NEWS

(pictured - Henry "Hank" Thompson, captain of the Whitby Fury, is the epitome of a leader both on-and-off the ice with his club - photo credit:  Andy Corneau/OJHL Images)

The rigours of a Junior ‘A’ hockey season can take their toll on even the most seasoned veteran.  On top of games, daily practices and late night bus trips, there is also the task of maintaining the school side of things.  For the older players, substitute a part-time job for school. That’s what a typical Junior ‘A’ player experiences throughout a season. Now, imagine if you had to start your season off on the road for 10 games with a young team. It could be the end of the season before it even begins if you don’t have strong leadership.  Enter Henry Thompson, or "Hank" as he’s referred to by his coaches and teammates.  The fourth year Fury forward, and captain, used a negative as a positive and got his team off to a quick start for the 2014-15 campaign.  

“I think it was good for us. It gave us a crash course in the toughest part of the league, playing away games in tough barns. We caught a couple teams off guard as well, thinking that we’d be an easy game. There’s also no better way for guys to bond than on long road trips. We had a couple lengthy ones to start the year, and it helped bring the guys closer together. We’ll play better for it.”

Henry Thompson is a Whitby Fury, through and through.  He comes from Oshawa and played his 'AAA' hockey for the Minor Generals. Despite being drafted by the Ottawa 67’s, Henry chose to keep his schooling options open and go the Junior 'A' route.  So far, it’s proven to be a good decision.  In the four years he’s been in Whitby, Thompson has been a big part of their offence.  And, as easy as it would’ve been for the team to name him captain based on his offensive contributions alone, head coach Tom Boyle had many more reasons for the selection.

“Hank, as he is known by his fellow players and staff, was selected to be the team captain by myself for several reasons.  One reason being the fact that he has been a member of the Fury his entire junior hockey career and I have witnessed him mature into the leader he is today. Hank is a quiet leader, leads by example both in practices and in games and has earned the respect of his fellow players.  He is a great role model for all the younger players on the team.”

“Hank” understands what it means to be captain.  While some players would feel it adds extra pressure, Henry sees it as a compliment and a boost of confidence.  

“It’s a big vote of confidence from the coaching staff and management that they trust you to know how to conduct yourself on and off the ice, and that you know how to set an example for the rest of the guys. It was a big honour for me and I’ve been excited to wear the ‘C’ all year.”

It’s been a long time coming for the career Whitby Fury forward.  He’s also spent time under some good captains during his tenure and learned a lot of things that helped groom him for the role.

“Chris Raguseo was our captain my first two years in the league. He was a great captain, vocal on the bench and in the room, played his butt (sic) off, really skilled player, great guy. I looked up to him as an example of how to play junior the right way. Connor Hale, our captain last year, was another great guy. He was a friend as well as a captain to me, and he showed me how to create a balance between being friends with the guys and being a leader. They were both quality guys and quality captains.”  

In his first year in the OJHL, the Fury made it all the way to the league final before bowing out to the Stouffville Spirit.  Since then, they have struggled to obtain that same level of success.  Thompson has taken the playoff struggles in stride, though, and feels that the team has used them as learning experiences.  

“Each year we had enough pieces to make it all the way, but top guys ran into slumps, or we had some bounces that didn’t go our way. With that experience though, we have some guys this year who saw what happened last year, who saw what happened two years ago and know how to buckle down and work through tough times like that. I think we’re poised to make a good run.”

Thompson started this season as one of the few veterans on a young Whitby Fury team.  Because of the inexperience and youth in the lineup, a lot of people saw the Fury as a fourth or fifth place finisher in a deep East Division that typically has teams finding success with veteran rosters.  At roughly the halfway point in the season, the Fury are much better than a fourth or fifth place team.  They currently sit in a tie for third (it can change on any given night) and were, and still are, knocking at the door of first place.  "Hank" credits their early season success to timely trades, young guys stepping up and catching teams taking them lightly.  

“It’s tough to tell in junior how teams will mesh and how their pre-season lineups will look compared to their in-season lineups. We brought in a lot of young guys who have had big impacts, and we’ve made some trades that have worked out well. As for flying under the radar, I think it can be positive or negative depending on how you spin it. We know we’re much better than a fourth or fifth place team, and our play so far this season, as well as our spot in the standings reflects that.”

Henry, as mentioned above, has spent his entire career in Whitby.  Each year he has progressed, building upon his previous years totals, but also having his role expanded.  There’s been a lot of off-ice work that has gone into getting to the next level, but there’s also an element of experience that has played a part and he knows this.

“It starts in the offseason. Each year I feel I’ve been more dedicated to offseason training than I was the year before. I’ve gotten bigger and I’ve gotten to be a better skater each year. Another huge aspect is time in the league, getting used to the speed of the league, what you can get away with, what plays are the right plays and a lot of that knowledge can only come from experience. My role on the team has also changed every year, culminating with this year, where I feel like I’m a threat to score and I’m a guy who is counted on every game.” 

The bigger and better skater part hasn’t gone unnoticed.  In a game where all the players look so much alike now, Tom Boyle says that’s the aspect of his game that makes him stand out above the rest.

“Hank’s size and strength make him stand out.  Hank is your proto-typical power forward. He is big and strong, hard for opposition 'D' to handle down low in the opposition’s zone.  I often refer to Hank as the 'beast in the east'".

Although the Fury are in the middle of a tight battle for East supremacy, it doesn’t mean Thompson isn’t looking ahead.  For many of these guys, competitive hockey won’t continue without an education component to it.  Henry realizes this and has given it some thought, but yet to settle on a final offer.

“My plans are to go to school and play hockey, either at the NCAA or CIS level. I’m a really good student, so I’m not willing to sacrifice my education at any cost, but I know that I can succeed in hockey past the junior level. I’ve seriously considered offers to play College and University hockey, but haven’t as of yet made a decision as to where I will be playing.”

Eventually, Hank’s time in the junior hockey ranks will come to an end.  A championship is his ultimate goal, but after that, Thompson would like to be remembered in a different way.

“We’ve been successful over my four years in the league because younger guys have stepped up when older guys have moved on. I know that culture of fostering new players and moving them on to bigger and better things will continue with this year and beyond, especially considering the quality young players we have this year. When guys become better players, I always like to think that they see the way I play, and they see the way our other leaders play, and they learn from us. When guys use me an example on the ice and remember for the way I played, then I think I’ve done my job and left a quality legacy.”

That last quote gives you a good idea of who Henry Thompson is as both a hockey player, and a person.  Sometimes, the success of a season is measured in more than wins and loses.