Boone Jenner and the fast-approaching NHL Draft
Growing up on a cattle farm in Dorchester, Ontario as the youngest of three hockey playing brothers, Boone Jenner honed his work ethic and toughness – two traits that separate the Oshawa Generals centre from many of the top prospects for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Jenner, the 18th-rated skater on Central Scouting’s final rankings, attributes much of his development to the battles he went through with older brothers Cole and Leo, the latter a 6’5″, 220-pound rearguard who played five seasons with the Plymouth Whalers.
“They helped me for sure,” said Boone of his older siblings. “Leo went to the OHL before I did so he helped me prepare for the league.”
“We were always competing, off the ice, at home. They’re both big guys so competing against them growing up definitely made me tougher.”
Jenner was quick to heap praise on his father Matt, Boone’s coach at the Triple-A bantam level with the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, for his improvements on and off the ice.
“My dad is my biggest influence on me as a person and a player,” said Jenner in an interview with The Good Point. “He taught me about hard work, to never be satisfied and to keep improving because if you’re satisfied you’re not improving.”
Coming off a 103-point season with Elgin-Middlesex, the Generals picked Jenner fourth-overall at the 2009 OHL Priority Draft – just ahead of fellow NHL draft prospects Ryan Strome, Matthew Puempel, Brett Ritchie and Stuart Percy.
[php snippet=1]
Jenner was second in OHL rookie scoring in 2009-10 with 49 points and improved on his totals as a sophomore with 25 goals and 66 points in 2010-11. Oshawa had a much improved season in 2010-11, and Jenner, in his first OHL postseason, tallied seven goals and 12 points in just 10 games.
“I got better as the season progressed and was at my best in the playoffs,” said Jenner. “I think I play my best in the playoffs when the games are more intense.”
Jenner, listed at 6’1″ and 205 pounds and touted as a two-way centre, said he models his on ice game on Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards, a Selke Trophy finalist in 2009.
“I’ve heard other people make that comparison,” he said. “I just like the way [Richards] competes on every shift.”
Prior to the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Richards achilles heel was thought to be his skating ability, which is seen by many as Jenner’s primary weakness.
“I know there are some questions about my skating and I’ve been working on it a lot and it’s improved over the year,” said Jenner.
Mobility aside, Jenner is regarded as a complete player who is effective in any situation.
“The phrase, ‘I want 20 of those guys on my team,’ gets overused, but it not only applies to Boone, he can be the poster boy for it,” said Central Scouting‘s Chris Edwards.
“Boone does what it takes to win. He blocks shots, wins battles along the boards and is an outstanding forechecker. He wants to be first to the puck every time.”
Jenner will be surrounded by familiar faces in the prospect ranks on June 24th as there are three Oshawa Generals skaters projected to go in the first two rounds of the draft; Jenner as well as wingers Nicklas Jensen and Lucas Lessio.
“It was great that we were all rated high,” said Jenner. “The main thing for me is to play for Oshawa. If the team is doing good, it’s good for Nicklas, it’s good for Lucas and it’s good for me.”
And the veterans on the Generals roster have helped the young trio of prospects prepare for what lies ahead. Oshawa captain, and New York Islanders 2009 first-round pick, Calvin de Haan and Generals’ leading scorer Christian Thomas, the New Rangers second-round pick in 2010, have told Jenner to savour the draft experience.
“I’ve talked to both guys all year about the draft, the combine and everything else,” said Jenner. “The main thing they say is to enjoy it and soak it up, that it’s going to be one of the best times of my life.”
***
Check out more of The Good Point’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft Prospects Series.
[php snippet=1]
