Tuesday, June 14, 2016
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Jed York has distinct memories from when the Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup 25 years ago.
York, the San Francisco 49ers CEO, and his brother, Tony, were in the winning locker room of the Met Center in Bloomington, Minn., when the Pens clinched against the Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 Stanley Cup Final. Their escort was their grandfather, Edward J. DeBartolo of Boardman who was the Pens owner from 1977 until November 1991.
“That was a great game,” York said Monday at the Covelli Centre, the site of the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation’s annual dinner. “They won 8-0 and we went down [to the locker room] midway through the third period.
“I have pictures of me and my little brother holding the Cup,” York said. “It was a special, special moment.”
York has another connection to the Cup. His mother, Denise Debartolo York of Canfield, was team president for the Penguins. Her name is engraved on the Cup along with the names of the 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins including Troy Loney, now the co-owner of the Youngstown Phantoms.
“It’s awesome,” Jed York said. “Knowing how few women’s names are on the Cup and that she’s one of them, I think its just a great symbol of what anybody can do and a testament to what she’s accomplished in her life.”
She was the fifth woman to have her name put on the National Hockey League’s prized trophy.
“I did not know that,” 49ers safety Eric Reid said of the team owner. “That’s pretty interesting, a cool little nugget.”
Sunday, the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks, 3-1, to win the team’s fourth Stanley Cup.
York said it wasn’t easy, but he was neutral during the series won by Pittsburgh, 4-2.
“It was tough for me to not cheer for the Penguins,” York said. “But I know so many people with the Sharks.
“So I really tried to not watch — I didn’t want to root against either one of them.
“I’m sad for the Sharks but certainly happy for the Penguins.”