Copyright The Boston Globe
Legendary former Boston University coach Jack Parker, introduced by Lou Lamoriello, rolled back the clock to his first job behind a hockey bench, coaching one season at Medford High after only a weeks-long dalliance in the banking business. Parker said he quickly became “obsessed” with coaching at Medford, and returned to BU as an assistant the following season. Parker, who became BU’s coach at age 27, credited his twin brother, Bob, who passed away in April, for convincing him in their youth that hockey was a better sport than basketball. “Christmas came, and I got a basketball and a pair of sneakers,” recalled Parker. “And Bob got a brand new pair of hockey skates. He got a Northland hockey stick and he got a Gordie Howe game shirt with No. 9 on the back and the Winged Wheel on the front. And I’m looking underneath the tree, thinking to myself, ‘I’m in the wrong sport.’ ” Parker wrapped up his acceptance speech with a poem he learned decades earlier from ex-BU coach Jack Kelley, his mentor on Comm. Ave. and, said Parker, “no question, the most important person in my life … other than my family.” Advertisement “In tribute to my former coach, I’d like to give you a little of his poem,” said Parker. “The old man approached the Pearly Gates, his face was scarred and old. ‘What have you done,’ St. Peter said, ‘to get acceptance to the fold?’ ‘On earth, I was a hockey coach,’ the old man sheepishly replied. With that, the gates swung open wide and the angels rang the bell. ‘Come on in,’ St. Peter said, ‘you’ve already had your share of hell.’ ” A joyous Joe Thornton, who choked up with emotion frequently during his 10-minute speech, noted his first couple of years in Boston “were quite difficult.” However, he grew to love the city in the years before he was dealt to San Jose, and particularly enjoyed his relationship with the club’s alumni. Advertisement “Bobby Orr … Wayne Cashman … Gerry Cheevers … Ken Hodge … Derek Sanderson and Tommy Johnson,” noted Thornton. “Everyone was just so kind to me. They golfed with me, had lunch with me … taught me how to be a man.” Earlier in the evening, in a brief appearance at the podium, league commissioner Gary Bettman errantly referred to “Dumbo Joe” instead of Jumbo Joe Thornton. He quickly corrected the faux pas. Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com.
