Former York coaches Bill Purcell and Dave Chambers along with former York President Emeritus Hugh Ian Macdonald were honoured at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The York Lions hockey program recently hosted the special to honour their contributions to hockey at York.
The hallowed Hockey Hall of Fame conveys a greatness. From shrines to the fathers of hockey, to Sidney Crosby’s golden goal, the hall pays homage to those who have contributed to the sport.
The three men the hockey program honoured are no different. They are all great individuals and role models. The setting for the event was fitting, and I was able to get to know Purcell, Chambers, and Macdonald.
They each showed character, personality, and greatness that they were able to prove to others in the hockey world. Purcell and Chambers had many former players at the event who came to honour their coaches. They all had nothing but kind words to say.
Purcell is best known as the first head coach of the York Yeomen, the former name of York’s hockey team. They originally took to the ice in 1965 for their inaugural season. Purcell was awarded the Ontario Intercollegiate Athletics Association (OIAA) coach of the year in 1970, the same year he led the Yeomen to the championship.
Once leaving York, Purcell pursued a coaching career in the American Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League. He finished off his coaching career at the grassroots level in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
Not only was Purcell a decorated coach, he was also served for Toronto Fire Services during his early years as a coach, proving commitment to his community.
The other Yeomen coach being honoured was no less decorated as the former. Chambers was vital to the betterment of the York’s hockey program’s facilities, such as the creation of a home rink. Chambers was able to reach the pinnacle for many coaches when he was named head coach of the Québec Nordiques in 1990, a position he would hold for only a few years.
However, long before Chambers reached the NHL, he was the head coach at Ohio State University. His other coaching escapades includes working in Switzerland, as well as a consultant to the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. Chambers is currently an assistant coach for the Schwenninger Wild Wings in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany, proving his passion still burns brightly after all these years.
His excitement at the celebration was evident, and he took every chance he could to talk to all the alumni in attendance. He was proud of his Yeomen teams and made sure to let it be known. While sitting among some of Chambers’ former players, they all exclaimed what a great guy their former coach was.
Macdonald is one of the most influential individuals in hockey history. He is the former chairman of Hockey Canada, former vice-chair of the Canadian Hockey Association, and an honorary life member of the Canadian Olympic Association.
Macdonald’s continued involvement at York is still evident, scoring many goals playing on the left wing during faculty hockey at York every Friday morning. His drive and determination for greatness and winning is on display, even if it means a little friendly trash talk between friends.
Macdonald encompasses what it means to be a great Canadian and was honoured for his illustrious career in hockey by being awarded the Order of Canada. Most importantly however, is that he is a fine example of what it means to be a great human being, which is what truly was being honoured by the York men’s hockey that night.
Joseph Narsa
Contributor
