Professional Hockey Player. He played at the position of Left Wing and Centre for five seasons (1952 to 1956) in the National Hockey League (or NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was born John Gordon "Gordie" Hannigan one of nine children (Robert William Hannigan was born in 1926, Raymond James "Ray" Hannigan was born in 1927, Mary Agnes Estelle "Babe" Hannigan was born in 1930, Bernard Joseph Hannigan was born in 1932, William David "Billy" Hannigan was born in 1932, Patrick Edward "Pat" Hannigan was born in 1936, Gregory Layton Hannigan was born in 1939, and Colleen Hannigan was born in 1943), to William Joseph Hannigan and Mary Katherine Estelle Sweeney Hannigan in Schumacher, Ontario. While growing up he developed a love of hockey as did his brothers. They even played on some of the same junior hockey teams. He played hockey first with the Schumacher Lions of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (or NOHA) for three seasons from 1945 to 1947. He then studied at the St. Michaels College School in Toronto, Ontario, and he began his professional hockey career by playing with the school's hockey team, the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey Association Juniors (or OHAJr) for two years from 1947 to 1948. With the St. Michaels Majors his total record includes 32 games played, 14 goals, 13 assists, 27 points, and 55 penalties in minutes. He also played with the Toronto Marlboros from 1949 to 1950 of the Ontario Hockey Association Seniors (or OHAsr) and the St. Michael's Monarchs of the Ontario Hockey Association Seniors (OHAsr) from 1950 to 1951. With the Toronto Marlboros he was partnered with and worked out with future National Hockey League player and coffee entrepreneur Tim Horton in 1949, and his hockey record consisted of some 25 games played, 6 points, 12 assists, 18 points, and 59 penalties in minutes. With the St. Michael's Monarchs he was seen as a powerful 155lbs player and a fast-skating left winger in 1951, and his hockey record consisted of some 40 games played, 28 goals, 26 assists, 54 points, and 4 penalties in minutes. Due to a strange rule at the time, the two hockey players who were in college were allowed to play in the National Hockey League (or NHL) but not with the Ontario Hockey Association's Toronto Marlboros (an affiliate of the National Hockey League) but they did anyway. The Ontario Hockey Association (or OHA) refused a permit to the two hockey players but Toronto Maple Leaf's President Conn Smythe who did not like the ruling granted the players a trial after four of his forwards were injured. He then played with the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League (or AHL) for five seasons (1951 to 1956). With the Pittsburgh Hornets, his regular hockey season record includes some 119 games played, 43 goals, 52 assists, 95 points, and 119 penalties in minutes, while his playoff hockey record includes 21 games played, 3 goals, 12 assists, 15 points, and 31 penalties in minutes. He then signed a contract and played with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (or NHL) for five seasons (1952 to 1956). During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was coached by the likes of Francis "King" Clancy and he played with such greats as Sid Smith, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Earl Balfour, and may others. In October of 1953, he was seriously injured when he sustained a rib injury during a practice and he was sidelined from gameplay for three weeks. His National Hockey League (or NHL) regular hockey season record includes some 161 games played, 29 goals, 31 assists, 60 points, and 117 penalties, while his playoff hockey record includes some 9 games played, 2 goals, 0 assists, 2 points, and 8 penalties in minutes. He also played with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (or AHL) for two seasons (1956 to 1957). With them he played in his first game when he replaced rookie Johnny Utendale who had sprained his ankle during a game against the Saskatoon/St. Paul Regals. His regular hockey season with the Rochester Americans includes some 64 games played, 21 goals, 40 assists, 61 points, and 111 penalties in minutes, while his playoff hockey record includes some 10 games played, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, and 37 penalties in minutes. He lastly played with the Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League (or WHL) for two seasons (1957 to 1958). His regular hockey season record for that team includes some 25 games played, 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, and 15 penalties in minutes. After his time with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Flyers, he retired from playing hockey following the 1958 season. After his retirement, he worked in the drive-inn and ice cream and restaurant business. On November 16, 1966, he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away at a hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, at the age of 37. He was survived by his wife of thirteen years and nine children. His brothers Pat Hannigan and Ray Hannigan also played professional hockey in the National Hockey League (or NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.