USA Hockey Magazine

October 2020

Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1290632

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 23 of 55

22 // OCTOBER 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM He also lived out another Olympic dream serving as the head coach of the 2018 Men's Team that came within a goal of reaching the semifinals. "When you're able to sit down and think about it, it goes back to the same thing, how lucky I was to have hockey be such a big part of my life and have so many tremendous experiences because of it," he said. Jenny Potter Growing up on the frozen ponds and municipal rinks in Edina, Minn., Jenny Potter never gave much thought about a future that would include appearances in four Olympic Winter Games, 10 World Championships or becoming the seventh female to be enshrined into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. She was having too much fun. "For all the people that have actually had the opportunity to play outside during the winter and play pickup hockey, it's freedom. That's where I truly got to love the sport," Potter recalled. S h e c a r r i e d t h a t p a s s i o n f o r t h e g a m e o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f a record-setting career that allowed her to be one of three U.S. wom- en's players to compete in four Olympics (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010) while netting 32 career points, which is tops in U.S. history and second in the Olympic record books. She began her career with the U.S. Women's National Team pro- gram in 1997 and at the age of 19 helped the U.S. win the first gold medal in women's Olympic ice hockey. Playing with that team, which was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, inspired a generation of young girls, including many who won gold in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018. "We really did something historic," Potter said. "From that moment we built the foundation to the future of girls' hockey and inspired them to be great and know that there are opportunities to reach for." Potter 's impact extended beyond the international stage. Her collegiate career included All-American honors in each of her four seasons, multiple conference awards and an NCAA title in 2003. On the professional stage, Potter played four years for the Minnesota Whitecaps and took home MVP honors during a 2009 WWHL championship run. Potter and her husband Rob are developing the next generation of players at their summer hockey school and with the Northeastern Wisconsin Junior Gamblers program. She has also coached high school hockey in Minnesota and at the collegiate level at Trinity College and Ohio State University. Jerry York A f t e r 4 8 y e a r s i n c o a c h i n g , y o u c o u l d n 't b l a m e Je r r y Yo r k f o r t a k i n g a p e e k ove r his shoulder and looking back at what he's accomplished in the game. But that's not how the Watertown, Mass., native became the winningest coach in college hockey history. "To me, it's kind of like golf. You have to let that last shot go and concentrate on the next one, whether it was a great shot or you flubbed it," York said prior to the start of his 27th season at Boston College. "I've always looked forward to the next challenge or the next face off." York has rightfully earned the praise that comes with a career coaching mark of 1,091- 658-122, more tournament wins than any other coach and five national championships. He has coached three Hobey Baker Award winners and 18 NHL first- round draft picks. As the win totals grew and the players and coaches he helped moved on to bigger and better things, the accolades kept on coming, from his entrance into the Boston College and Bowling Green State University halls of fame to his 2018 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He was the recipient of the 2010 Lester Patrick Trophy and the 1976-77 Spencer Penrose Trophy. But for York, it's the people he's influenced along the way, starting in 1972 at Clarkson University through his 15 years at Bowling Green and continuing at Boston College, where he was also a star player from 1963-67. "It's the people you meet along the way rather than did we win this game or lose that game," York said. " Whether it's the nine athletic directors who are part of the family and you have to work with them and solve problems and move on. And, some of the players I've had along with some terrific assistant coaches. I'd never try to name them here because I'd probably forget some, but I'll make sure that I name them when I go to the induction ceremony." P JENNY POTTER IS ONE OF ONLY THREE U.S. WOMEN TO COMPETE IN FOUR OLYMPICS. JERRY YORK'S 48-YEAR COLLEGE COACHING CAREER INCLUDES FIVE NCAA TITLES, INCLUDING FOUR WITH BOSTON COLLEGE. PHOTOS BY USA Hockey Magazine Archives

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of USA Hockey Magazine - October 2020