Dave Stoczynski promptly spoke two words when asked to recall his fondest Gannon basketball memory.
“Tennessee State,” Stocyznski barked, before listing more of the Golden Knights’ classic rivals.
Stoczynski played for the Gannon men from 1971-73. In those days, Tennessee State was one of many opponents which prompted raucous crowds.
Whether at Gannon’s Hammermill Center or on the road, Golden Knight basketball was a big deal. As Stoczynski took questions regarding his upcoming induction into the Erie Sports Hall of Fame, he detailed emotions from one of the Golden Knights’ golden eras.
“They were sitting in the aisles. It was five deep underneath the basket,” Stoczynski said. “When you’re in high school and play in your small gym, then go to a place like Gannon, it’s huge.”
Take a bow
Stoczynski scored 853 career points in two seasons at Gannon.
A native of Cheektowaga, New York, he played two seasons at Niagara County Community College before transferring to Gannon and helping the Knights to a 32-20 record across two years.
“What a place to live,” Stoczynski said of Erie. “It was unbelievable. Everyone is friendly.”
Steubenville. Ashland. Youngstown State.
These rivalries defined Stoczynski’s era at Gannon.
A seventh round draft pick by the Phildelphia 76ers in 1974, he eventually returned to northwestern Pennsylvania for a career serving high school athletics. But not before several years of professional basketball in Europe, where he found temporary homes in Spain and France after falling short of the NBA.
“It’s a totally different atmosphere, and I’m sure it’s different now,” Stoczynski said of living in Europe. “Even then, it was totally low-key, calm and old-fashioned.”
Coming home
Stoczynski played his final year of professional basketball in Lyon, France.
After parting ways with his club, he returned to Western New York and, for one year, held a job substitute teaching. That’s when he learned of a teaching job at Erie’s Kanty Prep.
Stoczynski wore several hats during his career in local athletics: Football coach, official, and even athletic director. This work, he said, was always his goal.
“It’s always so nice to pass on information, skills and knowledge you gained to other individuals,” Stoczynski said. “The kids grow up, you see them on the streets and they say, coach, how are you doing? That’s very rewarding.”
Golden legacy
Stoczynski’s brother, Neal, followed him at Gannon and totaled 881 career points from 1973-76. Neal Stozynski’s son, Tyler, scored 1,001 points for the Golden Knights from 2001-03.
Much changed between the Stoczynski family’s generational gap at Gannon. One thing has remained, however, even two decades after Tyler Stoczynski’s departure: Winning.
“It’s unbelievable. We don’t get to a lot of games, but I do follow it quite a bit,” Dave Stoczynski said. “It’s fantastic to see that the teams are doing so well.”
Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Gannon hoops great Stoczynski, bound for Erie sports hall, recalls 70s glory