‘I was lucky to play the game I loved. But it didn’t come without a lot of hard work. Once I got there, I had to work even harder to stay,’ says Kris King, who grew up in Bracebridge

When Kris King skated out onto the ice for his first game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he spotted his father in the stands. He gave him a wink. His dad raised a thumb in reply.

“That was it,” King said. “The proudest moment of my career. I could never have gotten there without him.”

For King, who spent 14 seasons battling on NHL ice, that exchange at Maple Leaf Gardens captured everything — family, hard work, and pride. 

Now, the longtime Aurora resident — who was born just north of Orillia in Bracebridge — is being inducted into the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame alongside world-record runner Erlinda Biondic, hockey coach Heather Morning, and former CFL player Robert Reid.

King and his wife, Paula, made Aurora their home in 1997 when he signed with the Leafs. They stayed nearly two decades, raising their three children there.

“When I found out I was being inducted, it really hit me,” he said. “Aurora was our first real hockey home. It’s where we put down roots. To be recognized by that community means a lot to us.”

King’s career stretched across six NHL teams: Detroit, New York, Winnipeg, Phoenix, Toronto, and Chicago. Known for grit, leadership, and community spirit, he earned the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1996 for his humanitarian work and leadership.

He also founded the Kris King Hockey School in Gravenhurst, helping young players learn the game that shaped his life.

But his path to the NHL was anything but easy.

“I grew up in a small northern Ontario town,” King said of his roots in Bracebridge. “You had to work harder just to get noticed. You weren’t playing in big cities. You had to stand out.”

That drive became his trademark — on the ice, in the locker room, and now, in his role as executive vice-president of hockey operations for the NHL.

“I was lucky to play the game I loved,” he said. “But it didn’t come without a lot of hard work. Once I got there, I had to work even harder to stay.”

Since hanging up his skates in 2001, King has continued to shape the sport from behind the scenes. His role with the NHL gives him a front-row seat to a game that’s evolved dramatically since his playing days.

“The players today are incredible,” he said. “They’re faster, more skilled, and better prepared physically and mentally than ever before. The game’s changed, but at its core, it’s still hockey. You still have to put the puck in the net and outwork your opponent.”

Off the ice, King’s commitment to community remains steadfast. He’s lent his time to Ronald McDonald House and countless local initiatives, often quietly, without fanfare.

“I grew up watching my parents give back,” he said. “They were always helping out in the community. That stuck with me. You don’t have to be a hockey player or a leader to do good things. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking someone how they’re doing.”

He’s passed that lesson on to his own children, and to young players who look up to him.

“My advice?” King said. “If you’re passionate about something, be ready to put in the work. Nothing is easy. Set goals. Work hard. Be open to learning. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s always someone out there willing to give you a hand.”

As he reflects on his career — on the hits, the goals, the bus rides, and the friendships — it’s still that night in Toronto that shines brightest.

“When I skated by and saw my dad, that wink and that thumbs up said everything,” King said. “He was proud. I was proud. And that’s the moment I’ll always carry with me.”