Ernie Hicke
| Ernie Hicke | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
November 7, 1947 Regina, SK, CAN | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Oakland Seals Atlanta Flames New York Islanders Minnesota North Stars Los Angeles Kings | ||
| Playing career | 1963–1980 | ||
Ernest Allan "Bubble" Hicke (born November 7, 1947 in Regina, Saskatchewan) is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.
Hicke started his National Hockey League career with the Oakland Seals in 1970. He also played for the Atlanta Flames, New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings. He left the NHL after the 1978 season, and retired from hockey altogether after 1980.
Hicke's hockey career began with the Regina Pats, where he played junior hockey. After 5 years, Hicke's first professional appearance was with the Houston Apollos of the CPHL. In Hicke's first three professional seasons, he scored 45 goals and 63 assists in 139 games. Hicke's National Hockey League career started with the Oakland Seals in 1970, where he joined his older brother, Bill. With the Seals, Hicke played 146 games, producing 33 goals and 37 assists. Hicke 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 from hockey after 1980.
Hicke went on to coach the California North Stars, a San Francisco Bay Area youth hockey team, with his son Shane. They enjoyed many years of success until a financial problem left the team without a home rink. After a year of splitting practice between two rinks, Hicke quit and relocated to Las Vegas, where he founded the Nevada Stars. His son Shane is still coaching for the Stars 18AAA. Hicke is the former head coach, and general manager of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.He currently coaches the DYHA Jr. Sundevils U14 A team in Tempe, Arizona. The Jr. Sundevils team he coaches has won 5 championships in a row the 2015-16 season.