'He's Right There at Number One:' Former ICE Coach, Cranbrook Journalist Remember What Jarret Stoll Meant to Organization
February 26, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kootenay Ice News Release
Cranbrook, B.C. - When you ask those who knew ICE great Jarret Stoll during his time with the organization, you often get the same response. And the one thing they agree upon is that Jarret is the perfect person to be the first to be inducted into the ICE Hall of Fame.
Former ICE Head Coach Ryan McGill described Stoll as "dynamic" while former Cranbrook journalist Jim Toth said, "it was his all-round game that stood out to me."
McGill, now an assistant coach of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, coached Stoll from 1998 to 2002. During their time with the organization, the ICE celebrated two WHL Championships (2000, 2002) and one Memorial Cup (2002).
"He was one of those guys that kept the group tight," explained McGill.
"On the ice, [Stoll was] a guy that would take charge, loved to score, he was one of the best face-off guys you've ever seen in the Western Hockey League," he added.
Jim Toth is a former Cranbrook journalist, who spent several years covering the ICE for the local branch of Shaw TV. Toth arrived in the East Kootenay city in the fall of 2001, just in time for the team's WHL and Memorial Cup championship run.
"He did a little bit of everything, he scored goals, he put up assists. He was very good defensively, that's the other thing that stood out to me," Toth said when describing Stoll.
"He was going to do whatever was asked to make the next level and continue to get better daily as a hockey player and I think that did rub off on a lot of his other teammates," Toth added.
Prior to the game between the ICE and the Calgary Hitmen on March 2, Stoll will become the first person inducted into the newly launched ICE Hall of Fame. Even though he hasn't dawned an ICE uniform since 2002, Stoll's name remains in the team's record book, currently sitting second in franchise history in goals (124), assists (162), points (286) and power play goals (54).
McGill and Toth both agree that Stoll is the right person to be inducted into the ICE Hall of Fame first.
"If you look at what he's accomplished as a pro, he developed really well in Cranbrook and went on to win two Stanley Cups, so he's right there at number one," said McGill.
Toth added, "When these things are done and when Hall of Fames are reached, it's not just about the stats and the points you put up, I think it's what you meant to the organization and the tone you set."
"I think it's a well-deserved honour."
McGill won't be in attendance due to his obligations as the assistant coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. Toth will be there acting as the Master of Ceremonies.
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
