Masterton nominee Boone Jenner sets strong example as Columbus Blue Jackets' captain
Boone Jenner knew he had a broken thumb.
The Blue Jackets’ captain was struck in the hand by a shot Dec. 13 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and it left him with a thumb fracture that could have easily ended his night. However, he not only finished the game, he played two more before another X-ray showed that he needed surgery to correct it.
That would be impressive for any player, but it grows in significance when you consider the Blue Jackets' situation at the time. Prior to losing 4-0 to the Florida Panthers that night, the Blue Jackets were 13 points out of the second wildcard spot, last place in the Eastern Conference and 30th in the league.
They had seven regulars out hurt, most long-term, and it was clear the playoffs were long gone.
Jenner also could’ve left, but he gutted through two more painful games before finally being told to stop ― after taking 50 faceoffs and winning 46% of them. He underwent surgery, was supposed to be out a month and returned after three weeks.
“People follow that kind of stuff,” Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly said. “Guys notice everything, and he wasn’t doing it for those reasons ― to see who noticed. He did it because he’s a good person, a good hockey player and wants to do things the right way. We’re lucky to have a guy like ‘Booner.’ There’s a lot of good captains in this league, and he’s one of them.”
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Jenner is also the Blue Jackets’ nominee for the Masterton Trophy, as selected by the Columbus chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The PHWA will vote among finalists later to determine the winner of the Masterton, which is named for Bill Masterton, who played for the Minnesota North Stars and died of a head injury suffered in a game in 1968.
Masterton is the only NHL player to die as a direct result of an on-ice injury and the trophy in his honor goes annually to, "The National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Boone Jenner determined to lead Columbus Blue Jackets back to playoffs
Jenner was on his way to scoring 30 goals last year when his lower back gave out. He missed the final 23 games, finished with 23 goals and 21 assists in 59 games and did everything he could to get back on the ice.
It took a long offseason plus a few precautions in training camp, but Jenner returned to his hard-nosed style. He also re-claimed the top center role and returned to tipping pucks for the top power-play group after Jakub Voracek’s season-ending concussion in November.
Jenner now leads the Blue Jackets with 26 goals, has netted 49 goals in 127 games the past two years and sets a strong example for his team to follow. Despite a lot of losses this season, the Jackets have kept a positive, upbeat locker room.
Jenner sees that as one of his responsibilities.
“Nobody feels sorry for us or anything like that, so it’s up to the older guys to come together as a group,” he said. “It’s the only way you get out of a season like this. If we realize that and put the effort in now, it’s going to be better for us when we get on the other side of it.”
The “other side of it,” is what keeps Jenner going.
He’s experienced the Stanley Cup playoffs five times in his 10 NHL seasons, all with Columbus, and wants to help the Blue Jackets get back to the postseason. That’s a big reason he played through the fractured thumb.
“It’s just a mentality I’ve always had,” Jenner said. “In this league, you’re going to have to play through some pain and some ups and downs where you’re not feeling your best. If you’re able to go out and play your game, you can get through it. That kind of galvanizes the group too.”
Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner 'easy to follow'
Jenner's leadership is why coach Brad Larsen named him captain prior to last season, which was the Blue Jackets' first year after the departures of coach John Tortorella and former captain Nick Foligno ― who lockered next to Jenner and showed him the ropes.
Jenner's versatility as a forward, ability to win faceoffs and renewed goal-scoring ability since having the "C" attached to his jersey are qualities Larsen leans on heavily, but that's only what he adds in games. There are also practices and off-ice workouts where Jenner leads the way.
"The other side of it is what he does in our room ... what he does in the weight room, what he does as far as leading, and it’s not with his mouth," Larsen said. "It’s not that he’s having conversations with guys all the time. It’s his actions. And those speak way louder than words probably 75% of the time. It’s what you do, not what you say. So, he’s a perfect guy to follow and just watch what he does."
That's because Jenner is cognizant of doing things the "right" way, whether it's fighting for pucks, shaking hands with honored guests during pregame ceremonies, making time for charitable activities or pushing his teammates whenever they need it.
"Even in practices, where it gets to the point where maybe you don’t feel like doing it, he does it 100% every time," Larsen said. "There’s just no ‘off’ switch with him. He’s a guy that you can’t say enough about him, how important he is, on and off the ice, for this group and the organization. He’s a guy that’s going to fight right to the end.”
Kuraly, who started his NHL career with the Boston Bruins following captain Patrice Bergeron, has seen it before.
"Guys like that are easy to follow," Kuraly said. "I’ve been in rooms with 'Hall of Fame' leaders and I see a lot of the same qualities from 'Booner.' He's been right up there with those guys, in terms of how he leads, and he backs it up on the ice. You can say whatever you want (as captain) and that’s all fine and good, but let me see what you’ve got. He’s a guy who shows you what he’s got every day.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner a Masterton nominee
