For any Bostonian with an oz of institutional hockey information, retired Boston College coach Jack Parker’s resume speaks for itself.
The one downside was, it wasn’t talking loudly sufficient, not less than not north of the border in Toronto the place the Hockey Corridor of Fame is.
Enter Bernie Corbett, a 3rd era BU Terrier (1983 grad and pupil group supervisor), voice of BU hockey for the previous 41 years, font of information and nice raconteur of the native sports activities scene. He would additionally turn out to be an indefatigable advocate for the long-time BU coach’s candidacy for the HHOF, which can come to fruition with Parker’s induction on Monday night time.
“I actually thought of it for some time after which I actually began to consider it when (Boston School teaching legend Jerry York) went in (in 2019). Jerry completely deserved to be in however Jack ought to be in, too,” mentioned Corbett. “I gave it a whole lot of thought and I knew of Jim Rice and (late statistician) Dick Bresciani of the Crimson Sox and he was actually the driving power to get Jim Rice’s candidacy heard and ultimately obtained him into Cooperstown.”
Drawing from that inspiration, Corbett tapped into his personal huge Rolodex within the hockey world and obtained in contact with a few people who find themselves on the HHOF committee, each of whom had been sympathetic to his trigger.
“One among them mentioned, ‘You make the case, you set all of it collectively and put it on paper, get it to me and I’ll ensure that it will get distributed to the folks on the committee.’ It was like making a case to the Supreme Courtroom of hockey.”
So Corbett went to work compiling his accomplishments – 897 wins, 13 Frozen 4 appearances, three NCAA championships, 73 gamers who went on to play within the NHL, 28 Olympians (together with Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Dave Silk and Jack O’Callahan, who had been a part of the 1980 momentous win over the Soviets), and now former gamers who’ve gone on to the teaching (Mike Sullivan, John Hynes, Joe Sacco, David Quinn) and GM ranks (Chris Drury, Mike Grier).
Nevertheless it needed to be a stealth marketing campaign, working beneath the principles of “omerta,” mentioned Corbett chuckling on the underworld reference. Each Corbett and Parker (who retired in 2013) are film buffs and features from “The Godfather” are exchanged between them steadily.
“I used to be actually so proud of, primary, getting him in. The opposite factor I used to be so comfortable about was that he didn’t know something about it and it was an entire shock to him,” mentioned Corbett, a Stoneham native. “It was virtually equally gratifying that he had nothing to do with it.”
However past the wins, losses and accolades, there was the person who remained in his gamers’ lives, by means of good occasions and hard occasions. Corbett identified on a regular basis he spent with Travis Roy after the ahead was paralyzed in his first collegiate sport in 1995, with goalie J.P. McKersie after he was concerned in a near-fatal biking accident, and with the Bavis household, first after twin Terriers Michael and Mark misplaced their father, Dick, after which after Mark was killed within the 9/11 terrorist assaults in 2001.
“It was actually a deep portrayal of the person in full,” mentioned Corbett, including that the affect he had on his gamers was deep and lasting.
“Mike (Eruzione) mentioned ‘I’m 71 years outdated and if I’ve a call to make in my life, I wouldn’t hesitate. Jack could be the primary person who I’d name.’ If you happen to go proper down the road, I feel there could be actually tons of of men who’d say the identical. Jack is on the wakes, he’s on the funerals, he’s on the weddings and all the things in between.”
Parker, mentioned Corbett, has a persona that’s quintessentially outdated Boston, in one of the best sense of the time period, whereas additionally being distinctive unto himself.
“He might have landed within the Annisquam Yacht Membership in Gloucester however he’s nonetheless obtained the three-decker-in-Somerville ethic, which is among the causes he was such an incredible coach,” mentioned Corbett. “He’s like a Matt Damon in ‘Good Will Looking.’ Jack’s obtained like a Mensa IQ however he’s by no means misplaced that wise-ass, street-smart persona, which is among the components of his appeal and attraction. He may go toe-to-toe with folks and may take off the gloves and but he’s a superb man.”
And on Monday night time, that Somerville man can be the place he belongs, among the many greats of the sport to which he devoted his wealthy and influential life.
