Park was a four-year defenseman from Lynnfield, Massachusetts. He was one of five siblings – the fourth of five. “I’m the forgotten child” Park claims. But everyone who meets him never forgets him. Friends, teammates, and co-workers alike speak admiring of his talent, hard work, ability to connect with others and his playful, mischievous sense of humor. He once pranked his boss, a Montreal Canadian fan, by decorating his office in Boston Bruins décor. He named his dogs CCM, Bauer & Cooper after considering the naming options of Dump & Chase.

Don’t mistake his humor and light-hearted manner for lack of seriousness or intensity. Described by one professional colleague as “able to adapt well to a fast moving dynamic technical and organization environment” - this is as true of Park on the ice as well as in a work environment. “He was a dedicated hockey player”, says Juan De la Rocha, a former SUMH team captain, “he meshed well with the group right away, he was a significant contributor on the ice for us.”

Park came to SU pursuing a Fine Arts degree in Animation along with the chance to continue playing a sport he continues to be passionate about to this day. Park came in the same year as Hall of Famers Jamie Stasko, Bill Diamond, and Jon Gardner. Stasko, acknowledges “Park was a solid defenseman with a good pedigree, his father (Brad Park) was a pretty decent player too.”

“I always played with number 11” Park says, “I still wear it to this day. I thought if I could be half as good as my dad who was #22 that would be pretty good.” Kelly of course speaking about his father, Brad, who played 17 seasons in the NHL for the Rangers, Bruins, and Red Wings and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. Park claims one trait he did get from his dad was his father’s sense of humor. Park tends to lean into humor and keeping things a light. He was the one that would settle everyone down on the bench during a stressful time of the game – keeping guys loose and disarming opponents with playful chirps.

Off ice Park’s relaxed manner kept the team relaxed during road trips and at the Hockey House - where he
was known as the unofficial “social director”. Park earned a reputation for creating Smithsonian worthy beer pong tables and the organizing legendary Beer Pong Tournaments which were mostly won by him and his partner, Jon Gardner. By senior year Park says “we were the de facto Hockey House”.

After graduation, with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Park embarked on a career that veered away from animation and toward web design. His projects helped small businesses with their marketing efforts and he eventually moved on to serving as Director of E-Commerce for two Vermont based companies including his current position with Simon Pierce.

For the past twenty plus years Park has also been an integral member of the Upper Valley Hockey League. First he helped the league out with Web Designer and has since added duties of Owner, General Manager, player and Head Referee when needed. The UVHL is an “A” level hockey league with 6 teams and a network of over 400 players from Vermont and New Hampshire. Park and another colleague are credited with keeping the league intact during the Covid-19 pandemic thank to their love of hockey. Modest, self-effacing, passionate about hockey, always trying to instill that love for the game into the players he coaches including his son and daughter. Passing on the legacy his father passed on to him - creating human beings that especially love hockey. In the fall of 2024 Park’s son is headed to the University of Vermont where he’ll play hockey. Park’s daughter was recruited to play at Kimball Union Academy; both were on their high school championship hockey teams this past year (2023-2024).

Kelly Park is a Hall of Famer whether it’s for his Smithsonian quality Beer Pong tables, on-ice chirping,
classic pranks, or for his outstanding play and contribution to team moral and unity. We proudly welcome him in to the Syracuse University Men’s Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024. With his induction there are now two defensemen Hall of Famers in the Park family but only one gets to wear an orange jacket.