The Ontario Hockey League announced Monday that Plymouth Whalers captain Chris Terry has been named the inaugural recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy. Terry received the award at a press conference held at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre.
The Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy is awarded annually to the Ontario Hockey League member team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice as well as hard work, passion and dedication to the game of hockey and their community.
Terry also received the OHL's Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy as Humanitarian of the Year this season.
"There are a lot of other great captains and leaders in this league that are very deserving of this award," Terry said. "That's what makes this award a great honor and very special to me. Although this is an individual award, there's a lot of people I share this with. First, my teammates in Plymouth were great this year. I also share this award with (alternate captains) Joe Gaynor, Kaine Geldart, AJ Jenks and Michal Jordan. They were great captains in the locker room and they'll continue to be throughout their careers.
"I thank the Plymouth Whalers organization and in particular Mike Vellucci for giving me an opportunity at 16 to not only play in this league, but to have the opportunity to become a better person on and off the ice. Lastly, I'd like to thank my parents (John and Dianne) for their support, not only over the last four years in the OHL, but throughout my whole hockey career and instilling good leadership qualities.
"This award is a true honor to me because Mickey was a great player and a fierce competitor on the ice. Not only was he a good captain on the ice, but he was also a good captain within the city of Windsor. That's what makes this award special to me, to be the first recipient, and it's something I'll cherish the rest of my life."
A panel of OHL media members worked as a committee in examining the nominations of the 20 captains throughout the league this season.
"The spirit of this award is embodying what Mickey Renaud was all about - his presence, what he meant as a leader in the dressing room and in the community, and how he tried to live his life," said Ontario Hockey League commissioner David Branch. "It was interesting for me as a bystander to watch the process and see how quickly our committee came to a consensus on this year's winner. That's a tribute to Chris and what he means on and off the ice."
"I'm so proud of Chris," said Vellucci. "He's done so much for our community and our organization. I get a lot of credit for our turnaround (in 2008-09), but Chris had more to do with it than me. The captain is an extension of the coaching staff and when the change was made in coaching this season, Chris was remarkable. Not only did he make so many great plays on the ice, but he did so much off the ice as well - from curfew checks, to suggestions, to different things like leadership in the locker room. He was a leader in setting up school visits and hospital visits and all of those kinds of things. He's just a remarkable kid.
"When we talked about this award and the Humanitarian Award, his teammates wanted to speak up on his behalf. We did a video on him and all his teammates lined up to talk about what a great person Chris is."
"We are very pleased and honored that this award was created in Mickey's name," said Mark Renaud, Mickey's father. "Mickey was a quality person and we are grateful that so many of his attributes are captured in this award. We are also very pleased that Chris Terry is the first recipient since he is such a terrific hockey player and a very special person. He is certainly a fine leader and a great captain."
Terry will be formally presented with the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy and the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy at the OHL Awards Banquet on June 3.
Photo courtesy Dave Pickford/Windsor Spitfires
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