Frank Fredrickson
Icelandic-Canadian centre who won Olympic gold and a Stanley Cup.
Frank Fredrickson was an Icelandic-Canadian ice hockey player and coach who contributed to both amateur and professional hockey in the early 20th century. He is notable for being the center of the Winnipeg Falcons, the Canadian team that won the first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey in 1920, and later helping the Victoria Cougars win the Stanley Cup in 1925.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 11
- Weight Lb
- 180
- Ntl Team
- Canada
- Birth Date
- 1895-06-03
- Birth Place
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Death Date
- 1979-05-28
- Played For
- Victoria Aristocrats / Victoria Cougars / Detroit Falcons / Boston Bruins / Pittsburgh Pirates
- Career Start
- 1913
- Career End
- 1932
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Fredrickson was born in Winnipeg to Icelandic immigrants and learned English at school. He attended Kelvin Technical Institute and Central Collegiate before studying law at the University of Manitoba, where he captained the hockey team. His playing career was interrupted by World War I; he enlisted in 1916, transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and survived the sinking of the SS Leasowe Castle by a German torpedo. After the war, he captained the Winnipeg Falcons to the 1920 Allan Cup and Olympic gold. Following the Olympics, he moved to Iceland to work for Flugfélag Íslands, the country's first airline, becoming the second man to pilot a plane in Iceland. He also set a national record in discus while there. Professionally, he played for the Victoria Cougars, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Falcons. He scored four goals in a single game for Boston in 1927. After retiring, he coached the Pittsburgh Pirates and later the Princeton University ice hockey team, where he befriended Albert Einstein, sharing an interest in the violin.
Reader's Guide
Fredrickson's significance lies in his dual achievements as an Olympic and Stanley Cup champion, a feat he shared with teammate Haldor Halderson, making them the first players to win both. He was a scoring champion in the PCHA and earned a reputation as a dynamic centre. His career was cut short by a knee injury in 1931. He later coached at the professional and collegiate levels. His induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958 recognized his contributions to the sport. He is also a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. His pioneering flight work in Iceland adds a unique dimension to his legacy, highlighting his versatility beyond hockey.
Did You Know?
- Fredrickson was the second man to pilot a plane in Iceland, on June 25, 1920.
- He set a national record in discus while in Iceland.
- He scored four goals in a single game for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1927.
- He was the highest-paid player in the NHL during the 1926–27 season, with a salary of $6,000.
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