LA Kings Legends Show Support for College Coach, 2019 Hall-of-Famer Jerry York
- Updated: November 18, 2019
Photo credit: Reuters
TORONTO — It is a wonderful spectacle every November for the world of hockey.
We can debate who should or should not have made it in until we’re blue in the face but regardless of the specifics, induction night at the Hockey Hall of Fame is a one-of-a-kind night — like the Academy Awards without the hardware.
Of this year’s inductees, though, one man is celebrating his rightful place in hockey’s Holy shrine after 46 years of service to the game.
Photo credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Jerry York made his mark on the game of hockey coaching in the U.S. collegiate ranks, beginning his career in 1970 at Clarkson University before moving onto Bowling Green State University and then Boston College where he is now in his 26th season.
Of the countless future NHLers Jerry York has developed, though, two in attendance for Monday night’s induction ceremony were former Los Angeles Kings players, nay, legends: Dave Taylor and Rob Blake.
Having played for York at Clarkson from 1973 to 1977, Dave Taylor spoke about his collegiate coach.
“I’m very pleased to see him going in,” Taylor said. “Very deserving.”
Photo credit: clarksonathletics.com
In addition, Taylor also reflected on fellow 2019 inductee, Vaclav Nedomansky.
While he may be most famous as the first-ever player to leave a Communist country — his native Czechoslovakia — to play in the National Hockey League, Nedomansky remained in hockey following his playing career. To Taylor, while he was an opponent on the ice, Nedomansky was a colleague as the new Hall-of-Famer served as a scout for the Los Angeles Kings.
“Vaclav Nedomansky, with the Kings, he scouted with us for 15 years,” Taylor continued. “I’ve had a very good relationship with him. He’s also well-deserved and maybe a little overdue, but it’s nice to see him get in.”
Under Jerry York, Taylor would score 98 goals and 251 points in his four seasons at Clarkson. Taylor would then be drafted into the NHL in 1975.
Photo credit: collegehockeyinc.com
Despite not being drafted until the 15th round (210th overall), Taylor, a native of Levack, Ont., would quickly establish himself as a leader with the Kings, spending his entire 17-year career with the franchise, serving as captain for four of those.
As for Rob Blake, he played under Jerry York at Bowling Green from 1987-90. During that time, the future Hall-of-Famer would register 39 goals and 104 points as a Falcon.
“We’re here for Jerry,” said Blake. “He coached [me] in college, so we wanted to make sure we were here to support him tonight.”
Like Taylor, Blake was a lower draft selection.
Taken in the fourth round (70th overall) by the Kings in 1988, Blake would take a somewhat-similar route with the Kings, serving seven totals as captain over two tours of duty in Los Angeles before ultimately joining hockey’s Holy shrine in 2014.
Photo credit: Getty Images File
Dave Taylor and Rob Blake were just two of many future Kings, future NHLers he helped develop in college, but Jerry York’s legacy on the game of hockey runs very deep. In fact, it will run forever after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
York, a native of Watertown, MA, goes down as just one of three NCAA coaches to win National Championships with two different schools. York is also the winningest coach in NCAA Hockey history.
On this weekend, though, on this night, Jerry York’s place in hockey immortality, regardless if its overdue or not, is extremely deserved and, in addition to Dave Taylor and Rob Blake, the amount of figures who can attest to this is simply too long to list — and rightfully so.
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