Hockey coaches face mentor at homecoming game

Boston College Hockey Coach Jerry York coached both RIT Hockey Head Coach Wayne Wilson and Associate Head Coach Brian Hills in the 1980s.

On Oct. 18, a probable sellout crowd of 10,556 orange-clad fans will pack Blue Cross Arena for RIT’s contest against perennial national powerhouse Boston College, the focal point of Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend. For RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson and Associate Head Coach Brian Hills, there will be a different sort of homecoming, forged 35 years ago in a small town in northwest Ohio.

Boston College is coached by Jerry York, college hockey’s all-time leader with 963 wins in 42 seasons split among Clarkson University, Bowling Green State University and Boston College. Both Wilson and Hills were a major part of York’s success at Bowling Green, having played for him in the early 1980s.

The trio helped Bowling Green re-emerge as a national powerhouse, advancing to the 1982 NCAA Quarterfinals and Central Collegiate Hockey Association Championship game in 1983 before Hills, the university’s second all-time leading scorer, graduated. In 1984, Wilson, a defenseman and captain, teamed with York to capture Bowling Green’s one and only hockey NCAA Championship.

“Jerry is all about discipline, doing the right thing at all times like being on time, always being clean shaven and respecting one another,” said Hills, who played for York at Bowling Green from 1979 to 1983 and is entering his 10th season at RIT. “On the ice, he let us play our style and taught us how to win.”

Wilson would come back to Bowling Green in 1989 and serve as an assistant coach for York until the latter left for Boston College in 1994. Wilson and Hills are part of a long line of former York players who have become head coaches or team executives at the collegiate and pro level, including Dan Bylsma (formerly with the Pittsburgh Penguins), George McPhee (formerly with the Washington Capitals), Brian MacLellan (Washington Capitals), Dave Taylor (St. Louis Blues) and George Roll (Nazareth College).

“I had a great experience playing for him and later coaching with him at Bowling Green,” said Wilson, who enters his 16th season behind the bench at RIT with a 282-165-49 record. “Most importantly, he made me a better person off the ice. He taught me a lot about discipline, following team rules, and so many little things like seniors eating with freshmen, and rooming with different teammates on every trip.”

Both Wilson and Hills agree that some of their coaching styles and tendencies have come from what they learned from York.

“Jerry allows you to play your game and is the most positive person I’ve ever been around on the bench; he never gets down,” Wilson said. “I’ve definitely learned a lot from him and emulated certain aspects into my own coaching style.”

York is just as complimentary of his former pupils.“It’s great to see how both Brian and Wayne came in as young pups at Bowling Green, matured into leaders for me on the ice, became great family men and have now become two of the most respected coaches in college hockey,” York said. “They have both done really great things, building RIT into a tremendous program.”

Like last year’s opponent, Michigan, Boston College is a perennial power in Division I hockey, having won five NCAA Championships and 24 trips to the Frozen Four.

Boston College has several National Hockey League draft picks on its roster and will more than likely be a pre-season top-five team when they arrive in Rochester. In addition, Rochester natives Brian and Stephen Gionta and Chris Collins all played for York with the Eagles. Both Giontas play in the NHL. “To be able to coach against him is an honor,” Wilson said. “Jerry York embodies what college hockey is all about.”

Once the puck drops, however, friendships will take a backseat for two hours. “I talked to (Michigan coach) Red Berenson not too long ago and he said that the crowd and the atmosphere downtown last year was electric,” said York. “We are really looking forward to this game and a loud, sell-out crowd.”

New home for hockey

The men’s and women’s hockey teams will move into the Gene Polisseni Center in time for the 2014-2015 season.

Here are some highlights of the arena:

4,000 seats and additional standing room for a total capacity of 4,300 fans. The majority of the seating is reserved and there is an expanded student section that is general admission seating.
Exclusive seating, which includes club seating behind RIT’s bench, six luxury suites—four are attached to the club lounge, an upscale full-service hospitality area—and a VIP “player experience” box located next to the RIT bench where eight fans can feel like they are sitting on the bench.
Two full-service concession stands and multiple mobile kiosks throughout the venue with additional food options.
A new RIT Athletics Hall of Fame highlighting the hall’s inductees and RIT’s athletic history.
A Barnes and Noble store where fans can purchase Tiger gear.
Two high-definition video boards.

Season tickets can be purchased at www.rittickets.com or by calling the Box Office at 585-475-4121.

If you go

The Game: RIT vs. Boston College

Place: Blue Cross Arena, downtown Rochester

Date: Saturday, Oct. 18

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Tickets: RIT will play its annual homecoming game at Blue Cross Arena for the eighth straight season. The game has sold out each of the last four years, with last year’s contest against Michigan selling out 15 days before the game. This year’s game is expected to sell out just as quickly. Alumni can purchase tickets at www.rit.edu/brickcity or by calling the Box Office at 585-475-4121.