Throughout the month of August, BismarckBobcats.com will be taking a one-by-one look at the players on the Bobcats’ Training Camp Roster. Today’s installment covers second-year veteran forward Terry Hennen.
Name: Terry Hennen
Position: Forward
Hometown: Champlin, MN
2011-12 Team: Bismarck Bobcats
2011-12 Stats: 1 GP, +1, 0 PIM
Favorite Food: Fettuccine Alfredo
Favorite TV Show: Friday Night Lights
Highlight of 2011-12: “When Donald Olivieri scored against the Russian Red Stars, it gave us the confidence that we could beat anyone, even an international all-star team”
In Training
During the 2011-12 season, Terry Hennen recorded just one regular season game for the Bismarck Bobcats, logging a +1 rating in the Cats’ 4-3 win at Minot on December 3. Despite his limited ice time, Hennen was a full participant in the team’s practices and off-ice training.
“Being able to train with the team and be with the guys through the season was really valuable to me,” noted Hennen, who made the Bobcats out of the 2011 Main Camp out of Champlin Park High School outside of Minneapolis. “I was able to get into junior hockey shape and learn what it takes to play at this level consistently.”
His team-first attitude and strong work ethic made it an easy decision for Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie to keep Hennen in training with the Cats.
“Terry’s a great teammate to the guys and is a hard worker on and off the ice,” credited Sedevie. “His work ethic can be infectious, and will be important for him going forward with Bobcat Hockey.”
Hennen’s commitment to the program did not go unrewarded; the former Rebel earned a spot on the Cats’ roster for the Russian Red Stars showdown on December 21st.
“Playing against the Russians was such an unreal experience. The fans were great and it was such a fun game to be a part of.”
As a player born in 1993, Hennen still has two years of eligibility remaining in the NAHL, so his year of training with the Bobcats has set him up for a shot at a productive two years in black and gold.
Honing His Craft
On the advice of Sedevie, Hennen has been refining his two-way game with a focus on defense for 2012-13.
“Terry has the kind of game that translates well to a defensive stopper as a forward,” expressed Sedevie. “He’s a hard worker and he’s got a good base of strength from spending a full year in our Healthways program with strength coach Mike Salwei.
“The missing piece is that I want to see him be more physical.”
Hennen responded to his coach’s challenge by stepping up his offseason training and showing up to Main Camp in late July with an edge to his game. His efforts did not go unnoticed by his teammates.
“I was really impressed with Terry’s game at Main Camp,” stated second-year defenseman Rory Vesel. “He was really strong and physical and solid in his own end. If he can play that way every day, he’ll have a breakout year.”
Physicality was a focus for Hennen, not only at Main Camp, but also in his on-ice practice during the summer.
“Playing tough isn’t something that you can do drills or get muscle memory for,” said Hennen, “it’s all a mental thing. I have to focus on being more physical and tougher to play against.”
Nobody questioned Hennen’s toughness at Main Camp: after taking a high stick that required 11 stitches in his nose in the final game of Saturday, the second-year forward was back out on the ice Sunday morning to participate fully in the Camp-closing All-Star Game—albeit with a full facemask instead of a half shield.
High Hopes
Hennen is the latest returning Bobcats to have a glowing review of the talent on hand at Main Camp in July.
“Our forwards are already really deep,” he assessed, “and I was impressed with the defensive style of our ‘D’ corps. The real surprise was the goalies: I really liked [Bryan] Nies from Red River.”
Such an early preponderance of talent has Hennen thinking big things for the 2012-13 installment of the Bobcats.
“We all already feel like this team has a chance to challenge last season’s wins record,” Hennen said, referencing the 2011-12 squad’s franchise-record 45 wins, “and hopefully even more.
“We want to be able to finish what we started last year and bring home the Robertson Cup.”
Stay tuned to BismarckBobcats.com over the next month as we take you in-depth with every player on the Training Camp Roster in preparation for the 2012-13 season. We will close out the week Friday with #1 draft pick Kevin Becker.