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In Yorkton, you’re raised a Terrier. Every level and age of hockey had a Terriers team. You’re taught that Terriers hockey was fast and brutal. You’re the man to come out of the corner alive, not the other guy. That mentality can be attributed to Gerry James. The man played, coached, managed and owned the SJHL Yorkton Terriers. He coached for three different SJHL teams, leaving a lasting imprint on young Saskatchewan hockey players.
I never had the chance to play for Gerry, or talk to him for that matter, but his son KC coached me for at least four years of minor hockey. He was hands down the hardest coach I’ve ever played for, but each season was rewarding. He brought each of us closer to becoming a man, every single practice, every single shift. You make a bad play, he yelled at you until you never did it again. If you had your head down in practice, he wouldn’t hesitate to hit you himself. Some would consider him abusive, but it was all part of how he coached and what he expected of you. He brought certain things out of you that no else could. Until I met KC, I never knew about a “Fuck you, this is my zone” mentality.
