John Tavares will go from sitting on the bench to standing behind it at the Allstate All-Canadians Mentorship Cup. (Photo: Robert Kowal/flickr)

Add “bantam-level coach” to John Tavares’s growing résumé.

The All-Star center will be coaching opposite Edmonton Oilers star Taylor Hall at the second annual Allstate All-Canadians Mentorship Cup, the NHLPA announced on July 11. The five-day camp, running from July 17-21,  is meant to bring together some of the top bantam-aged (ages 13 and 14) players from around Canada. Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, Jeff Skinner, and Martin Biron will also be on hand to help out.

This is what Tavares had to say about being named as a coach:

“I’m looking forward to making my coaching debut against Taylor Hall at the upcoming Allstate All-Canadians Mentorship Cup… This program is a great way to teach the next generation of young hockey players about all the hard work and sacrifice it takes to perform at an elite level. It will be fun to participate behind the bench for a change and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

It’s always great to see established NHLers give back to their communities through programs like this one. Let’s go, Team Tavares!

The Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL (in white) are Mike York’s most recent team. (Photo: Koelner Haie/flickr)

This is a weekly feature that appears every Thursday on Arbour Day.

Mike York is everyone’s favorite trade bait.

The Michigan-born center was traded three times throughout his ten-year NHL career. It wasn’t that he was exceptionally bad (though his numbers did dwindle over the course of his tenure); he just seemed to be that type of player, one who could fit himself into the lineup somewhere, play different roles and provide a few goals.

» Continue reading “Where Are They Now?: Mike York”