ESTEVAN - The timing was appropriate.
The day after Drew Kocur was named the permanent head coach and general manager of the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins junior A hockey club, the team held its annual Sportsman's Dinner fundraiser at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. One of the guest speakers was Joey Kocur, the long-time NHL enforcer and Drew Kocur's second cousin. The speakers for this year's dinner were announced weeks before the Bruins announced Drew Kocur's hiring.
Joey Kocur, who hails from Kelvington, predicted his younger family member would do an "awesome" job in Estevan.
"I've been gone a long time," said Kocur. "I don't know him as well as I know my relatives … but I'm a first cousin to his dad."
They talked a few times over the years, and they've appeared on a podcast together. They've also talked at family reunions.
The new Bruins' coach and GM isn't the only reason Kocur is familiar with the Bruins' organization. He played numerous games against Estevan during two seasons in the SJHL with the Yorkton Terriers. His first season with Yorkton ended in a loss to the Bruins in seven games.
"I didn't like Estevan at that time," Kocur said with a laugh.
His coach was Gerry James, who later came to Estevan and guided the Black and Gold to the SJHL championship in 1985.
"Gerry was one of the true mentors for my game. I loved him. I loved the way he coached. He loved the aggressive play, and he convinced me that playing tough was the way to go, and it turned out okay for me."
Kocur spent several years coaching, first with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings and then on his son's team. He said he applied lessons from James to his coaching.
"Gerry told me early on in my career that if you ever want to do anything or go anywhere in hockey, to get to the next level, you have to do something better than anyone else. I started to fight a little bit, and I enjoyed it, and it didn't bother me, and in the end, that's what got me to the next level," he recalled.
Kocur said the Bruins' current rink, Affinity Place, is nicer than a lot of the rinks he played in while playing in the Western Hockey League.
Long-time NHLers Brian Skrudland and Andre Roy joined Kocur for the banquet in Estevan. SaskToday will have full coverage of the event later.
Kocur finished his career with 80 goals and 82 assists for 162 points in 821 games. He also recorded 2,519 penalty minutes. Kocur won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, and the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.
