There was a built in excuse if Jack Drury had a subpar game in his return to the Harvard lineup on Tuesday night. The 18 year-old freshman returned two days prior from representing the United States at the 2019 World Junior Championship. He had played seven games in eleven days as he and his teammates earned the Silver Medal in Vancouver.
However, excuses aren’t what Drury is all about. With the help of a pregame nap, Drury was dominant at the faceoff dot, came up with a huge block on the penalty kill, and had an assist on the team’s second goal in a 2-2 tie against crosstown rival Boston University.
“I’m hanging in there. I had a good nap before the game. It will be nice to get into a good schedule,” said Drury, who will have a few days to rest before Harvard returns to action Friday night at Princeton.
“Those guys are tired,” said Harvard head coach Ted Donato, referring to Drury and the two BU players who also were returning from the World Juniors. “You play on that stage, that many games, with that much passion and emotion.”
Despite the Americans falling just short against Finland in the Gold Medal game, Drury said there were positives and learning experiences to be taken from the event.
“The margin between winning and losing is so small. That last game came down to the last few minutes. One little slip up in a big game can cost you big time. That’s good experience and good motivation for next year,” said Drury who will be eligible to compete for the U.S. again next December.
“It was really special to be surrounded by great players and to get to be in Canada where they love hockey so much. It was a lot of fun,” Drury added.
A second round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Drury has all the characteristics of being a leader on and off the ice for the foreseeable future.
“Jack Drury is a warrior. He was super excited to get back in the lineup. Having him in there gives our group a boost. He does a lot of the little things that teammates and coaches appreciate,” Donato complimented.
Those little things that teammates and coaches appreciate include winning draws, key blocks on the penalty kill, and seemingly always being on the right side of the puck. Drury’s hockey sense is noticeable from just watching a few shifts.
“We have a tight team and everyone is pulling for each other. That stuff comes naturally. We have good leaders and good guys on our team so everyone wants to do the little things out there. It’s the stuff that dictates if you win or lose a game. We’re all just trying to get those little things done,” said a very humble Drury.
One quantifiable statistic in the category of doing all the little things is faceoffs. Drury won 15 of the 21 draws he took on Tuesday night.
“It’s something we work on in practice a lot. We had (Harvard alum and former NHL journeyman) Dom Moore here for the first half of the year. He helped all of the centers out and that was big. Jack Badini is a great faceoff guy too so getting to learn from all the guys around me helps,” said Drury.
His coach certainly appreciates Drury’s strength at the faceoff circle as it helps the Crimson keep the puck on their side.
“It’s important, especially on the power play, to start with possession. We had a lot of zone time and it starts with having possession right away. He did a nice job. Those guys have had really good numbers throughout the year. It’s a very underrated key point in the game,” Donato stressed.
Leading up to Drury’s selection in the 2018 draft, there were no detractors when it came to his two-way play at the center ice position. Almost unanimously, scouts and NHL organizations valued his hockey sense, defensive zone play, and intangibles. However, there was concern regarding how his skating would hold up as he climbed the development ladder.
It’s been a point of emphasis for Drury as he takes advantage of the extra practice time and the opportunity in the weight room.
“My skating is the biggest thing. My stride and my strength with that,” said Drury when asked what he’s been working on most since his arrival at Harvard. “It was something going into the year I knew I needed to work on. It’s something I need to continue working on.”
“At the college level, you have that extra time to work out in the weight room. (Harvard Strength & Conditioning Coach) Tim Mullen has helped me a lot,” he added.
Along with the coaching staff, another former NHL player who is back on campus has been helping Drury when it comes to his stride. Louis Leblanc, a first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2009, is back on campus as he finishes his degree.
“A lot of good practice time. The coaches have been awesome helping me out with it. Lou Leblanc helps out the team. He played in the NHL and he has given me a couple tips to help me out. I’m just trying to be a sponge and soak in what everyone tells me,” said Drury.
Drury has four goals and nine assists through his first 12 games in a Crimson uniform. He tries to model his game after three NHL centers who have made a career out of contributing in major ways at both ends of the ice.
“Good two-way centers who can also create offense like Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews and Jonathan Tavares,” said Drury, who hails from Winnetka, Ill. “They’re all special players to watch. Those are the types of guys who are winners and I try to emulate them.”
Jack’s father, Ted Drury, also played at Harvard from 1989 to 1993, captaining the Crimson during his senior season prior to a lengthy NHL career. If the Drury name sounds familiar, it’s because the familial connections don’t stop there. His uncle, Chris Drury, won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as a senior at Boston University in 1998 and won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001.
It’s really no wonder the younger Drury already conducts himself like a pro on and off the ice. He’ll be a major part of the Crimson’s success down the stretch this season and for the next few years before embarking on his own pro career.
“Our all-around game and playing 60 minutes,” said Drury of the keys to sustained success in the second half for a Harvard team that stands at 6-4-3. “We have some skilled players on offense up and down the lineup. If we can dial it in in the ‘D’ zone and play a full 60 minutes hard every night and do the little things the right way I think we can be pretty successful.”
