The Nicholson Memorial Award is awarded annually to the Best Defensive Forward. A player excelling in the defensive part of the game and also chipping in on the offensive side.
History
John Ivan "Hickey" Nicholson was a left-winger who played a couple of regular season games for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1937-38. He was an accomplished senior player who also spent time in the American Hockey Association (AHA) and the British League. Was the first Islander to score a goal in the N.H.L.
The native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island played several years with the local Abegweits where he was a solid checker and occasional goal scorer. In 1935 he left for the United Kingdom and spent one year each with the Richmond Hawks and the Harringay Racers.
After scoring a goal in his two-game stint with the Chicago Black Hawks, Nicholson played three years with the Kansas City Greyhounds of the AHA. He scored 41 goals and played sound defence during his 142-game tenure. Nicholson retired but played a few matches in 1940-41 with the Halifax Army while serving his country.
