By @StefanKubus –
For Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry, Monday afternoon’s game at Joe Louis Arena was a little bit more special than every other road trip outing.
The 29-year-old Michigan native returned home as his Canadiens took on the hometown Detroit Red Wings he grew up watching.
Petry is a product of the Michigan youth hockey system. He grew up playing for youth teams in Michigan, and he skated for Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and won a state title with the Eaglets in 2005 before moving on to the junior ranks.
And following his high school state title, he won another league championship the next season. Petry broke into the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the 2005-06 campaign and helped contribute to his squad’s Clark Cup victory, posting seven points in 11 playoff games.
Following that season, Petry was chosen 45th overall in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
After one more season in Des Moines, Petry headed back home – though in rival territory – as the Ann Arbor native suited up for the Spartans in East Lansing from 2007-10. That included several games at The Joe, whether it was in the Great Lakes Invitational or battling for CCHA Championships.
Being a homegrown product is something Petry said he takes a lot of pride in. In fact, he even has a tattoo of the Mitten on his back.
“I played high school hockey here and obviously grew up here and played college hockey here so it means a lot being able to show that I came up through the Michigan system and got to where I am,” Petry said.
Petry worked his way up through the pro ranks to earn a full-time NHL spot in the 2011-12 season with the Oilers. In the summer of 2015, he signed a six-year deal with Montreal as a free agent.
This season, he’s in the midst of his best offensive campaign. Through 44 games, Petry has amassed a career-high eight goals and his 22 points are three shy of tying his career-best mark set in 2011-12. His plus-12 rating is easily the best mark of his career, as well.
With Monday’s game having had an afternoon start due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, not as many friends were able to make the game, but Petry still had his parents and a couple friends in attendance. That included his father: former Detroit Tigers pitching great Dan Petry.
Though he has just one win in nine NHL games in his hometown arena, Petry said it’s still a blast whenever he gets to play there.
“It’s always a lot of fun coming back here and this year even more because it’s the last year here,” Petry said.
Though Montreal is set to visit Joe Louis Arena just once more at the end of the season, it could’ve been Petry’s last game there, too.