University of Denver forward Troy Terry is just the third American — and second Pioneer — to win a World Junior Championship gold medal and NCAA championship in the same season. He can build on that.
Terry, a sophomore from Highlands Ranch, won’t be eligible to play for the under-20 U.S. World Junior team next season, but DU is hoping he returns to play for possible back-to-back national championships. But Terry’s stock is high, and the Anaheim Ducks prospect might be tempted to sign his NHL entry-level contract if the Ducks present it.
Terry, 19, is among four players with remaining eligibility who are expected to receive NHL contract offers. The others: sophomore center Dylan Gambrell (San Jose Sharks), freshman center Henrik Borgstrom (Florida Panthers) and junior defenseman Tariq Hammond (unrestricted free agent).
“Right now, I’m still enjoying this. But I want to come back,” said Terry, who was given the Dallas Gaume Award as DU’s best offensive player at the team’s annual banquet Friday night at Magness Arena. “I want to have everyone come back and have this feeling again next year. Right now, I’m all set on coming back. There’s obviously some talks that will happen, but I’m all for coming back and want to continue to be a Pioneer.”
Terry’s World Junior Championship-NCAA championship double as an American has only been matched by former DU defenseman Matt Carle (2005) and former Boston College forward Chris Krieder (2010).
“That’s pretty cool, because I watched Matt Carle do it in ’05,” Terry said. “I was 8. Just to be able to follow them and be in a club like that is pretty cool.”
Meanwhile, DU heard senior speeches from nine players, including six who played in last Saturday’s NCAA championship victory over Minnesota-Duluth in Chicago: forwards Evan Janssen, Matt Marcinew, Emig Romig and Evan Ritt, and defensemen Will Butcher and Matt VanVoorhis.
Senior goalie Evan Cowley of Evergreen was not in attendance. A 2013 draft pick of the Florida Panthers, Cowley signed a contract with the Panthers’ ECHL affilate, the Reading (Pa.) Royals, for the rest of the season. He delivered his senior speech on video.
“They were unreal,” fourth-year DU coach Jim Montgomery said of his nine seniors. “I feel like I’m graduating with them, because I came in with them. It’s been awesome to watch you guys come in as young men and become men.”
DU’s award winners: Barry Sharp Award (freshman of the year): Borgstrom; Murray Armstrong Memorial Award (most improved): Ritt; Dr. Ralph Verploeg Award (most inspirational): Romig and Ritt; Dr. Ken Bredesen Memorial Award (sportsmanship): Colin Staub, sophomore forward; Dr. Art Mason Memorial Award (top scholar athlete): senior goalie Greg Ogard; Keith Magnuson Memorial Award (best defensive player): junior goalie Tanner Jaillet and junior defenseman Adam Plant; Bob Martin Memorial Award (community service): senior forward Brad Hawkinson; Dallas Gaum Award (best offensive player): Terry; Bill Masterton Memorial Award (MVP): Butcher; Daniel Ritchie Spirit Award (alumnus, friend of the program): Don Cameron.