Kingston has lost a sports icon with the passing of Len Coyle. He was there from the very beginning in 1973 as a trainer with the OHL’s Kingston Canadians / Frontenacs.

There is a special place in heaven for the trainer that chirped the officials all night from the end of the Kingston bench. Yet, still was welcomed into the officials room for post-game beers.  That was Len Coyle. You couldn’t stay mad at him for long. And you knew his good-natured ribbing came from the heart.

The news of his recent passing stung like a Mark Suzor slapshot. It hurts a lot.

A note to the year 2020, we sure could use a little good news.  First Covid 19 arrived, then the recent loss of Lenny, along with Kingston sports giants Bubs Van Hooser, Bud Anson and Guy White. Too many great former Kingston athletes lost in a span of just a few short months.

Lenny touched everyone around him. He didn’t make acquaintances, he made friends.  I hope this morning someone is stitching a banner with his name on it to hang at the Leon’s Centre.  If one person was synonymous with junior hockey in Kingston – it was Lenny.  A fixture at every game since day one – when the first puck dropped for the Kingston Canadians at the Memorial Centre in 1973.

When a former player came back to Kingston the first guy they would seek out would be Lenny. That tells you all you need to know. Teenagers gravitated to him when they arrived here to play in the OHL fishbowl. It is not an easy adjustment for teenage kids pursuing their hockey dreams hundreds of miles away from family. Len was a father figure. If they had an issue on or off the ice they wouldn’t go to the coach. They would go to Lenny.  He would give them give them straightforward, honest advice and it never left the room. That’s how you create a lifelong bond.

A former player himself, Lenny played the game relying far more on hockey smarts than raw talent. He was part of the Kingston Merchant Senior teams in 1967 and 1968 that won back to back Ontario Senior/Intermediate championships.

An electrician by trade, he was a ‘plumber’ on those teams. Unofficial team manager, an extra defenseman, loaded the bags, swept the dressing room and would drive the bus if you asked him. It’s why everyone loved the guy. No job was too big or too small. He would just do the work, never complain and or take any credit. That was Lenny.

Former junior players like Tony McKegney said everything was better in the NHL. Except the skate sharpening. Even the NHL players couldn’t find anyone to sharpen skates as well as Lenny. It is as close as Coyle ever came to bragging. Clearly he was a master at his craft.

Years ago when Len stepped away after decades as the Frontenacs assistant trainer, he didn’t go far. Len was still a fixture at every game, setting up shop in the corner of the rink closest to the entrance to the Fronts dressing room. He still knew every current Fronts player, every coach, every official, and every scout.  A trip to Kingston for those around the OHL always meant a visit with Len Coyle.

The Coyle’s did double duty on game night. His wonderful wife, Freda, forged great friendships running the media room for the scouts and media. Veteran scouts, many were former NHL players, wouldn’t leave the room without a hug from Freda. And she would stuff a couple of her homemade cookies in their pockets on their way out the door.

As a kid Lenny grew up as a rink rat at the old Jock Harty Arena. Back in the days when Don Cherry was on the blueline for Max Jackson’s Junior ‘B’ Kingston Victoria’s. And Queen’s Alfie Pearce spent his winters living in the Jock Harty engine room.

Saturday’s in the fall at the old Richardson Stadium, Lenny would chalk the lines for Queen’s football games to earn a couple of bucks. Eventually, he would find his way to the timekeeper’s bench. And when Len committed to something he was there for the long game. That timekeeping stint lasted fifty years. Most of it spent beside the recently passed Bubs Van Hooser and the late Phil Marshall. It wasn’t football at Queen’s unless Len Coyle was seated at the timer’s bench.

One of Len’s favourite days of the year was the third Saturday in February when the Original Hockey Hall of Fame played its annual Historic Hockey Series. 1800’s style hockey, a square puck, Queen’s, RMC and the soldiers from 2RCHA Petawawa. He was pretty much there since the start in 1969.

Len loved the tradition and the importance of recognizing the first games played in Kingston.  He was famous for never wearing gloves when he officiated the games. Some years it hit minus 20 playing on the Kingston Harbour ice near Shoal Tower. He always remained bare handed.

We all marveled at how Len did it. Well into his 70’s he was way tougher than the rest of us.  It was also ironic, the guy who made a career out of chirping officials would once a year don a white smock and ring a cowbell to officiate our games.

Afterwards, I would stay late into the evening with Len. We would have a beer or six at the RCHA Club and the stories would flow as freely as the beer. Coyle was an encyclopedia when it came to his knowledge of Kingston teams and athletes. And he gave you the straight goods. The kind of inside knowledge you wouldn’t find in old newspaper clippings. Let’s just say Lenny was very good at reading people.

Len was a teenager when he left high school to sail the Great Lakes. Working on the big lake freighters. A kid among men. Learning life lessons they don’t teach you in high school.  Len also learned the value of hard work and when he got off the freighters for good, he earned his ticket and became an electrician.

A few years ago we decided to honour Len for his years of dedication to Historic Hockey. We decided to name the tournament MVP trophy in his honour. It came as a huge surprise and Lenny was close to tears when we unveiled the new trophy named after him. It meant a lot to him. It meant more to us. Len Coyle was Historic Hockey.

In 2009 he received the ultimate honour, inducted into the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame. A humble man, never comfortable being in the limelight. He had spent years just doing what he loved. Lenny had no idea what all the fuss was about.

Those who give the most, expect the least. It’s why you cheer the hardest for people like Len Coyle. Because they do it for all the right reasons. 

Freda was his rock, and to the Coyle & Horton families we offer our deepest condolences. Kingston is a little poorer today, without Lenny to share a joke and a story.

You don’t replace guys like Lenny Coyle.

Mark Potter is a long time Kingston broadcaster, Past President of the Original Hockey Hall of Fame and a member of the Kingston Sports Hall of Fame.