TERRY TAKES NEW APPROACH ON AND OFF THE ICE

Work ethic carries over from past players' influence and captain's experience at NHL camp

Chris Terry’s goal last Saturday night in a 5-3 loss was not a spectacular, end-to-end rush. But typical of Terry’s persistence, the puck ended up in the net when the Whalers captain tapped home a rebound past Guelph goaltender Thomas McCollum.

The game remains 5-2 if Terry didn’t stay with the play, but he did. Terry’s nose for the net – and his willingness to work in traffic – is one reason why he has 76 career goals for Plymouth.

As the Whalers’ captain, Terry leads by example and not only on the ice. Attend a Whalers team meal on the road, and the entire playing roster is dressed in a Whalers golf shirt and slacks.

It’s a clean, professional look and something the team agreed upon. 

“I suggested we look a little more business-like, a little more classy,” Terry said. “We are professionals and expect to be treated like that, so we should look like that. Every time we have a team meal, we’re going to look like that, like we’re going to work and we’re going to be business-like.”

Terry has attended two Carolina Hurricanes training camps. He’s trying to incorporate what he’s learned by having a taste of professional hockey and transfer it to the Whalers.

“(The difference is) the speed and the work ethic of every pro there,” Terry said. “Every practice was an-hour-and-a-half, full-tilt. There are no drills where you float around. You go as hard as you can every drill and that’s the regular thing. It’s their job up there and they take pride in what they do in practice.

“I’ve talked to AJ Jenks and Michal Jordan and we’ve seen what is done at the NHL level. We want to try to lead by example here and bring the same kind of work ethic to this team. Hopefully, guys will start to follow and make it a very successful year here.”

It’s fair to say that Terry has literally grown up before the eyes of Plymouth fans.

“Mike Vellucci gave me an opportunity early on and I kind of ran with it,” Terry said. “I’ve kind of built on that over the years. My second year (2006-07), we had a championship team and I played in a supporting role with those big-name players and it was a fun ride. 

“I think I learned a lot that year from the veterans. I learned how they get ready to play the game and how they act off the ice as well. Then last year, I was put into a little bit of a leadership role and learned a lot. I’m taking that into this year and am trying to become a good captain.”

As much as Terry looked up to established veterans like Evan Brophey, Steve Ward or James Neal then, younger Whalers look up to Terry now.

“Everybody looks up to him in the locker room,” said RJ Mahalak. “You can’t get a better leader than Chris Terry. He’s a great competitor, every night. He’ll never let you down. He’s a great teammate and great friend.”

Terry (above: white; below: black) and Jordan (above: red; below: white) learned how to be professional both on and off the ice at the Carolina Hurricanes camp.

Terry has mutual respect for Michal Jordan, his Carolina teammate who is a quiet leader on the team.

“Surprisingly, he brings a lot of leadership, coming from someone from Europe,” Terry said. “He’s a great leader in the room and obviously out on the ice, he’s got great offensive ability. He runs the power play very well and he’s very tough to play against in his own end.

“I think he’s going to lead the defense this year and have a good year.”

Although the Whalers are off to a tough start at 1-3-0-0, Terry sees the team improving sooner than later.

“There’s no question in my mind that we’re going to get better every game,” Terry said. “We’re going to try to build on getting better every shift, every period and then every game.”

Plymouth is on the road this weekend, playing in Erie on Friday and in Niagara at St.Catharines on Saturday. The team will look to Terry to will lead them on and off the ice with his professional attitude and work ethic because great captains lead by example.