From an Otter to a Panther
Kurtis Henry is pumped for the next chapter of his hockey career.
The 21-year-old Niagara Falls native has committed to the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers after three seasons with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
“I’ve been looking forward to it all summer, just getting back to the arena and being around all the guys again and playing hockey again,” said Henry, who will major in sociology. “I’m really fired up and excited to get out there.”
Henry, who left for PEI this week, said he had some interesting opportunities.
“I had a few suiters but UPEI was my best option,” he said. “They have a really good team and I played with a few of the guys on the team and they are really high-end players.
“It was the best team I could go to and they host the national championship next year which also caught my attention. They’re trying to build up and get a good team for that.”
Henry joins Troy Lajeunesse, Owen Headrick and forward Kyle Maksimovich as former Otters on the Panthers. Former Niagara IceDogs defenceman Matt Brassard is also a member of the team.
Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson is eager to have Henry join the Panthers.
“Kurtis is a well-rounded defenceman with a lot of elements and assets to his game,” MacPherson said in story posted on the team’s web site. “It seemed to be a good fit for both sides, and we were excited to receive a commitment from him pretty early in the process.”
The Panthers are looking to improve their defence after permitting the second-most goals (139) during the 2019-20 season.
“We’re excited about what Kurtis brings to the table and the potential of adding to our top D pairings,” MacPherson said. “However, there will be a transition into this league, and if Kurtis is prepared and ready to go, he could be a key piece immediately.”
Henry is well aware he will need to work hard to make the jump to university hockey.
“Coming into it I wasn’t really expecting it to be much harder than the OHL because the OHL is such a prestigious league, but talking to a lot of people I’ve been hearing the jump to this level is going to be higher than the OHL,” he said. “A lot of guys that play are from the OHL and they’re older now, they’re men, so I really think it’s going to be good hockey. It’s going to be another step and another challenge I’m excited to work for.”
With the 2010/21 OHL season cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, Henry is even more enthusiastic than usual to get started.
“It was a long 16 months just being away from the game for so long and being out of that team environment,” he said. “You realize that there will be life without hockey at some point and not to take it for granted because I really enjoy being on a team and playing with a team.”
Henry began his junior career with his hometown Niagara Falls Canucks before making the jump to the Otters.
He relishes both experiences.
“I can’t thank the Canucks and Erie Otters enough,” he said. “The Canucks brought me in when I was young and showed me the way of junior hockey. It was awesome. It was one of my most fun years being home and playing in front of my family and friends while also getting the junior hockey experience.
“Moving to Erie and being away with a billet family was another great experience and the level of hockey is so crazy, it’s so high, so I have a lot of great memories with my teammates and made a ton of friends who can be friends for life.
“I don’t know where I’d be without those experiences.”
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