Born in Hamilton Hospital and raised in Waterford, Norfolk County's Nelson Emerson played Junior "B" hockey for Stratford then four seasons at Bowling Green University, where he met his wife, June.

By the end of his university career, Nelson was the CCHA's all-time leading scorer,  and the first ever three-time finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. collegiate player.  He was the CCHA's Rookie of the Year in 1986-87 and won the CCHA championship the following year.

Drafted by St. Louis Blues in 1985, Nelson turned pro at the end of the 1989-90 season with International Hockey League's Peoria Rivermen.

In 1990-91, he won the Garry F.  Longman Trophy as IHL rookie of the year and was a First Team All-Star. In the playoffs, Nelson's Rivermen won the Turner Cup.

Nelson finished his rookie season as the fourth-leading scorer on the St. Louis Blues.  St. Louis traded Nelson to Winnipeg in Sept. 1993, and that season he led the Jets with five shorthanded goals, six game- winning goals, and 282 shots on goal.

Nelson was a member of Team Canada that won Gold at the 1994 World Championships. He was inducted into Bowling Green State University's Athletic Hall of Fame in September, 1995.

Acquired by Hartford in October, 1995, Nelson won the Whalers' 1995-96 True Grit Award.  In 1997-98, he led the Hurricanes with 203 shots on goal.

Nelson wore three different NHL jerseys during the 1998-99 season, scoring a total of 13 goals and 24 assists in 65 games for Carolina, Ottawa and Chicago. In Mar. 2000, the Los Angeles Kings acquired Nelson from the Thrashers, and he finished the season with 15 goals and 20 assists.  His 183 shots on goal with Atlanta were a team high.

Joining the Kings reunited Nelson with his college friend and the best man at his wedding, fellow Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition inductee, Rob Blake. But 11 months later the Kings traded Rob to Colorado.

Nelson, 34, suffered a season changing concussion Sept. 29, during a game against Rob Blake's Colorado Avalanche in the 2001-02 pre-season. The entire season playing was day-to-day, depending on how he is feeling.

He was not cleared to play again until Oct. 23. Nelson played approximately 11 minutes in each of the Kings' next five games.

During the Oct. 30 game against Ryan Vandenbussche's Chicago Blackhawks, Nelson spent nine minutes of the third period in the penalty box, five for fighting, and four for high sticking. The next day  the Kings returned Nelson to the injured reserve list, due to post- concussion syndrome. He missed 14 more games before being activated Dec. 7. 

Nelson got his first goal of the season Dec. 13, his second nine days later, Dec. 22, and his third (the game winner), Jan. 21. Nelson played 20 minutes of the Kings game against Rob Blake's Colorado Avalanche, Jan. 27, and notched his first assist of the season two days later against the same team.

Jan. 30 Nelson had his best game of the season, scoring a goal and an assist to win Third Star honors in 2-0 win over Dwayne Roloson and the Minnesota Wild. Nelson had earned 4 points in his last six games. Mar. 16 Nelson scored his fifth goal of the season.

Nelson missed the rest of the regular season and the first two games of the play-offs, but he picked the right time to return. Although his one shot missed the Avs' goal and he spent two minutes in the penalty box, Nelson played over 12 minutes in 21 shifts. His plus-minus play rated E as the Kings took the third game of the series 3-1.

Nelson had two shots on goal during his 10-plus minutes of play in 18 shifts during Apr. 23's game four, earning his second E rating of the play-offs. Unfortunately, the Avs played a +5 game to the Kings -5 effort, and Colorado won the goaltenders' battle, 1-0.
 
Game five ended when the Kings scored the first goal of the game in overtime. Nelson played 11.5 minutes in 20 shifts, earning his third E ratingof the play-offs. Los Aneles played a +10 game to Colorado's -10, as the Kings won Game 6, 3-1. It was Nelson's first +1 game of the series as he scored his first assist of the series.

Nelson played a solid Game 7, earning an E rating during 10.5-minutes of play in19 shifts, while his team as a whole was -21. Nelson was robbed of a goal half way through the second period when Patrick Roy got his right pad on Nelson's wrist shot. Colorado beat Los Angeles 4-0 to end the Kings' season, despite Nelson's solid play-off effort.

The L.A. Kings bought out the balance of Nelson's contract after the 2001-02 season, leaving him an unrestricted free agent.

Nelson was inducted into our Sport Hall in 2001.