Ernie Hicke

Ernest Allan Hicke (born November 7, 1947) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Oakland Seals, Atlanta Flames, New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings.

He left the NHL after the 1978 season, then retired as an active player at end of the 1980 season.

Playing career Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Hicke's hockey career began with the Regina Pats, where he played junior hockey. After five years, Hicke's first professional appearance was with the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League (CHL). In Hicke's first three professional seasons, he scored 45 goals and 63 assists in 139 games. Originally a member of the Montreal Canadiens organization, Hicke was traded to the Oakland Seals in the deal that included the draft pick the Canadiens used to draft Guy Lafleur. Hicke's NHL career started with the Seals in 1970, where he joined his older brother, Bill, and played 146 games, producing 33 goals and 37 assists. He was then claimed in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft by the Atlanta Flames. After a single season in Atlanta, he was traded to the Flames' expansion partners, the New York Islanders. Hicke played 76 games with New York, but only managed to score 21 points for the team, the worst scoring slump of his career. Hicke's production improved after being traded to the Minnesota North Stars, with 68 goals and 53 assists. After four seasons with the North Stars, Hicke was signed by the Los Angeles Kings. He left the NHL after the 1978 season and went to play for the CHL's Dallas Black Hawks. Hicke ended his hockey career with another 8 goals and 24 assists, before he retired as a player after the 1980 season.

Post-playing career Hicke went on to coach the California North Stars, a San Francisco Bay Area youth hockey team, with his son Shane. Hicke is the former head coach, and general manager of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. He served as a coach the DYHA Jr. Sundevils U14 A team in Tempe, Arizona in 2016–17.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1963–64 Regina Pats SJHL 41 10 16 26 22 19 11 11 22 44 1964–65 Regina Pats SJHL 48 12 22 34 95 12 0 5 5 28 1965–66 Regina Pats SJHL 51 39 62 101 151 5 3 6 9 10 1966–67 Regina Pats CMJHL 55 37 66 103 184 16 7 12 19 60 1967–68 Houston Apollos CHL 67 16 20 36 142 — — — — — 1968–69 Houston Apollos CHL 72 29 43 72 146 3 0 0 0 7 1969–70 Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL 65 29 26 55 83 — — — — — 1970–71 California Golden Seals NHL 78 22 25 47 62 — — — — — 1971–72 California Golden Seals NHL 68 11 12 23 55 — — — — — 1972–73 Atlanta Flames NHL 58 14 23 37 37 — — — — — 1972–73 New York Islanders NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1973–74 New York Islanders NHL 55 6 7 13 26 — — — — — 1974–75 New York Islanders NHL 20 2 6 8 40 — — — — — 1974–75 Minnesota North Stars NHL 42 15 13 28 51 — — — — — 1975–76 Minnesota North Stars NHL 80 23 19 42 77 — — — — — 1976–77 Minnesota North Stars NHL 77 30 20 50 41 2 1 0 1 0 1977–78 Los Angeles Kings NHL 41 9 15 24 18 — — — — — 1977–78 Binghamton Dusters AHL 21 6 18 24 6 — — — — — 1977–78 Springfield Indians AHL 7 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 1978–79 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 39 8 24 32 69 — — — — — 1979–80 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 72 11 26 37 67 — — — — — NHL totals 520 132 140 272 407 2 1 0 1 0