Winnipeg Free Press
Gentleman trailblazer
Jim Neilson, one of the first Indigenous players in the NHL, made his mark over a 17-year career as an all-star defenceman who didn t have a mean bone in his body By: Geoff Kirbyson
Last Modified: 6:23 PM CST Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 | Updates
Jim Neilson preferred to think of himself as a solid stay-at-home defenceman rather than a trailblazer, but he was most definitely both.
Jim Neilson preferred to think of himself as a solid stay-at-home defenceman rather than a trailblazer, but he was most definitely both.
The veteran of 17 professional hockey seasons and one of the first Indigenous players to make the NHL, died in Winnipeg on Nov. 6 due to complications from a rare skin disorder. He would have turned 80 on Nov. 28.