John Held

John Held

Born in Hamilton in 1954, John moved to Brampton with his family at the age of three.  It was at the age of eight when he decided to try playing house league hockey in the Brampton Minor Hockey Association.  Enjoying success with his newfound sport, John played representative hockey from Minor PeeWee to Midget in the Brampton Minor Hockey Association.

In 1971 John moved to London to play Major Jr. “A” hockey for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey Association. John was a 4th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. In 1974 the Calgary Cowboys of the World Hockey Association drafted him in the 6th round.

John was successful in winning the Allan Cup, emblematic of Canadian Senior “A” hockey supremacy, three times in his hockey career.  In 1976, he won the Cup with the Brantford Alexanders, and again in 1981 with the Petrolia Squires.  In 1987, playing with the likes of Don Edwards, Rocky Saganiuk and Stan Jonathan, John’s team the Brantford Motts, won the Allan Cup once again.  From 1973 to 1977, while on five different Ontario teams, John played exciting international exhibition hockey against touring teams from the former USSR.

John’s athleticism carried through to other sports as well, and this was evident with his involvement playing representative lacrosse in the Brampton Minor Lacrosse Association from the ages of 14 to 16.  Another sport John enjoyed playing was football, and although his high school days included after school football games, his dedication was to hockey and he eagerly pursued this passion.

Today, John plays hockey in an Oldtimers League in London, Ontario. He also plays with the London Fire Department in the National Fireman’s League. John’s son Ryan plays Jr. “A” hockey for the Kitchener Rangers, and in 1997 he was a draft pick of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.

Inducted November 23, 1983