A legend in both Canadian football and Saskatchewan hockey has died.
Gerry James, who is the only person to play in both the Grey Cup game and the Stanley Cup final in a 12-month span, died at the age of 89.
Born in Regina and raised in Winnipeg, James was the son of Winnipeg football legend Eddie (Dynamite) James and earned the nickname Kid Dynamite for his football acumen.
A running back and kicker, he played in six Grey Cup games beginning in 1953 and was part of the Bombers' four championship teams in 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962. James was the first winner of the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player award in 1954 and was again honoured in 1957.
His 18 rushing touchdowns in 1957 stood as a league record until Mike Pringle scored 19 times for the Montreal Alouettes in 2000.
Just months after winning the top Canadian football honours for the first time, James won the Memorial Cup national junior title with the Toronto Marlboros in 1955.
James played five seasons in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, from 1955 to 1960. He made history when he helped the Bombers win the 1959 championship and was part of the Leafs' team that reached the Stanley Cup final in 1960.
In 149 career NHL games, James had 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points to go along with 257 penalty minutes.
After his playing career was finished, James started coaching hockey. In a career that spanned more than a decade, he coached the Yorkton Terriers, the Melville Millionaires and the Estevan Bruins. He guided the Terriers to their first SJHL title in 1983 and the Bruins to their first SJHL championship in 1985.
He then went on to coach the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League for one season.
In a post to their Facebook page, the Bruins said they were saddened to hear of the passing of James.
"Gerry was not only a great athlete, he was a tremendous coach and a pioneer for the game. The Estevan Bruins would like to offer the James family our condolences," the club said.
The Terriers also praised James for what he meant to the team, the SJHL and sport in general across Canada.
"The Yorkton Terriers organization would like to offer our condolences to the James family and everyone that had the pleasure to have known him in any way," the Terriers said.
A biography of James, Kid Dynamite, was released by Ron Smith in 2011.
James was enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1981, the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1982, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022, among other honours.
