Bob Nicholson

Special Advisor & Alternate Governor, Hockey Operations

Bob Nicholson serves as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations and in his role works closely with ownership and hockey management. Bob also serves as Alternate Governor for the Edmonton Oilers and sits on the board of directors for OEG Sports & Entertainment. From 2019 to June 2023, Bob held the role of Chairman, Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club, devoting his energies to OEG's hockey franchises and growing sports businesses.

Nicholson was hired by the Katz Group on June 13, 2014, as Vice Chair of Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), a sports and entertainment company that manages the Katz Group's growing family of sports and entertainment assets, including the operation of Rogers Place, the home of the Edmonton Oilers since 2016-17.

He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair of OEG on April 24, 2016, bringing his exceptional skills as a motivator, team builder and leader to OEG. Working closely with Chairman and owner Daryl Katz, Nicholson was overseeing all aspects of operations including expansion of the group's sports and entertainment offerings, delivering outstanding fan experiences, securing major new sponsorships and events, and operating Rogers Place, North America's leading sports and entertainment venue.

Since joining OEG in 2014, Nicholson oversees the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club hockey operations, working closely with Ken Holland, Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager. He also serves as an Alternate Governor for the Edmonton Oilers on the NHL Board of Governors.

Nicholson joined the Oilers after a long and successful tenure with Hockey Canada, serving as the President and CEO from 1998 to 2014, where he oversaw all operations for competitions Canada participated in internationally, including the IIHF World Hockey Championships and Olympic Winter Games, and has overseen Canada winning 72 medals in international competition since 1990, 44 of which were gold, including seven Olympic gold medals.

Nicholson also served as the Senior Vice President of the Canadian Hockey Association from 1992 to 1998 and Vice President of Programs with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association from 1990 to 1991. He has been heavily involved with international hockey, serving on the International Ice Hockey Federation's Player Safety Committee and currently holds the position of Vice President of the International Ice Hockey Federation which he was re-elected to in May 2016.

Before joining Canada's national hockey body, Nicholson was Technical Director with the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association from 1979 to 1989. He was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. He played minor hockey and Junior A hockey in Penticton, helping the Penticton Broncos win the BCJHL and B.C.-Alberta championships, and also played NCAA hockey at Providence College in Rhode Island. Bob was awarded the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016 for his outstanding contribution to the game of hockey in Canada.

Nicholson was elected vice-president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in 2012, and has served on IIHF council in this capacity since then. He has served as chairman of several IIHF committees, including the development and coaching committee, the competition and inline committee and sat on the events and coaching committees as well.

Nicholson and wife Lorna have two daughters, Mandi and MJ, and one son, Grant.