Born September 5th, 1914 in Barking Essex, Gerry Davey learnt to play hockey with the Elmwood Midgets in Port Arthur Canada after his family emigrated when he was a child.
He returned to these shores, aged 16, in 1931 with his mother and with the assistance of a London newspaper secured a place with the Princes club before moving to Streatham two years later after a short stint in Switzerland with Zurich.
Gerry Davey quickly impressed as a 5’8” fast skating right wing sniper and he was quickly called up for the national team, netting 7 of GB’s 11 goals in the 1932 European championships held in Berlin.
In the 1936 Olympic campaign, Davey fell ill, but got out of his sick bed for the game against Canada and scored in the opening minute. GB went on to win the game 2-1, a major step on the road to the gold medal.
Davey next spent two seasons in Scotland with the Falkirk Lions before joining the Canadian Navy for the war years, playing hockey in the Toro Services League. After the war, together with his English wife, he returned to play on defence for Streatham and finished the 47/48 season with the Wembley Lions. Davey then turned his hand to refereeing for a number of years, but included a short return to playing in the 49/50 season with the Streatham Royals in the Intermediate League.
Pre-war statistics are incomplete and it is not unreasonable to suggest that he scored more than the recorded 98 goals and 41 assists. From 1946 to 1948, Davey’s statistics read 73 goals and 34 assists for 107 points from 102 games with just 36 penalty minutes.
John Gerry Davey became the 4th inductee into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris - July 1988
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