Jason York Inducted into Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame This Wednesday

Jason York is set to be inducted into the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, a fitting recognition of his extensive NHL career that included five impactful seasons with the Ottawa Senators during the franchise’s rise in the late 1990s.

York, affectionately known as “Yorkie,” began his journey three decades ago when he was traded from Anaheim to Ottawa. His first season in his hometown was historic; it marked the Senators’ inaugural trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Over his tenure, York played 380 games donning the centurion crest, making the playoffs every year he was with the team. In 2001, he returned to Anaheim as an unrestricted free agent.

Throughout his NHL career, York appeared in 757 games, recording 42 goals, 187 assists, and a total of 229 points. His final game in the league came in 2007 while playing for the Boston Bruins, and in a poetic twist, it was against the Senators, the franchise where he spent the majority of his career. In that game, his former teammate and captain, Daniel Alfredsson, led the charge with three points, contributing to a 6-3 victory for Ottawa.

Reflecting on his time with the Senators, York noted, “It’s a great honour. I’m going to have a lot of friends and family there, which is going to be special for me, because that’s what it’s all about,” he shared with Andrew Wilimek on the Senators website. After his playing days, York transitioned to broadcasting, spending several years at TSN 1200 radio in Ottawa, where his upbeat demeanor was a constant presence. Currently, he provides NHL color commentary for regional broadcasts of the Calgary Flames and hosts a Senators podcast titled Coming in Hot.

York will be celebrated alongside the 1976 Rockland Nationals, a team with a notable connection to the Senators, as Bryan Murray, who later coached York in 2001, was the head coach of that squad. The evening will also honor several other individuals across various sports, including Joe Barber in boxing, Paul Barber in horse racing, and Vera Charlebois in golf.

Given the limited number of players from Ottawa who have surpassed 750 games in the NHL, it comes as a surprise that it has taken 19 years for York to receive this recognition. However, as is often the case with such honors, it’s better late than never.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.