Rod Davidson

2022 Honouree – Builder, Hockey

Rod Davidson was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia in 1947, but has called Brantford home since his family moved here in 1951. He developed a deep love for hockey at a young age and started out by playing on outdoor ice rinks. He went on to play Junior Hockey with the Paris Mounties and later played Senior Hockey on various teams in Ontario. He was also very influential in the start-up and success of the Oldtimers Hockey League, and has organized and played in tournaments around the world.

Davidson’s professional hockey career began in 1992 when he was asked to watch players during tryouts for the Brantford Smoke of the Colonial Hockey League. What was to be a short term assignment turned into the role of Assistant Coach and Director of Player Personnel for their 1992-1993 season; his first major achievement in the sport as the team went on to win the Colonial Cup that year.

From there, Davidson quickly shifted his career focus towards professional hockey and never looked back. His roles varied and include the following:

• General Manager, Utica Bulldogs 1993/1994, American Hockey League (AHL)
• Scout, Denver and Utah Grizzles 1994 to 1997, International Hockey League (IHL) affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche, National Hockey League (NHL)
• Assistant Coach, Tallahassee Tigersharks 1997/1998, East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)
• Head Coach Head of Hockey Operations, Alexandria Warthogs 1998/1999, Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL)
• Head Coach Head of Hockey Operations, Indianapolis Ice 1999 to 2002, Central Hockey League (CHL)
• Head Coach, Anchorage Aces 2002/2003, West Coast Hockey League (WCHL)
• League Commissioner, 2009 to 2011, All American Hockey League (AAHL) 
• Head Coach, 2012 to 2014, Battle Creek Revolution, North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL)
• Head Coach, 2019, Danville Dashers, Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
• Head Coach, Binghamton Black Bears, Federal Prospects Hockey Leauge (FPHL)

Davidson’s career highlights include:

• In 2010, the trophy awarded to the All American Hockey League (AAHL) champion was named the Davidson Cup in his honour for being an instrumental part of the league through coaching, management and as commissioner.
• Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations, Indianapolis Ice, 2000 Ray Miron President’s Cup, Central Hockey League (CHL).
• Scout, Utah Grizzlies, 1996 Turner Cup Champions, International Hockey League (IHL).
• Scout, Denver Grizzlies, 1995 Turner Cup Champions, International Hockey League (IHL).
• Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel, Brantford Smoke, 1993 Colonial Cup Champions, Colonial Hockey League (CoHL).

Over his long career, he has also mentored countless young, aspiring hockey players, providing them with free advice and acting as an Agent on their behalf. No matter the time of year, Rod Davidson will undoubtedly have at least one phone conversation a day centered on hockey with one of the connections he has made over his long and distinguished career and is fondly remembered by many friends in the communities he’s worked in as “Coach Rod.”