A vintage performance by Henry

Nick Henry is starting to look a lot like … Nick Henry.

The Regina Pats winger has put together a vintage performance so far at the 2018 Memorial Cup, leading all scorers with five goals in three games.

Despite the small sample size, it’s reminiscent of his play two seasons ago when Henry was among the WHL’s top rookie scorers with 35 goals and 81 points in 72 games.

The 18-year-old sniper was unable to maintain that pace in 2017-18 after missing the first seven weeks due to off-season shoulder surgery. He finished with 14 goals and 29 points in 53 games but started to show signs of past form during a first-round playoff series against the Swift Current Broncos.

Henry also took advantage of the five subsequent weeks his team spent training in preparation for the Memorial Cup. That investment is now paying off in spades.

“Coming back from my injury was tough but at the end stretch of the season and going into playoffs I thought I started to play my best hockey,” said Henry. “That break and the training camp we put together (after being eliminated by Swift Current), the coaches did a really good job with that.

“Right now this is some of the best hockey I’ve played for sure.”

Henry joined the Pats last season after being named the rookie of the year in the Manitoba junior A league during the 2015-16 season.

He played on a line with star centre Sam Steel and veteran leftwinger Dawson Leedahl.

All three went on to enjoy career seasons.

Steel was named the WHL’s player of the year after recording 50 goals and a league-high 131 points in 66 games while Leedahl earned an NHL contract after notching 35 goals and 89 points in 71 games. Henry’s reward came when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche.

Unfortunately, their No. 1 line was just a one-year arrangement because Leedahl exhausted his junior eligibility last season.

With Leedahl gone and Henry on the shelf, Regina struggled to find suitable linemates for Steel to begin this season.

Upon Henry’s return, he and Steel didn’t immediately rediscover their old magic and it wasn’t long before the dynamic duo was split up. Regina’s coaches eventually decided to reunite them during the team’s pre-Memorial Cup hiatus, but this time Henry was on the left side (his off wing) while Cameron Hebig (a natural centre) played the right side.

“(Steel and Henry) had great chemistry last year together,” said Pats head coach/GM John Paddock. “Nick had a slow start (this year) with his injury and stuff. We just thought we’d try putting him on the left side with Sam and Cam and it has worked out.”

Has it ever.

Steel leads the tournament in points (11) while Henry is No. 1 in goals (five), thanks in part to a deadly one-time shot that has been finding its mark. Hebig is also among the tournament’s top offensive performers, with three goals and two helpers.

“I think it just comes down to being able to play with two very good players,” Henry said of his recent success. “Sam is a special player. I’ve played a lot with him the last two years. We have good chemistry. Adding Cam to that is a real nice addition. I think the three of us play a really similar game.”