The original Hall of Fame citation in 1951 stated, “Floyd Snider is without doubt one of the greatest defencemen ever to play in Scottish hockey and if proof were needed, the fact that he has never once been overlooked for All Star honours in five successive years should be sufficient.”
Floyd Snider was born in Kingston Ontario and grew up on near by Wolfe Island, and from about the age of seven was a 'hockey rat' at Queens University arena. He began playing competitive ice hockey at the age of twelve moving through the ranks to play for the Kingston Vics before he crossed the Atlantic aged twenty-two.
Arriving in Scotland he joined the Fife Flyers in the Scottish National League, a virtually professional circuit, for the first post WW2 campaign in 1946. He remained with the Kirkcaldy club, with the exception of one winter, through to the spring of 1954.
A rushing defenceman, his personal points totals never fell below 58 through his All Star seasons with the Flyers. In the 1948/49 Scottish Autumn Cup campaign, he finished third highest scorer for the Flyers and ninth overall with 20 goals and 47 assists for 67 points as the Fife club scooped both the Scottish National League and Scottish Autumn Cup titles. The following season, as the Flyers retained their league crown and won the Canada Cup, Floyd Snider tallied an impressive 95 points for the fourth highest total on the team.
Known as a wily defenceman with a skilful poke check, away from the ice he enjoyed playing golf and was considered by his team mates to be well mannered and something of a sharp dresser – a trait, which no doubt stood him in good stead on the dance floor.
The year after his fifth successive All Star selection, to the 1950/51 ‘B’ team following two straight ‘A’ team selections, his points production dropped off. After taking a year off from the sport, he returned to the Flyers line-up for what was his final season in Scottish hockey and coincidentally, the final Scottish National League campaign prior to the league joining forces with their counterparts in England to form the British National League.
In total, Floyd Snider iced seven seasons with the Fife Flyers and recorded statistics in official competitions totalling:- GP 334* Goals 132 Assists 287 Pts 419 PIM 502
* This games played figure does not include the 1946/47 season for which totals are not available.
Floyd Snider died on February 12th, 1976, after which his widow, Grace, a lass from Kirkcaldy returned to Scotland with their son and daughter.
Researched and compiled by Martin C.Harris – July 2000.
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