Long-time AHL coach for the San Jose Sharks Roy Sommer was inducted into the AHL's Hall of Fame today.

Long-time AHL coach for the San Jose Sharks Roy Sommer was inducted into the AHL's Hall of Fame today.

Sommer was inducted along with Dennis Bonvie, Gordie Clark, and Gerry Ehman.

Sommer's speech was by far the longest. Sommer was a part of the San Jose Sharks organization for 24 years. Although he hasn't won an AHL championship, Sommer has the most games coached and won in league history. He has won 828 games. 

After initially announcing his retirement after one season as the head coach of the San Diego Gulls, Sommer is the head coach of the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL.

"I ran into Doug Wilson Jr., and he goes, you know what, Wenatchee might be looking for a coach," Sommer said. "Sure enough, that job came up, and I ended up going out there for an interview just to kind of check it out. The rest is history."

Sommer is a Bay Area native born and raised in Oakland—just 45 minutes from San Jose.

"I had some friends here; actually, some guys I played minor hockey with when I was a squirt/peewee that were here today. I wish I would have given a shout-out to them more, but there were so many names I miss people, and I'm sorry I did that, but no, I think it's pretty cool," Sommer said. 

Sommer said he went to Skyline High School for a year before leaving to play junior hockey when he was 17.

Sommer showed up in his classic look. A giant cowboy hat and his patented Bolo Tie. 

Sommer is a true storyteller and brought up many stories of his time with the Sharks organization in Kentucky, Cleveland, Worcester, and finally, San Jose.

Sommer's son Marley, who has special needs, has played a significant role in his life. Sommer said that Mo was his best friend during his speech. A considerable quote he used signified their relationship as father and son. 

"I've probably been on a bus for a million miles; he's probably been there for 700,000 of them."

John McCarthy, who took over for Sommer as the San Jose Barracuda head coach, spent nearly a decade with Sommer both as a player and assistant coach. 

"I was going to actually mention him, but I didn't want to get on too long with everything, but he played ten years for me," Sommer said. "When I talk about routines, he was the guy that came in [and] did his thing. He made those around him better. You can use them at center, right-wing, left-wing, play on the power play, and move down the line to the third or fourth line if he had to. [He] played up on the top line. [He was real] inquisitive about coaching, and when the job came up, they made the right decision in hiring him."

Sommer's legacy in the AHL and the Sharks organization won't be forgotten. This honor wasn't an if but when he would be inducted. 

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