Jason La Rose
In the annals of Canadian para hockey history, few have left a more indelible mark on the game than Todd Nicholson.
So it is of little surprise that Nicholson will become the first para hockey player to earn induction into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
For 18 seasons, from 1992 to 2010, the native of Dunrobin, Ontario, was a member of Canada’s National Sledge Team (now known as Canada’s National Para Hockey Team). He wore the ‘C’ as captain for 13 of those seasons, concluding his playing career on home ice at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
His résumé includes a medal of each colour at the Paralympics – winning gold (2006), silver (1998) and bronze (1994) – and appearances on the Paralympic All-Star Team in 1998 and 2002. At Torino 2006, Nicholson proudly carried the Canadian flag into the Opening Ceremony, and then posted a goal and two assists in five games to help Canada to its first Paralympic gold.
He also won four medals in five appearances at the World Para Hockey Championship – two gold (2000, 2008) and two bronze (1996, 2009).
After the national team officially came under the Hockey Canada umbrella ahead of the 2004-05 season, Nicholson tallied 52 points (11 goals, 41 assists) in 83 games, and sits 15th in all-time Team Canada scoring.
While his on-ice career came to an end in Vancouver, Nicholson has remained committed to para sport in retirement.
From 2013 to 2017, he served as chair of the International ParalympicCommittee (IPC) Athletes’ Council, earning him a seat on the IPC Governing Board.
He was also IPC Athlete Representative to the International Olympic Committee, and played a role in the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London (2012), Sochi (2014), Rio de Janeiro (2016) and PyeongChang (2018).
Nicholson was front and centre at the 2018 Paralympics, serving as chef de mission and leading Canada to 28 medals in South Korea, eight of them gold. Following the Games, he was elected chair of the board of Own the Podium, serving in that role until 2023.
Among countless other accolades, Nicholson received the Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General in 2016 for his contributions to para sport, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
He was also inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, and into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2017.