Johnny Conick

A tribute to Conick and his talent appeared in this newspaper account from March of 1947. Courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator. Click to enlarge.

Johnny Conick
Known as the “Silver Fox,” Conick a big part of 1940s Tigers

One of Hamilton’s best-known hockey players in the 1940s turned down his chance to play professional hockey.

Born in Hamilton in 1917, Johnny Conick played for the Hamilton Tigers during the team’s glory years, highlighting his career as a member of the team that went to the Allan Cup final against Calgary in 1946.

As one of the best right-wingers to play in the OHA Senior league, Conick was offered a contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1943, but turned down the offer to play in the professional league.

Known as “The Silver Fox” due to his premature graying hair, Conick started with the Tigers in 1939 when it was still known as the Dofasco team. When the name changed to the Hamilton Tigers in 1942, Conick continued to lead the team while working fulltime at Dofasco.

Conick, shown here in 1959, remained a part of the Hamilton sports scene up to his untimely death in 1969. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator.

“He always gave you 100 percent,” noted Tiger coach George Redding. “In 10 years we won seven league championships and Johnny was always one of the mainstays.”

Fomer OHA secretary Bill Hanley was also complimentary about Conick’s career:
“I never saw anyone who could score as consistently with a shot about three inches off the ice,” said Hanley in 1969. “He rarely missed when breaking in from his right wing.”

Playing on the line with Claire Shillington and Dillon Brady for the Tigers, Conick had been in the game since his school days, when he was attending Prince of Wales school in 1930. He was also a baseball player of note, and coached in the Big Four League.

Conick left the Tigers in 1950, but did not stay away from the game. He coached the Grimsby Peach Kings starting late in 1952. He also was a brewery rep locally and was an auto salesman.

Ironically, Conick died while playing hockey, collapsing during a pickup game with some friends in Burlington in February of 1969 at age 52.

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