THE MAN BEHIND THE No. 11: BRENT JARRETT’S K-WINGS LEGACY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 2024

THE MAN BEHIND THE No. 11: BRENT JARRETT’S K-WINGS LEGACY

Past and present Kalamazoo players, front office members and media reflect on the pass-first center who became a K-Wings legend.

By Collin Murphy for K-Wings.com

KALAMAZOO, MI – From the Sault to the Zoo, the ice is where Brent Jarrett always belonged. 

From playing for his hometown Soo Greyhounds (OMJHL) - to earning the K-Wings’ first-ever MVP award (IHL/1982) - there was always something special about to happen when Brent Jarrett was on the ice.

Providing the helper was the strongest part of Jarrett’s game across six seasons in a K-Wings uniform (1981-82, 1983-87, 1988-89), and he took that same mentality into his post-playing career after deciding to stay in Kalamazoo to raise his family. Hence, the K-Wings will lift his No. 11 jersey to the rafters at Wings Event Center on Jan. 18, 2025.

“It’s the ultimate honor in hockey to have your number retired,” Jarrett said. “Yet, it’s so much more special, for me, that my number is with my teammates.”

Jarett’s No. 11 joins Georges Gagnon’s No. 1, Tyler Willis’ No. 13 Mike Wanchuk’s No. 22, Kevin Schamehorn’s No. 26, and Neil Meadmore’s No. 27 atop the Miracle on Vanrick’s half-century-old barn. 

And of that list of K-Wings immortals, as highlighted by Jarrett above, now four will have shared the same ice as teammates (Gagnon, Jarrett, Meadmore, Schamehorn).

Plus, if there was ever a question as to whether Jarrett’s contributions deserve the franchise’s highest honor, here’s where he sits over 33 years after hanging up the skates. 

Currently, Jarrett’s Kalamazoo’s all-time assists leader (307), sits No. 2 in single-season points (122) & assists (82), ranks No. 5 in career points (421), is No. 13 in games played (369) and No. 14 in goals scored (114). Jarrett also averaged an astounding 1.14 points per game as a Wing to go along with four 70+ point campaigns.

“Brent was a magician with his hockey stick, it was like a magic wand,” Gagnon said.

Standing at 5-feet 9-inches, Jarrett was regularly one of the smaller players on the ice. But that didn’t stop him from being a pesky defender as well.

“He played bigger than his size,” Gagnon said. “Brent wasn’t afraid to take on anybody, he used his stick well on defense as well as offense.”

Jarrett wasn’t afraid to mix things up himself, racking up 404 penalty minutes in a K-Wings uniform. Something many could attest to.

“... he was one of the players that everyone in the league hated, but wanted on their team. He was pesky,” said Steve Doherty, K-Wings Wall of Honor member and former front office guru.

When taking on bigger players, though, the more imposing Meadmore (6-feet 4-inches) recalled cleaning up after him…often.

“He wasn’t the biggest guy around but he wouldn’t walk away from a fight either,” Meadmore said. “Brent got me into some fisticuffs several times over the years.”

Jarrett’s tendency for instigating was clear to all who watched him play. Pam Shebest, longtime K-Wings beat writer recalled.

“He was kind of like a gnat, opposing players tried to shake him off but he was always right there in the mix of things,” Shebest said.

Yet, that’s one of the special parts of hockey that even in today’s game can still provide a much-needed spark.

“Brent was one of these guys that got things going,” Doherty said. 

Get it going he did. Even if Meadmore was the one sitting in the box, Jarrett’s ability to add offense on the penalty kill set records.

In his first season with Kalamazoo (1981-82: 40g-82a), Jarrett set an IHL record with 11 shorthanded goals, along with the franchise record at the time for single-season assists and points, on his way to winning the James Gatschne Trophy for league MVP.

“You just had to be in the right place at the right time and he’d get the puck right on your stick,” Meadmore said.

Jarrett’s linemate Bernie Saunders, the recipient of several of his helpers that year (38g), knew he could have reached 40 if not for being shocked by some of Brent’s passes.

“I remember a couple times that I thought Brent was going to score but he passed to me and I was so surprised that I missed,” Saunders said.

Saunders, who was the fifth Black player ever to play in the NHL, believed Jarrett had all the skill necessary to play hockey at the highest level.

“I thought he was a phenomenal talent, I felt like Brent could have made it to the NHL and been fine,” Saunders said. “Brent was one of the best puck distributors I’ve ever seen.”

Calling Kalamazoo Home

Jarrett stuck in Kalamazoo post-playing career to raise his son Blake & daughter Clare and coach in the city’s youth development programs. He also was interim head coach for the K-Wings at the end of the 2007-08 season.

“Kalamazoo is as much of a hockey town as Saskatchewan and Moosejaw because of people like Brent who stayed involved in the community and shared his hockey expertise with the young players,” Saunders said.

First, Jarrett joined forces with former K-Wings teammate Paul Pickard to open a hockey school in Kalamazoo. He then spent over 20 years as a head coach of Junior teams in West Michigan.

“He brought a lot to the table with his experience and passion, and he passed it on to the players he coached,” Meadmore said.

Kalamazoo has become a special place for many K-Wings players who, like Jarrett, previously had no ties to the region.

“Whether it’s parades or holiday visits, it’s extremely important to be out in the community and that the players are involved,” Doherty said. “You look at all the guys who settled here instead of moving back to Canada, we had them doing all kinds of public events. They meant a huge amount to the hockey club and community as well.”

For today’s K-Wings leadership, that bond to Kalamazoo is just as important and special as the franchise charges into the future. Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Joel Martin is grateful for the previous generation’s impact.

“The players like Brent, as well as the staff, that came before us set the standard for what it means to be a K-Wing and be involved in the community,” Martin said. “I'm really proud of our players following in their footsteps and getting out and being a part of Kalamazoo and KOHA.”

Current General Manager and Governor Toni Will, Kalamazoo native, grew up with the K-Wings and knows what the team has meant to the community since childhood.

“Kalamazoo is a very special community - once you spend time here, you want to stay here,” Will said. “Having players like Brent live in Kalamazoo all these years after retiring from the sport, raising a family, and owning a business represents everything it means to be a K-Wing.”

From top to bottom, that stewardship example set by past generations is vital and still a pillar of the organization today.

Thus, Brent Jarrett’s commitment to Kalamazoo, and fervor for the game of hockey, earned him the honor to be bestowed Jan. 18.

“He played the game and contributed to the community with a lot of heart and passion, and I’m looking forward to that day,” Meadmore said. “Brent deserves to take his place among the K-Wings greats.”