Since returning, he's playing even better.
After getting two assists in a 3-3 tie at Princeton University on Jan. 4, the sophomore center had a hat trick with one assist in Harvard's 7-0 win against rival Yale University at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 11.
"Quite often you see guys come back from the World Juniors and the skill level there and the pace of play probably is so high-end and intense that they come back with more confidence," Harvard coach Ted Donato said.
Drury (5-foot-11, 174), selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round (No. 42) of the 2018 NHL Draft, has great bloodlines in the game. His father, Ted, played at Harvard and 414 NHL games for the Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers, Ottawa Senators, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets.
His uncle, Chris, won the Hobey Baker Award at Boston University in 1998 and the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year in 1999 with the Colorado Avalanche. He played 892 NHL games for the Avalanche, Flames, Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. He is currently the assistant general manager of the Rangers.
Jack Drury centers the first line and is third in scoring for Harvard with 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 12 games. He does everything well, according to Donato.
"Jack plays a real honest game," Donato said. "You often hear coaches talking about 200-foot players, but Jack's a guy that is so sound fundamentally that sometimes you take for granted his excellent offensive abilities as well.
"He's a guy that takes big face-offs for us, kills penalties, he plays on the power play. He's matching up against the other team's top players. You forget that he's [19] years old, a natural sophomore. He's the kind of player that coaches love, teammates love. It's because he really takes zero shortcuts to find success."
Donato, a teammate of Ted Drury at Harvard, sees similarities between father and son.
"It's the work ethic and the character and integrity to their game," Donato said. "They are little bit different players, but both are very effective. To me, Jack certainly has the 'it' factor both his dad and his uncle had. You can see that in the maturity and the way that he carries himself both on and off the ice."
A player as motivated as Drury will do what it takes to build his strength and speed to be ready to play at the next level. Said Donato: "He's not a burner, speed-wise, so that's something he'll continue to work on. He's making great strides offensively and with the pace of his play, so we're very happy with where he's at in his development curve."
