Jimmy Chappell
Encyclopedia
James William Chappell (March 25, 1915 – April 3, 1973) also known as Jim Chappell and Jimmy Chappell, is a former ice hockey
player who mainly played in the English National League
(ENL). However, he is best remembered for playing for the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won the gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics
. He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
in England
, Chappell's family emigrated to Canada
when he was 10-years-old. He learned to play ice hockey while living in Ontario
where he progressed through the junior
ranks to play with the Oshawa Collegiates and the Whitby Intermediates between 1931 and 1934.
for their inaugural season in the ENL. He stayed with Earls Court for three seasons before joining the Fife Flyers
in Scotland
for their inaugural season in 1938–39. He again joined a club for their inaugural season when he joined the Dunfermline Vikings for the 1939–40 season. After World War II
— in which he took part in the D-Day landings at Normandy
— Chappell joined the Brighton Tigers
for the 1946–47 season staying with them until he retired following the 1948–49 season.
Chappell also played for the GB national team in the 1937 and 1938 World Championships
. In the 1937 championships he helped the team to silver medal and, as the highest placed European team, the gold medal in the European Championships at the tournament. In the 1938 championships he again helped the team to silver medal.
In 1948, Chappell again appeared for the GB national team at the Olympics
held in Switzerland
when the team finished in sixth place.
. He then returned with his family to Canada where he was successful in business before he died suddenly while on holiday in Pinellas County
, Florida
in 1976.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who mainly played in the English National League
English National League
For the current league see English National Ice Hockey LeagueThe English National League was an early ice hockey league in England. It was founded in 1935 by most of the teams who had previously competed in the English League. It was suspended during the Second World War, but returned in 1946...
(ENL). However, he is best remembered for playing for the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won the gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics
1936 Winter Olympics
The 1936 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1936 in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Germany also hosted the Summer Olympics the same year in Berlin...
. He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Career
Although born in HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Chappell's family emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
when he was 10-years-old. He learned to play ice hockey while living in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
where he progressed through the junior
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
ranks to play with the Oshawa Collegiates and the Whitby Intermediates between 1931 and 1934.
Club
Chappell returned to England in 1935 when he joined the Earls Court RangersEarls Court Rangers
Earls Court Rangers were an early English ice hockey team that played in the English National League. They were formed in 1935 and disbanded in 1953. They played their home games at the Earls Court Arena in west London, England.-References:*...
for their inaugural season in the ENL. He stayed with Earls Court for three seasons before joining the Fife Flyers
Fife Flyers
The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for their inaugural season in 1938–39. He again joined a club for their inaugural season when he joined the Dunfermline Vikings for the 1939–40 season. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
— in which he took part in the D-Day landings at Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
— Chappell joined the Brighton Tigers
Brighton Tigers
The Brighton Tigers were an English ice hockey club based in Brighton. The team existed from 1935 until 1965 and were one of the United Kingdom's most successful sides during that period...
for the 1946–47 season staying with them until he retired following the 1948–49 season.
International
Chappell played for the GB national team at the 1936 Winter Olympics, where he scored two goals in the six games he played and helped the team to win the gold medal.Chappell also played for the GB national team in the 1937 and 1938 World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
. In the 1937 championships he helped the team to silver medal and, as the highest placed European team, the gold medal in the European Championships at the tournament. In the 1938 championships he again helped the team to silver medal.
In 1948, Chappell again appeared for the GB national team at the Olympics
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
held in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
when the team finished in sixth place.
Retirement
After retiring from ice hockey, Chappell continued to contribute to the game for a while as a refereeOfficial (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
. He then returned with his family to Canada where he was successful in business before he died suddenly while on holiday in Pinellas County
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1976.
Awards and honours
- OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalist in 1936. - World ChampionshipIce Hockey World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
silver medalist in 1937 and 1938. - European ChampionshipIce Hockey World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
gold medalist in 1937. - Inducted to the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.