Jerry Wilson (ice hockey)

Jerold Joseph Wilson (April 10, 1937 — March 22, 2011) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and physician. Wilson played three games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1956–57 season. His son, Carey Wilson, also played in the NHL, and his grandson Colin was most recently a member of the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL.

Jerry Wilson
Born (1937-04-10)April 10, 1937
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Died March 22, 2011(2011-03-22) (aged 73)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Center
Caught Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Minneapolis Millers (IHL)
Playing career 1956–1960

Credited with recruiting Swedish hockey stars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson to the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, Wilson is said to be the man most responsible for pioneering the arrival of European hockey players to North America.[1] He later worked as the team doctor for the Jets and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He died on March 22, 2011, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1]

Hockey career

Wilson played three games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1956–57 season. He mainly played in the minor leagues, and retired in 1960.

Post-playing career

Wilson retired from hockey as a result of injuries to his shoulders and knees. He then enrolled in pre-medical courses at the University of Manitoba, also coaching their hockey team.[2] Specializing in orthopedics, Wilson was given a grant in 1973 to study the subject, along with physical education, at an institute in Stockholm, Sweden. As part of his research Wilson would study the physiology of hockey players, specifically their heart and lung conditioning.[3] As a result, he was asked by the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association to watch out for any notable Swedish hockey players.[2] In Stockholm one of Wilson's interns was Anders Hedberg, a hockey player, and he also tested Ulf Nilsson.[3] Wilson informed the Jets of both Hedberg and Nilsson in 1974, and they would join the team that year.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1951–52 Winnipeg Canadians MAHA 201271919 —————
1952–53 Winnipeg Canadians WJrHL ————— —————
1953–54 St. Boniface Canadiens MJHL 3112162850 10681419
1953–54 St. Boniface Canadiens M-Cup ————— 82354
1954–55 St. Boniface Canadiens MJHL 3135326759 —————
1955–56 Montreal Junior Canadiens M-Cup ————— 1034710
1956–57 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30002 —————
1956–57 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens OHA 249192847 —————
1956–57 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens QSHL 1255108 —————
1956–57 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens EOHL 141081813 —————
1956–57 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens M-Cup ————— 30000
1959–60 Minneapolis Millers IHL 20332 —————
NHL totals 30002 —————

References
  1. Sinclair, Jr., Gordon (March 23, 2011). "Prominent hockey supporter dies at 73". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  2. Kirbyson, Geoff (2016). The Hot Line: How The Legendary Trio of Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson Transformed Hockey and Led the Winnipeg Jets to Greatness. Winnipeg: Great Plains Publications. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-927855-65-2.
  3. Kirbyson. The Hot Line. p. 33.
  4. Kirbyson. The Hot Line. p. 34.
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