University of Massachusets Athletics
Alex Berry Adjusting To Life In Minors
March 25, 2009 | Hockey
March 25, 2009
Sitting in a Toronto hotel yesterday afternoon, Alex Berry was trying to figure out what he'd order for dinner -- or even where to go.
Toronto has one of the world's greatest avenues in Yonge Street, but it's strange not knowing where the best restaurants are for Berry. The Danvers native is new in town, a just-signed member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization who has been assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
"I like steak, maybe chicken and pasta too," said the 23-year-old Berry, a fifth round draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 2005.
"You've got to remember I'm a big guy."
It would be a special dinner occasion for Berry. He was meeting lifelong friend Chris Bourque of Boxford, a fellow winger who was in Toronto with the Washington Capitals waiting to face the Maple Leafs tonight at the Air Canada Centre.
"Chris was the first person I called when I signed (last Thursday)," Berry said.
Berry is a solid, physical player who uses his size (a shade over 6-foot-3, 215 pounds) very well. Anticipating he'd be a Marlie, he told Bourque on signing day they'd be playing against each other at Hershey, Penn. this week when the Marlies visit the Bears in an American Hockey League game. The Capitals, however, called up Bourque (who grew up in Danvers) to their big club, and the guys had to meet instead for a dinner date.
Nonetheless, Berry will get to play against another Danversite, Brian McGuirk, of Syracuse's AHL club Sunday when the former Boston University captain visits the Marlies.
In what has to be one of the proudest chapters in Danvers Youth Hockey annals, the trio of Berry, Bourque and McGuirk skated on the same line as Mites and Pee-Wees. Berry has the framed photo of the line as a keepsake.
"We still talk regularly on the phone," Berry said.
Berry said he's "still in a daze" since turning pro because everything happened so fast.
The former UMass Amherst star made his pro debut in Grand Rapids, Mich. 24 hours after signing his first pro contract and was awed by a sellout crowd of 11,000. He skated the third line that night, was a healthy scratch the next night, then played vs. San Antonio, aagain on the third line, after that. He didn't have any points in those two games, but did receive two penalties vs. San Antonio and had a couple of shots on net. "The Marlies are fighting for a playoff spot, I can respect that, being scratched," Berry said. "I've gone from being a big fish in a small pond to a little fish in big pond. I'll help out whenever I'm called upon and do my best."
Berry, who signed a two-year entry level contract (meaning he'll be paid per level, minors or NHL) said he was still trying to find his legs in his pro debut at Grand Rapids, getting used to the Marlies' system and adjusting from college to the pro game.
"The transition is so different, so much faster from offense to defense. You've always got to be on the right side of the puck. No cheating or you'll get caught every time," he said.
"This is a big step. Guys in the Marlies dressing room played in the NHL. I've got to keep my nose to the grindstone, keep working hard every day."
He was 17 when selected to a USA team for the Four Nations Tournament in Slovakia. That's where Berry began thinking seriously about the pros for the first time.
"I only got to play one game there, scoring a goal and then breaking my leg on the next shift," he said. "I saw players like (Pittsburgh Penguins captain) Sidney Crosby and (Chicago Blackhawks defenseman) Cam Barker there, and I realized I might have a shot to make a living from the game some day."
"You have to prove yourself at this level, even in practice. You can't take a night off."
