Nick Henry regaining old stride
Nick Henry is starting to look a lot like, well, Nick Henry.
After a slow and delayed start to his season, the 18-year-old Regina Pats right winger has rediscovered the scoring touch that he displayed as a WHL rookie during the 201617 campaign.
Henry, who did not play until Nov. 10 because of off-season shoulder surgery, has nine points in his last six games after registering only two points over the previous seven contests.
“I kind of had my own little minitraining camp on the side,” Henry said Monday before the Pats practised at the Brandt Centre. “I was just adjusting to the game speed and making plays, but now I’ve got 13 games under my belt so I think I’ve done pretty well so far. I think it’s just going to keep getting better for myself.”
Patience was a key for Henry, who had 81 points (including 35 goals) in 72 games last season.
“You’ve just got to stick with the process,” he said. “The U.S. trip (during which Regina won only one of five games) was tough for me and it was tough for our team. We didn’t score a lot. Coming back, we had a pretty good game in Red Deer and I think we just kept things rolling.”
Henry and his linemates, Sam Steel and Matt Bradley, combined to produce three of the Pats’ goals in a 4-1 victory over the host Red Deer Rebels on Dec. 1.
A complicating factor moving forward is that Steel is in St. Catharines, Ont., for Canada’s world junior selection camp. Steel is a virtual lock to make the 22-player roster and advance to the world juniors, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Buffalo.
Pats defenceman Josh Mahura is also at the world junior camp. With two premier players absent, is it imperative that Henry and other veterans step forward from a leadership standpoint?
“For sure,” said Henry, who helped the Pats win 52 games and the Eastern Conference title last season.
“Being here all last year and going through the big playoff run, I think there’s guys like myself and (defenceman) Liam Schioler, guys who have been around and who are going to have to provide a little bit more leadership. Obviously, (Wyatt Sloboshan) and (Matt Bradley) are going to be leaders as 20s. It’s a good experience for all of us to step up in their roles.”
Henry will also speak up if necessary.
“I think I’m just going to be myself — maybe a little bit more vocal at times,” he said. “I’m a big guy on leading by example with how hard I play and by doing the right things on the ice.”
The Pats carry a 16-14-2-0 record into a hectic stretch of games that is to begin Wednesday against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. Regina also plays host to the Saskatoon Blades (Friday) and Lethbridge Hurricanes (Saturday) before visiting Saskatoon on Sunday. All games begin at 7 p.m.
After Sunday’s game, the Pats will be idle until they meet the host Brandon Wheat Kings on Dec. 27.