Kennedy Article
By Dave Pollard
At one point in his Ontario Hockey League career, it appeared Matt Kennedy was never going to be more than a gritty, hard-working winger with limited offensive upside and an even more remote chance at a professional career.
But Kennedy apparently wasn’t happy with that lot in life and decided to do something about it. He used the work ethic and never-say-die attitude that first earned him a spot with the Guelph Storm to enhance his game enough that scoring 40 goals is a very real possibility and a future in pro hockey is no longer just a dream. Kennedy’s transformation from plugger to premiere OHL forward is remarkable even to the people around him every day during the season.
“He’s evolved as a player, from a checking line guy to a guy who is a threat offensively,” Storm head coach and general manager Jason Brooks said, shaking his head in the negative when asked if he could have predicted what Kennedy would become in his third full OHL season. “He’s added the element of offence to his game. It’s a credit to Matt. He’s worked so hard at his game over the last couple of summers. Through maturity, he’s turned into a potential professional hockey player.”
The metamorphosis of Kennedy became complete last season, his first as the Storm captain. He finished 2008-09 with a team-high 33 goals and 73 points, up from 17 goals and 21 points in his second full season with the Storm. Even more impressive was that he put up those offensive totals for a team that averaged just 3.32 goals per game.
General managers around the league thought enough of Kennedy to vote him to the third OHL all-star team. The Carolina Hurricanes liked Kennedy so much they made him a fifth-round draft pick in June, opening the door to another opportunity when his junior career ends.
“From my first day here, I’m pretty much a completely different player,” Kennedy said.
That’s not to say Kennedy, now in his over-age season with the Storm, has abandoned his original approach to the game. He’s simply enhanced his skill-set to the point where a 40-goal season is not beyond the realm of possibility.
“You get a lot of confidence out of something like (scoring 30-plus goals),” Kennedy said. “I’m coming in with a lot more confidence. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little bit of pressure. You almost have to take that in stride. I’ve kind of been a guy who doesn’t set personal goals. If I score 10 goals or if I score 30 goals, if the team is winning that’s all that matters.”
Kennedy is well aware that his inflated point total from a season ago will inevitably lead to higher expectations from fans and the media this season. But that doesn’t mean the coaching staff, particularly Brooks, expects him to find the net every night.
“I expect him to do what he does,” Brooks said. “By playing hard he’s going to create (scoring) opportunities for himself. If he creates chances, he’s going to get those goals. He’s (still) a heart and soul type guy, a mucker and grinder.”
Brooks is quick to admit he never expected to have Kennedy back in a Storm uniform this season. Kennedy played four games in the American Hockey League after the Storm was eliminated from the playoffs last spring and Brooks expected him to sign with the Hurricanes and begin his pro career, not return to Guelph.
“He told me things didn’t work out there but I didn’t want to believe it until I picked him up (at the airport), Brooks said. “You want the kid to move to the next level but because that’s what he wanted to do. But we’re happy to have him back. He’s a big part of our team. I can imagine it’s tough on him. He went to that camp with the expectation of being there. I’m sure there’s going to be an adjustment period.”
When Kennedy couldn’t come to terms on a two-way contract with the Hurricanes he rejoined the Storm, making it back just in time for the season opener. He thought his time in junior was over but, now that he’s back in Guelph, the excitement has returned.
“I was hoping to make the jump to the professional ranks this year,” Kennedy said. “I felt my better option was to come back to Guelph. It was a real good experience but I thought at the end of the day, this is where I wanted to play. You always have second thoughts when you’re getting on the plane. I definitely have some unfinished business here in Guelph. Everyone has treated me really well here so it would be nice to bring a championship back to Guelph.”
The chances of that happening improve dramatically with Kennedy in the lineup.
“It’s a boost to our team,” Brooks said. “It’s a boost to the offence, to the leadership, to the penalty kill. It gives us a consummate leader. He’s professional in his demeanor, in his attitude. He will try to bring back what he learned in Carolina and instill that in these young guys. And it helps take some pressure off guys, too.”
Dave Pollard is Senior Sports Editor with www.canoe.ca
Throughout the 2008/09 season, articles written by Dave Pollard will be published exclusively on GuelphStorm.com.
