Pecker adds a new dimension to his game

By Aaron Bell

When Cory Pecker broke his forearm sliding into the end boards in an October 27th game against the Belleville Bulls, it would have been easy for the 20-year-old center to write off the 2001-02 season.

Pecker isn’t one to take the easy way out.

The Erie Otters forward made a commitment to himself and to coach Dave MacQueen that he’d be back in the lineup when center Brad Boyes and defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo left for the World Junior Championships in mid-December.

“I wanted to come back then because I didn’t want the team to have to play without Brad, Carlo and myself,” Pecker said. “That was really important for me.”

True to his word, Pecker made his return with a playing cast six weeks later, just three days before Boyes and Colaiacovo departed for the World Junior Team final selection camp in Toronto on December 10.

“It just shows what kind of character he has and the leader he has become,” said MacQueen. “It would have been easy for him to come back in January when everyone else was back. He pushed at it and worked extremely hard at getting that arm back in shape.”

Pecker made his presence felt right away, assisting on Colaiacovo’s game-tying goal late in the third period. The following night, he scored two goals, including the game-winner in a 3-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack.

Since his return, Pecker has been scoring goals at an awesome pace. He became the second player this season to hit the 50-goal mark (Miguel Delisle of the Ottawa 67’s leads the OHL with 51 goals) and the first to accomplish the feat in an Otters’ uniform. The milestone goal was Pecker’s third of the night in a 5-4 win over the Kitchener Rangers March 2.

“It was a nice thing,” Pecker said of his 50th. “They’ve been talking about it for a long time here. On the play, I was just standing beside the net on a powerplay and Carlo Colaiacovo made a great pass and all I did was tip it in.

“As soon as it went in, I realized that it was my 50th, and then the crowd started to stand up. It was a nice feeling. My teammates were really happy, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Pecker, who was the first round pick of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1997, came into the season with high expectations. He scored 39 points in 30 games with the Otters last season after a mid-season trade from Sault Ste. Marie. He finished the season with a career-high 41 goals and 79 points.

“I had set that goal before the season,” said Pecker of the 50-goal plateau. “But then I broke my arm in October, and I didn’t really set any goals after that.

“I said to myself ‘I’m out of the scoring race, I’m out of the goal race, so why don’t I just go out and play?’ With that mentality, I just came back and I started scoring a lot and that put me right back in the race.”

Pecker is the Otters’ leader in goals (50), assists (41) and points (91), despite missing 12 games with the broken arm. He was named the OHL player of the month in January and February.

“It’s always nice to get these awards, but I go out every night and just try to do my job and help the team,” he said. “I’ve been in the league a long time and every night that I go out there I just try to do my best. I just try to do whatever I can for the team.”

Pecker, who was drafted by Calgary in 1999, became a free agent after failing to reach a deal with the Flames. He attended the St. Louis Blues training camp in September before returning to the Otters.

The knock against Pecker in the past was that he wasn’t dependable in the defensive zone, something he worked hard at with MacQueen to correct.

“The big thing that he’s done this year is worked hard on his all around game,” said MacQueen. “Even though he’s scoring at a tremendous pace, he’s become very responsible in all areas of the game.”

Pecker is determined to show the pro scouts that he is more than a one-dimensional player.

“I put up pretty decent numbers last year, and I didn’t get a great chance at the pros, so I just wanted to change my style a little bit,” he said. “I wanted to concentrate on my defensive play. That was the most important part for me.”

His coach is surprised that there hasn’t been more interest in the OHL star from the professional ranks.

“He has a knack for scoring,” said MacQueen. “With goal scoring down in the pro game, I don’t think it would be much of a risk for someone to take a shot at him.

“He was strictly known as an offensive player and he’s become very responsible in the defensive zone and he’s playing with a lot of grit right now.”

After the individual accomplishments that Pecker has earned this season, he is likely to get another shot at the NHL. In the meantime, his focus is on some unfinished playoff business.

Despite winning the OHL’s regular season championship in 1999-00, the Otters lost to the Plymouth Whalers in the conference finals. The two teams are once again leading their respective divisions and may be headed for a rematch.

“I think we’ve got a great playoff team,” said Pecker. “If you look at our team top to bottom, we have everything. Last year we got to the (Western) Conference final and this year we want to take it a few steps further.”

Pecker is ready to lead the way.