B.N.Sexton, as he was invariably referred to in the contemporary press, was born in 1892 and raised in Windsor, Nova Scotia.
Something of an all-rounder, he became a prominent member of the Windsor Swastikas hockey team with his one-man rushes, as well as a noted footballer and horseman. As well as playing ice hockey, he became highly instrumental in fostering awareness of the sport, not only in Britain, but in mainland Europe too. He joined the Canadian Army and, was posted to England in 1916 as an infantry officer during World War One. Twice wounded on active service in France, he transferred to the cavalry and went on to become the army sabre champion.
Returning to England after two years in Canada, where his English wife was not happy, he founded a canned food brokerage in London. Being qualified by British residence, he was selected to play defence for the Great Britain team that competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics winning a bronze medal. Amongst his personal highlights was a hat trick scored in a 19-3 demolition of Belgium.
Despite the absence of ice rinks in southern Britain, in the autumn of 1924, he founded the London Lions and took the team on many tours of Europe. The team, which comprised mainly expatriate Canadians, contested the final of the 1924/25 Coupe de Davos and made it through to the quarterfinals of the prestigious club tournament - the Spengler Cup.
The London Lions went on to win the first ever playoffs for the British League title, in May 1930, with Sexton scoring. A newspaper of the time reported the occasion thus, “Sexton at his very best as London Lions beat Glasgow 2-1 to win the Patton Cup.” The Lions also retained their club championship the following winter.
At the European Championships of January 1926 staged in Davos Switzerland, B.N.Sexton accounted for eight of Great Britain’s twenty-six goals, leading the French newspaper Le Mirror des Sports to report, “Sexton is the star. Wearing a white sunshade, he becomes a jockey and a cinema director. His way of effortless gliding whilst rolling his shoulders, his rapid turns, his tricks… ensures his success.”
The following month, February 1926, Sexton registered another personal hat trick against Belgium as Great Britain hit them for six in Paris. He was subsequently selected to represent Great Britain in the inaugural World Championships staged in 1930.
The last of his countless international appearances came in January 1932, and B.N.Sexton retired from playing aged 40 at the end of the 1932-33 season. Perhaps the last player to still use the ‘D’ or automobile bladed skates, Sexton was described in an English magazine that winter as being, “perhaps the greatest showman ice hockey has ever seen.” His retirement from the game also saw the demise of the London Lions, and he went on to become a successful businessman in the canning industry.
B.N.Sexton died in London on April 29th, 1966.
Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris – June 2000
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