The Timmins hockey community is in mourning after the death of Dan “Tixie” Hannigan. He ran Hannigan Sports inside the McIntyre Arena and was well known for his skate sharpening.
The Timmins Rock Jr. A Hockey Club posted a notice of his passing of the team’s Facebook page. Timmins Rock president Ted Gooch, said he will be dearly missed.
“We are very saddened to hear of the loss of Tixie Hannigan,” Gooch told TimminsToday. “Tixie was a fixture in the McIntyre Arena for many, many years.
“He was always very supportive of the Timmins Rock. Whenever we needed regular maintenance or if an emergency situation occurred during a game, he would always be there to help our team.”
He said Hannigan will also be missed by many on a personal level.
“Many of our players used his services over the years and enjoyed hearing of his hockey stories,” Gooch said. “He loved to talk hockey. He would always spend a few minutes catching up and discussing the team. I’ll definitely miss our chats.
“The Timmins Rock is grateful for all his assistance over the years and want to send his complete family our condolences.”
Hannigan was well known in Schumacher, where he was proudly from. He was an important part of the community.
“It is a sad day for Schumacher, Schumacher hockey, and most importantly the Hannigan family as we have lost a husband, father, grandfather, coach and mentor,” said Brian Getty, president of the Schumacher Day Minor Hockey Association.
He said Hannigan was involved in the formation of the organization.
“Tixie was a founding member of Schumacher Day Incorporated (incorporated in 1986), from which the Schumacher Day Minor Hockey Association subsequently evolved,” Getty said. “Schumacher Day was originally incorporated with the objective to sponsor and organize the annual Schumacher Day fastball tournament and use any of the profits from that tournament to sponsor and promote other sports in our community.”
As a person, Getty said Hannigan was looked up to by members of the community.
“It is unimaginable how many hockey players and coaches Tixie influenced in his lifetime,” he explained. “He was part of the coaching staff for decades in all three associations (the SDMHA, TMHA and PMHA) as well as high school hockey in recent years.”
He said Hannigan not only loved hockey, but being involved in the sport on multiple levels.
“When he wasn’t sharpening skates at the Mac, he was watching hockey at the Mac,” Getty said. “It did not matter what level or age group was on the ice, Tixie was watching and willing to provide a coach, player or parent with some sage advice.
“Simply put, Tixie was a ‘hockey guy.’”
He said Hannigan had turned skate sharpening into an art.
“There are generations of local hockey players who have only known the personal touch that Tixie used when sharpening skates,” he said. “Ask any player what they thought of a skate sharpening they may have needed while out of town at a tournament, and most will tell you ‘It wasn’t like Tixie sharpens them.’ He cared about his community and his customers.”
Getty noted that, like many others in Timmins, he will miss talking hockey with Hannigan.
“On a personal note, I absolutely loved talking about hockey and coaching our youth with Tixie,” he said. “I think I will miss those chats the most. He was a great man, who will be missed by many.”
In September 2019, Hannigan discussed his career in sports with TimminsToday. It was 1979 when he first began sharpening skates.
“It was just a part-time job when I started, because I used to get laid off in construction,” he said in an interview. “Then I took this up for the winter and it grew into a full-time business.”
It turned out to be the perfect job for someone who loved hockey.
“I played a little bit,” Hannigan said. “Everybody played hockey in the old days.
“I like watching the kids play and I like hockey. You look at the kids and you try to improve their game. So, when they come in to get their skates sharpened, I try to fix them up so they can do a little bit better.”
Hannigan Sports wasn’t always located inside the arena.
“I moved in here about 20 years ago,” he said. “I had a store on Father Costello Drive, and used to make up hockey sweaters — I done all the team uniforms.
“When they built the bypass, I downsized and got out. I started this. This (skate sharpening) was my number one anyways when I started out. Mass production came in (for uniforms), where I used to do everything hand cut.”
Hannigan not only loved hockey, but also cared deeply about the community. At his store in the arena, he collected funds to help out local organizations.
“I raised up my skate sharpening, to give a dollar to the poor,” he explained. “I put out a jar and when The Rock are playing, people will walk by and put money in.
“Last year, we gave $5,500 to the poor, through different agencies that need the money. This year, we’re aiming a little bit higher.”
The flag at the McIntyre Arena will be lowered for the next three days in his memory. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
