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Kickin' Back with Jack Semler

The ex-University of Maine hockey coach remembers Lightning coach JohnTortorella, a former left wing, as a lunch-pail type player with pretty good hands, a nose for the net and not afraid of the corners.

By Damian Cristodero
Published April 12, 2007

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ADVERTISEMENT [Handout photo] Former University of Maine coach Jack Semler coached the Lightning's John Tortorella.

Jack Semler coached the University of Maine from 1977-84. From 1979-81, he had a scrappy left wing transfer from Salem State named John Tortorella. Semler remembered Tortorella as a lunch-pail type player with pretty good hands, a nose for the net and not afraid of the corners. "He was really good with his stick," Semler said. "No quit, ever. He was just dogged on the forecheck and in front of the net." Semler, 61, an assistant at Skidmore College and living in Hadley, Mass., spoke Tuesday with Times staff writer Damian Cristodero.

What do you remember about Tortorella as a player?

He was really on the puck, feisty. Other teams had trouble getting him away from the puck and also getting him away from the front of the net. We had him in the middle, right in front of the goalie, and he wouldn't be moved. He was very key in all aspects of our forecheck and defensive zone coverage and a real key on the power play.

Did he have the same hard edge he has now?

It was my assistant, Ted Castle, that actually taught John that he didn't have to go into a corner always thinking he had to kill the guy he was going in with. Ted told him, "We want you to do what you do well, but we don't want you in the penalty box."

Sounds like him now talking to Andre Roy.

(Laughing) I was very impressed with the way John took Ted's advice. He became a guy who was all about complete effort but not going to the box.

Did you ever have to discipline him?

Never. He was, literally, all ears and very respectful. He set a tone by the way he played and then expected others to play. Just a real players guy. One of those guys who wanted to get his marching orders from the coach and then stay away from the coach. He'd go through a wall for you and do it with a smile.

What's your favorite John Tortorella story?

He helped score a major goal against Lou Lamoriello's Providence College team.

You mean Lou Lamoriello who now coaches the Devils?

He was the head coach there. It was a crucial game, and it was a grind of a game. Towards the end, Providence was putting a lot of pressure on us. And the next thing you know, a 30-goal scorer, Gary Conn, the guy John played alongside of, and John ended up with a two-on-oh. John had the puck, and typical of John, it was like a guy handing off a baton at a relay race. He gave the puck up to Gary Conn. And Gary Conn did what Gary Conn does, and that was to score goals. A very unselfish play.

What did he do in his spare time?

He worked at the rink when we weren't playing, renting out skates to public skaters. He couldn't have been nicer. A very well-mannered guy.

[Last modified April 11, 2007, 16:07:46]