Throughout the year we will be catching up with former players and coaches who were formerly affiliated with Alaska Hockey. Many Nanooks are still involved in the sport all around the globe and are continuing to follow their dreams.
In our third installment, we feature former defenseman
Jordan Hendry, who played for the Nanooks from 2002-06.
In his four years in Fairbanks, Hendry accrued 11 goals and 25 assists in 112 career games. During his career, he helped the Nanooks claim four Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup titles against Alaska Anchorage and three winning seasons.
Professionally, he played in the American Hockey League and National Hockey League, as well as overseas. Most notably, he was a member of the 2010 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, where he spent four seasons playing (2007-11). Last year, he appeared in a pair of games with the Anaheim Ducks while playing most the season in the AHL with the Norfolk Admirals.
Currently, he plays for the Straubing Tigers of Deutsche Eishockey Liga (Germany) where he has three goals and one assists in three games, all wins. But during the summer, Hendry spends his time back in Fairbanks!
Now, let's take a look at what Hendry had to say about his past career at Alaska and his career going forward.
Q: Talk about your experience with the Alaska hockey program and how it prepared you for where you are now.
A: My experience at UAF was great! Everything from my teammates to coaches to living in Alaska was exceptional. I had four of my best years while attending school and playing hockey at UAF. I had great coaches that knew a lot about the game and that helped me succeed once I left UAF in 2006. I learned how to train like a pro from
Mike Curtin, which put me a step ahead when it came to being prepared physically once I turned pro. Coach Gadowsky, Macmillan, and Ferguson were also huge parts to my success during my time at UAF as well as preparing for the pro ranks.
Q: What was your favorite moment while in Fairbanks and a part of the program?
A: My favorite moments were winning the Governor's Cup four years in a row. As a freshman, it seemed impossible to win four years in a row but with good recruiting classes coming in each year, Kelly Czuy and I were able to win it all four of our years there!
Q: What do you miss most about playing here?
A: I miss how close all the teams were each season. It was awesome living on campus away from home with 25 great guys. I also miss playing at a sold out Carlson Center, great fans in Fairbanks!
Q: What does being a Nanook mean to you?
A: It means a lot to me. UAF and the hockey program gave me a lot to be thankful for as a hockey player and a student. I was able to graduate with a business finance degree at the same time I was chasing down the dream to one day to play in the NHL. I am proud to be a Nanook!
Q: How much of a role did your experience with the Alaska Nanooks play into you following your career path?
A: I think my time spent at UAF I grew up a lot as a person and an athlete. In sports sometimes people blossom at different times and for me UAF was great for me to get better as an athlete as well as get my degree, which was very important to me.
Q: Talk about what you do now professionally. What are the perks of doing what you do and what it means to you that you've made a career in hockey?
A: I am still "living the dream" as they say. I still get to play hockey for a living. The perks of this sport is that it is such a popular game around the world I am able to play in many different countries. From a kid growing on a farm from Saskatchewan, hockey has taken me to Alaska, all over Canada and the U.S., Switzerland, Germany and Finland. I have been able to meet many great people and also made some great friends along the way. Also, it's pretty great having summers off just working out, fishing, hunting and enjoying life in Alaska.
Q: How often are you able to watch/keep up with the program?
A: Unfortunately I don't get to watch UAF play because I am still playing and our schedules never seem to work out where I can get away to watch a game. It would be great to watch them play though.
Q: The Nanooks are beginning a new era in the WCHA this season. What do you see as the advantages of them joining a new conference with the teams they'll face on a nightly basis? How does Alaska match up with some of the new competitors in your opinion?
A: I think it is great for the program. They will face off against some new teams and instantly gain some new rivals. With some of the bigger schools in a different conference, I think it creates a chance for UAF to do well in their conference and be a very competitive for years to come.
Q: What message would you like to send to the Alaska Nanooks fans?
A: Good luck this season and keep up the great tradition of UAF having the best fans in the league!
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