Bullet Joe Simpson

Who was Bullet Joe Simpson?

Harold Edward Joseph "Bullet Joe, Joe" Simpson was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Edmonton Eskimos and New York Americans.

He was born in Selkirk, Manitoba and died in Coral Gables, Florida. Simpson was nicknamed "Bullet" because of very fast skating ability.

Simpson started his career in the Canadian west. He learned the sport of ice hockey on a frozen slough, near his house, during the early 1900s. As Bullet Joe once stated, Manitoba Avenue ran east and west in the middle of Selkirk. The boys living in the north end were the northern team and those south of Manitoba Avenue made up the southern team.

After graduating from the Selkirk Fishermen Juniors, Simpson played senior ice hockey with the Winnipeg Victorias of the NHA in 1914–15.

Prior to enlisting in the Canadian Army for World War I he captained the 1916 Allan Cup Champions 61st Battalion Team of Winnipeg. During the war he served with the 43rd Cameron Highlanders and his unit held part of the British front alongside a battalion commanded by Major Winston Churchill. Bullet Joe was wounded twice during the war, once at the Battle of the Somme, and once at Amiens. He received the Medal of Military Valour.