafs in September 1957. However, Hannigan told him that he would only consider an offer from Edmonton, if he could not play for Toronto.
He retired in 1958. In the NHL he played in 161 games, scoring 29 goals and 31 assists.
His brothers were Pat and Ray Hannigan.