One of the advantages of  following minor leagues is that  players can be followed from age 17 until they make it to the big show, or the National Hockey league.  One such player that that has has been under the gaze of my camera lens has been 22 year old Chad Denny.  He first came to my attention at Traverse City at the Red Wing Rookie Tournament along with another big guy Boris Valabik.  Unlike Valibik who was of age and started immediately with the Wolves, Denny was 18 and returned to his Major Junior team the Lewiston Maineiacs for another year of seasoning. 

What sets this 6'3” Canadian apart from the heard is not his killer wrist shot it is his spirt.  He plays with the heart of a kid on a back yard pond, after bouncing around the East Coast Hockey League and  the American Hockey League  for two years he still plays with his heart on his sleeve. One can only hope he will never loose it to the hard knocks of the game.  This will be his last year of his rookie contract with Atlanta, so far he seems to have spent most of his time with the Gwinnette Gladiators rather than with the Wolves.  When he has been in Chicago he has been left sitting on the bench rather than seeing regular ice time.  It begs the question just what is Coach Granato thinking keeping such an aggressive player on the bench.  Were I to bump into the coach tonight at his favorite haunt that is exactly one of the questions I would ask him.

Here are some of the unpublished  images captured of Chad Denny over the years, enjoy.

Chad Denny in Traverse City in September 07'/ ByJane Rickard

Chad Denny tweeking Kurtis Fosters nose!/ ByJane Rickard

Showing Foster who's home ice it is./ ByJane Rickard