Although born in Toronto, Jack Lynch played all of his youth hockey in Barrie, Ontario. After success as a midget, however, he was spurned by the OHA during their midget draft.
During the following season, Lynch was finally claimed by the Oshawa Generals of the OHA. In his two seasons with the club, he put up solid offensive numbers, netting 18 goals each year.
In 1972, he was selected 24th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although he was also drafted by the Miami Screamng Eagles of the WHA, Lynch had only one dream in mind: to play in the NHL.
In his first big league road game, Lynch recalled going into Boston where he went toe-to toe against Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr. He was in absolute awe as the Bruins exploited his inexperience to score four of the eight goals they pumped past the Penguins helpless goalie.
Lynch's stay in Pittsburgh was short. By early 1974, he was sporting a Red Wings sweater in a more positive environment. Teamed with his mentor, Gary Bergman, Lynch was able to settle down and gain confidence. But his Motor City opportunity only lasted about a year before he was traded to the lowest of lowly Washington Capitals.
At the time, the Caps were the worst team in NHL history. But Lynch endured as the club gradually scraped themselves up off of the basement over the next few campaigns. In 1977, however, Lynch suffered a serious knee injury from which he never fully recovered. After a short stay with the Hershey Bears of the AHL in 1979, he called it quits.
