Branks: A Life on the Bench
Name/Title
Branks: A Life on the BenchEntry/Object ID
2021.792.01Secondary Title
An Authorized Biography by Burt Dowsett and Herb ShovellerDescription
A person would certainly raise an eyebrow upon discovering trainer Don (Branks) Brankley has lived in the London Knights dressing room for more than three decades. But it would be a huge mistake to take that quirky detail as the measure of the man. Indeed, it borders on irrelevant when one takes into account all Brankley has accomplished in his 38- year career with the Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, a career from which he retired at the end of 2007-08 season. You could run out of words to describe the roles he has played and traits he has displayed during his career. As for dealing with about 800 London players, descriptions such as brother, parent, friend, confessor, psychologist, and disciplinarian are easy to apply. As a trainer, vision, innovation, and professionalism suit perfectly. As a person, loyalty, commitment, caring and trustworthiness all roll off the tongue. Branks, A Life on the Bench, traces Don Brankley's story, from the tragedy and impact of his young brother drowning, before Brankley was even born, to reflour his plans to attend Laurentian University to study history, his unlikely arrival in his career as a trainer, his rejection of NHL job offers, 38 years of making a huge, positive difference in the lives of London Knights, and then, finally winning a Memorial Cup.Evidence of how successful his career has been is not based on wins and losses, but on the seemingly infinite number of people who wanted to honour Brankley in his biography. "Branks doesn't specialize in hockey, he specializes in life. He's a doctor, a dentist, a psychologist and a confidante, all in one. If we needed anything we could go to Branks." GOALIE GENE CHIARELLO "You could always have a good convseration with Branks. You could say anything to him. He offered a lot of advice and it was so positive." RICK NASH, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS "I learned from Don, even in dealing with the players. When I do things for them it's always in my mind what the standard is. Don set that standard when it comes to caring for the players." DAN LEBOLD, TRAINER, KITCHENER RANGERSContext
As coach Branks worked for 38 years for the London Knights and even won a memorial cup. He was originally from Capreol and his father was a Canadian National worker. Contains historical photographs.Collection
Library ArchiveCategory
Capreol History