The New England Pro-Am Hockey League congratulates legendary Boston University coach Jack Parker on being named to the Hockey Hall-of-Fame’s Class of 2025.
Parker began at BU in 1965, where he played 96 games over a three-year playing career. He started coaching at his alma mater as an assistant in 1969, becoming a pillar on the Terriers’ bench for more than 40 years. Parker took over head coaching duties in December of 1973 season and remained there until his retirement in 2013.
In those four decades as BU’s head coach, Parker racked up 897 wins, most for any coach at one school in NCAA history. Three times, Parker’s Terriers won the NCAA National Championship (1978, 1995 and 2009), to go along with 22 conference championships. Adding to the three he had as a player, Parker helmed the Terriers to 21 Beanpot titles, also a record.
Not just a winner, Parker’s tutelage produced 73 NHL players and 29 Olympians. He earned the Spencer Penrose Award for the top coach in Division 1 hockey (1975, 1978 and 2009), one of only three to claim a hat trick of Penrose Awards.
The Hall-of-Fame coach also has had a long connection with the NEPAHL, having a relationship with Mike O’Connell, league Chief Operating Officer, and his brother Dennis since their high school days.
“My brother Michael and I knew Jackie even before he came to BU,” said Dennis O’Connell, who also played with Parker for the Terriers, and captained the 1966 squad. “He was always a great friend through all these years and we are excited to see him reach the pinnacle of his coaching career with his induction in the Hockey Hockey Hall of Fame. Well deserved.”
Parker enters into the Hall’s builders category along with former Canadian women’s national team coach Daniele Sauvageau. Brianna Decker, Jennifer Botterill, Joe Thornton, Zdeno Chara, Alexander Mogilny and Duncan Keith were inducted into the players category.
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