Sherwood Bassin

Sherwood Bassin (born August 14, 1939) is a Canadian ice hockey executive known primarily for 36 years of involvement in the Ontario Hockey League as a general manager, team owner and coach.

Bassin successfully turned franchises around, and his teams won five J. Ross Robertson Cups, and appeared in six Memorial Cup tournaments, winning once.

Bassin was born on August 14, 1939, in Semans, Saskatchewan.

Growing up in Semans, he then played junior hockey in North Dakota, then coached a team to a state championship.

Bassin coached house league teams in Toronto, including a bantam team that won city a championship, and later in Wexford, winning an Ontario championship in 1970.

During the 1975–76 season, he coached the Pickering Panthers in the Metro Junior B Hockey League.

Bassin completed three degrees; a Ph.D. in hospital pharmacy, a Masters in hospital administration, and a Juris Doctor.

He worked with the legal division of Canada's Food & Drug Directorate in Toronto, and as a pharmacist in a hospital.

He taught 25 years as a professor at Durham College, where he helped design a paralegal program for Ontario.

Bassin was announced as the Oshawa Generals head coach in March 1976, replacing Gus Bodnar who remained as the general manager.

Bassin had a young team that struggled through many injuries and finished last place.

After the season, he moved to the general manager position, and Bill White was hired to coach.

The Generals had the first overall pick in the 1977 draft, and Bassin chose not to make Wayne Gretzky his first pick as general manager since Gretzky only planned on playing one season of junior, then going to the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association.

Bassin chose Tom McCarthy instead, building for the future.

During the 1978–79 OMJHL season, served briefly as interim commissioner of Ontario Major Junior Hockey League after the departure of Bill Beagan in January, until David Branch was hired in September.

During his tenure with the Generals, he acted as a colour commentator on CBC Sports and Global TV in the late 1980s, for World junior championship coverage.

While general manager with the Oshawa Generals, Bassin pushed to have teams in the Canadian Hockey League send their best players to build a true Team Canada.

Bassin helped the Canadian National junior team win its first gold medal in 1982, and another in 1985.

He was twice named OHL Executive of the Year and CHL Executive of the Year, and briefly worked for the Quebec Nordiques.

Bassin had built a J. Ross Robertson Cup winning team by the 1982–83 OHL season, and finished as runners-up in the 1983 Memorial Cup, under coach Paul Theriault.

He was assistant coach and assistant general manager of the national junior team from 1982 to 1985.

When Canada won its first junior gold medal at the 1982 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Minnesota, players stood along the blue line and sang O Canada, when no national anthem was available.

Bassin helped Canada win bronze at the 1983 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, fourth place at the 1984 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and a second gold medal at the 1985 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Four years later, Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup in the 1986–87 OHL season, and finished runners-up in the 1987 Memorial Cup.

Bassin remained as general manager until 1989, when he resigned to take the same position in Sault Sainte Marie.

Bassin served as general manager of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 1989 to 1993.

He was responsible for the trade of Eric Lindros to the Oshawa Generals for Mike Lenarduzzi, Mike DeCoff, Jason Denomme, and Fred Goltz.

The team nucleus Bassin developed went on to win the 1990 Memorial Cup.

Notable players drafted by Bassin during his time in Oshawa include: Dave Andreychuk, Joe Cirella, Mike Craig, Jeff Daniels, Dale DeGray, Peter Horachek, Charlie Huddy, Derek King, Steve Konroyd, Rick Lanz, John MacLean, Gord Murphy, Lee Norwood, Jim Paek, Peter Sidorkiewicz, Jarrod Skalde, Greg Stefan, and Tony Tanti.

The Greyhounds missed the playoffs in 1990, but Bassin quickly built the Greyhounds through the draft and trades.

In 1990, Bassin received the Bill Long Award for distinguished service to the OHL.

Only two years after he took over, the Greyhounds were J. Ross Robertson cup champions in the 1991–92 OHL season under coach Ted Nolan.

They defeated Bassin's old team, the Oshawa Generals in the finals, and played in the 1991 Memorial Cup.

Bassin was named both the OHL Executive of the Year, and the CHL Executive of the Year in 1991.

The Greyhounds repeated as champions in the 1991–92 OHL season, and appeared in the 1992 Memorial Cup.

Sault Ste.

Bassin's team reached the finals in the 1992–93 OHL season, losing to the Peterborough Petes, but won the Memorial Cup on home ice at Sault Memorial Gardens.

Other notable players acquired by Bassin during his time in Sault Ste.

Marie include: Drew Bannister, Dan Cloutier, Aaron Gavey, Kevin Hodson, Ralph Intranuovo, Chad Penney, Chris Simon, Steve Sullivan, and Jeff Toms.

Marie was chosen as host of the 1993 Memorial Cup, ensuring three consecutive appearances in the national championship.