{"id":47770,"date":"2012-12-29T17:57:53","date_gmt":"2012-12-29T23:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=47770"},"modified":"2013-01-31T21:21:36","modified_gmt":"2013-02-01T03:21:36","slug":"the-legend-becomes-the-leader-a-retrospective-on-boston-college-coach-jerry-yorks-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2012\/12\/29\/the-legend-becomes-the-leader-a-retrospective-on-boston-college-coach-jerry-yorks-career\/","title":{"rendered":"The legend becomes the leader: A retrospective on Boston College coach Jerry York’s career"},"content":{"rendered":"
There probably isn’t anyone on the 1972-73 University of Quebec men’s hockey team who remembers being on the wrong end of a 13-0 loss against Clarkson. Same goes for the 1996-97 St. Lawrence team that lost to Boston College 6-4.<\/p>\n
That, though, won’t be said for the Boston University team that fell to BC 5-2 on Dec. 1. Or for the Alabama-Huntsville team that lost 5-2 to the Eagles on Saturday at the Mariucci Classic.<\/p>\n
[scg_html_york925]All of those teams are now strung together by a common bond: being victims of major milestone victories for Boston College coach Jerry York, who in early December beat rival Boston University to tie the all-time wins mark held by Ron Mason of 924 wins. It took 27 days before the Eagles earned their next win, thanks to a Providence team that scored with 10.5 seconds left in regulation on Dec. 7 to earn a 3-3 tie right before the holiday break.<\/p>\n
But Saturday’s win over Alabama-Huntsville ended a long wait, even if it was somewhat unceremonious (and as you’ll read, that’s just how York likes it). Win No. 925 is his, making York the king of college hockey coaches.<\/p>\n
It was Quebec that provided York’s first win as he began his coaching career at Clarkson. (Games against teams that now would be considered exhibition foes then counted toward a team’s record.) St. Lawrence was York’s 500th victim. And for the 923 other victories, there are plenty of stories, memories and laughs to fill a full novel.<\/p>\n
Here, though, we’ll keep it simple as we take a retrospective look at one of college hockey’s legends.<\/p>\n
York likely will be most remembered for his legacy at Boston College, including six Hockey East regular season titles, nine league postseason titles, 12 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 Frozen Fours, seven national title game appearances and, of course, four national titles.<\/p>\n
“It’s hard for people to believe this because he’s been around for so long, he’s been so successful and he’s won so many games, but I still don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.”<\/p>\n
— Boston University coach Jack Parker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But it was humble beginnings at Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y., that started this legendary coaching career.<\/p>\n
In seven years, things didn’t exactly come easy for York and his club. The apex at Clarkson came in 1977 when York’s club captured the ECAC championship. Little did anyone know that the hardware and championship ring would be the first of many.<\/p>\n
Deciding to take a step forward in 1979, York headed to the CCHA to coach what he hoped would become an upstart Bowling Green team. After two seasons of building the program, York won three straight CCHA titles in 1982, ’83 and ’84.<\/p>\n
It was that ’84 team that, of course, will stand out in York’s mind. That was York’s first NCAA champion, a team he continually references as the “blueprint” for every future team.<\/p>\n
That blueprint has manifested itself most at York’s alma mater, where he took over a program in turmoil in 1994. The rest, as they say, is history, all of which has made him a hometown legend.<\/p>\n
York is easily recognizable on the Boston sports scene. Despite the town featuring names like Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick, Stanley Cup champion coach Claude Julien and NBA champion coach Doc Rivers, York, with four national titles since 2001, has all three trumped in the ring department. You’d never know that, though, by following him around on a daily basis.<\/p>\n