GRAND FORKS — John Tortorella was working with a budget when he was the head coach of the Rochester Americans in 1995-96.
Tortorella, who handled some general manager functions, decided to go without assistant coaches.
“If I wanted to hire an assistant coach, I could use it,” Tortorella said. “But I just wanted to get some players.”
Tortorella worked to sign Dane Jackson, who served as captain of the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch a year earlier and had played 15 games in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks.
“I was talking to agents, trying to get Dane, basically negotiating the contract,” Tortorella said. “I wanted him because I heard about him and I knew about his leadership skills. We got him. He was basically another coach for me. Such a good player for us.”
Tortorella named Jackson the team captain.
While Rochester had a rocky start to the season, the Americans went on a big run in the second half. They reached the playoffs, breezed through the early rounds and won the Calder Cup Final in seven games.
“I got to know Jax that way, leaning on him as a coach and player,” Tortorella said. “Had some crazy times with him during the couple of years I had him. We were just texting last night. Good man, good family man, great player. Infectious personality.”
Dane Jackson smiles during a practice ahead of the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four.
Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald
Last weekend was busy for Jackson and Tortorella.
Jackson, a first-year head coach at UND, earned a trip to the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas after the Fighting Hawks shut out Merrimack and Quinnipiac in the Sioux Falls Regional.
A day later, the Vegas Golden Knights named Tortorella their new head coach.
Jackson and Tortorella exchanged text messages.
“I’ve kept in touch with Torts over the years,” Jackson said. “He’s always been an unbelievable mentor. A lot of times in the summer, I’ll drive down and meet him nearby his lake place. He spends time talking with me about culture-building and connecting with players and being a leader of men.”
Jackson fondly remembers the 1996 run with Rochester, which shaped
“We went through some hard battles throughout the first half of that year,” Jackson said. “I learned a lot from Torts about how he connected with his players. He was hard on us, but I knew he cared about us, and he was a really sharp coach on what he demanded from our group and where we could get to.”
Dane Jackson celebrates after winning the 1996 Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans.
Rochester Americans
Jackson and Tortorella won’t be able to connect in person on this trip.
The Golden Knights are on a 10-day road trip while college hockey takes over T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas won its first three games under Tortorella.
“It’s super exciting for his opportunity in Las Vegas,” Jackson said.
Jackson said Tortorella was one of his most influential coaches. Jackson also named Gino Gasparini as one of his influential mentors.
Gasparini, who won three NCAA national championships as a head coach at UND and recruited Jackson to campus, is expected to attend the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
“I think you try to take a little bit from all these different gentlemen who have coached you,” Jackson said. “They all have different styles. You try to blend it in with the way you see the game and your personality.”
John Tortorella and Dane Jackson embrace after winning the 1996 Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans.
Melissa Mahan / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
NCAA Frozen Four semifinal
Who: UND vs. Wisconsin.
When: 4 p.m. Central on Thursday.
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Records: UND 29-9-1; Wisconsin 23-12-2.
TV: ESPN2 (GF Ch. 26/621HD).
Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM).
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.