Carey Terrance is on the path to a professional hockey career, but the Anaheim Ducks prospect couldn't resist the itch to pick up a lacrosse stick again.
The 18-year-old center, who was selected by the Ducks in the second round (No. 59) of the 2023 NHL Draft, was coaxed to suit up for the Akwesasne Thunder lacrosse team and helped them qualify for the Founders Cup tournament, which was held in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, from Aug. 14-19.
Akwesasne defeated the Six Nations Rebels in four games in the best-of-5 Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League final to earn the trip to Port Coquitlam. Terrance had a goal and three assists in a 9-5 win against Six Nations in Game 3.
"I think throughout the summer watching them play, there was always a little bit of an itch for me," Terrance said. "When I got back, my dad owns the team, and he was kind of in my ear about it. At the start of the season I'd say no, but when I got back it was playoffs, the arena was getting packed, and it was exciting. I just wanted to put on the pads and get the stick back in my hands. It was good for me, I think.
"Around here on the reservation, lacrosse is kind of bigger than hockey because it's kind of our sport. We call it the Creator's game, and I've been playing it as long as hockey. I always took time off hockey in the summer, and I would go play lacrosse with all my friends from home. I think it was good for me to take time away from hockey and play with my friends at home at a young age, which I didn't get to do much in hockey because I was always away playing."
Terrance did not make the trip to Port Coquitlam, deciding instead to focus on his upcoming hockey season. He had 47 points (30 goals, 17 assists) in 67 games last season with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League, where he will play again this season.
Although he did not travel to the Founders Cup, which is a six-team tournament, Terrance kept a close eye on Akwesasne, which advanced to the gold-medal game before losing 9-7 to the Edmonton Warriors on Saturday.
"With my dad as the owner, I'm obviously really close with the team," Terrance said. "In that final game of the Ontario championship, you kind of had to be there and experience it to be able to put it into words what it was like. You couldn't find a seat in the arena at home, it's called the A'nowara'ko:wa Arena, and if you walked around and tried to find a seat you couldn't, you had to stand and I think the rails on the standing room was two deep, which was crazy. They were over capacity for sure, but they let people in because everyone wanted to see us win."
Winning a provincial championship was a big deal for Akwesasne, as was Terrance's selection in the NHL Draft earlier this summer.
Following the draft, Terrance attended Anaheim's development camp before returning home to Akwesasne, where he received a hero's welcome. The community held a watch party and celebrated his selection, and a congratulatory message with his picture was posted on a massive billboard in the community.
"I had tons of family at the draft, about 60 or 70 people there," Terrance said. "First off, seeing all my friends get drafted and guys that I've played with over the years was awesome. For me, I was just trying to enjoy it with family. Then when I heard my name called, I wanted to make sure that I got all the hugs right and got down to Anaheim's table.
"I didn't really know what to feel at the moment, but when I got to Anaheim (for development camp), it really sunk in and it was a surreal moment."
As he continues to carve his path toward the NHL, Terrance is looking to follow in the footsteps of Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour, who also played lacrosse before being selected by Anaheim in the second round (No. 55) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
"Hearing his story on how he played Junior A lacrosse all the way up until he started his NHL contract, he was someone I looked up to," Terrance said. "He's also a Mohawk, but he's from Six Nations, so him playing hockey and lacrosse and him making it that far, it's really good to see."
Terrance added that although his own future is also in hockey, he has not necessarily put away his lacrosse stick for good.
"Obviously, with me getting drafted, a lot of people were scared that I was done playing lacrosse, but I just couldn't get away from it," he said. "Everyone has asked me if I'm playing next year, but it's something I'm not answering right now."
