Emil Iverson was the first European-born Chicago Blackhawks head coach in 1932 (Copenhagen, Denmark) and John became the second approximately 13 years later.
He was the second European-born captain of a cup-winning team in the league's history (Scotland-born Charlie Gardiner was the first in 1934).
He was also with Chicago in 1961, as Director of Public Relations, when the Black Hawks won their third Stanley Cup.
Gottselig was born along the banks of Dnieper River in a tiny German Catholic village of Klosterdorf in the Swedish district in the Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire and emigrated to Canada the same year.
[citation needed] He played junior hockey with the Regina Pats before joining Chicago.