Nanticoke’s own: Harold “Baldy” Cotton

A news article in which Harold Cotton is mentioned.

By Karen Richardson

To The Haldimand Press

NANTICOKE—William Harold “Baldy” Cotton was born in Nanticoke on November 5, 1902. His father, Rev. Thomas Cotton, was minister of the Anglican Church at that time.

Cotton’s early hockey career began when he played his Junior Hockey with the Parkdale Canoe Club in 1919. The following season he played with the Toronto Maitlands. In 1921 he played for Aura Lee Juniors.

He then moved to Pittsburgh to attend Duquesne University. While at university he played for the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets. After he finished school, he signed with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925, playing for the club for four seasons.

Midway through the 1928-29 season, Baldy was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his first full season with the Leafs, he recorded a career-high 38 points. Cotton was a left winger who was extremely competitive. His skills at penalty killing earned him a top spot on the Leaf’s defensive line.

Cotton won his only Stanley Cup playing for the Maple Leafs in 1931-32, when they defeated the New York Rangers three games to none. In 1935 he was sold to the New York Americans and played for two more seasons until he retired in 1937. During his NHL career, Cotton played 500 NHL games, scoring 101 goals and 204 points.