Montgomery’s presence felt on and off the ice
Bryce Montgomery’s talent got him drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes. His character — and resolve — has made him a role model.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
Bryce Montgomery says he simply made the best of the situation. That might be an understatement.
Like many OHL players, particularly those in their draft years, Montgomery, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenceman, pursued other avenues last year to showcase his skills for NHL scouts.
Travel limited his options, but he found the best players he could to skate with in his home state of Maryland. He trained regularly with his local coaches. And then, when he was able, he played in the Pandemic Hockey League (yes, it was a thing), a spring showcase in Boston, MA meant for prep school players who didn’t have the opportunity to play a season in 2020-21.
He played 10 games there, and then 10 more in Erie, PA, at an Invitational showcase organized by OHL players. In July, he was chosen by the Carolina Hurricanes (6th round, 170th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He had performed when it mattered most.
“I think the Erie showcase is one of the main reasons I was drafted, if I’m being honest,” said Montgomery, now playing in his second season with the Knights. “I think it helped that I got looks and (NHL scouts) were able to see me live.”
And just like that, Montgomery went from being a player with 33 OHL games under his belt to a Hurricanes prospect who, with a strong year in 2021-22, could position himself as an up-and-comer within the organization – potentially a player ready to contribute in Carolina in the not-too-distant future.
He hasn’t changed, though. He’s the same guy. Still a big, strong defender with speed. Still a teenager (he’ll turn 19 on Friday). And still a role model – not only for his younger brother, Blake, whom the Knights drafted earlier this year, but also to young Black hockey players everywhere, including here in London (we’ll get to that later).
And he’s still focused on the task at hand – which means winning and helping the Knights make a run at an OHL championship.
“We have a great team. It’s a great group of guys, on and off the ice, and it’s awesome that we’ve had a great start,” said Montgomery, whose Knights are 9-1-1-0 in their first 11 games, good for top spot in the league. “We couldn’t care less about individual stats right now. We just want to keep winning – for the team and for the city. We’re really excited about the opportunity we have ahead of us.”
And he’s feeling good personally. After missing the first three games of the year with a non-COVID-related illness, he’s been as sturdy as ever on the blueline. He’s a +3 through eight games, and he’s happy with his defensive analytics.
“In terms of not having a season last year, and finally getting into games, I think it’s been a great start,” he said. “I feel like each game it’s getting better, and I’m getting more comfortable in my own game. I just want to keep improving.”
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
In the 11 games they’ve played so far, the Knights have allowed the fewest goals per game in the league (2.27). A star goaltender (Brett Brochu) certainly helps, but league-leading numbers like that also require a strong defensive corps, and Montgomery is a big part of that group.
“I want to be a guy who can be trusted in his own end, and someone who can break up plays in the transition game, too,” Montgomery said. “I want to be a top shutdown defenseman in the league … a guy who can play against the top lines on every team in the OHL.”
He’d also like to get more involved in the offensive end this year. In 33 games in 2019-2020, he managed just two assists (albeit in limited minutes). It hasn’t happened yet, but he’s working on generating scoring chances from the blueline or on the rush.
“It’s something I believe I can do, so I want to keep working on it and gradually improving,” he said. “Overall, though, I want to keep playing simple, keep playing my game, and doing what it takes to be able to play at the next level.”
That’s the approach that landed Montgomery in London in the first place. A product of the Washington Little Caps (14U) and Team Maryland 16U AAA programs, the defenceman played prep school hockey at Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. He was set to attend Providence College when the Knights made their pitch.
First scouted by Billy Sullivan, London’s eyes in the northeastern U.S., Montgomery was invited to a mini camp in London in the spring of 2019.
“I ended up playing really well and they offered me a contract to sign as a free agent,” he said. “My goal is to play pro hockey one day, and I believe London is the best chance I have at that. The whole Knights organization … they want us to get better every day, and I just love the atmosphere. I feel at home here. It’s the best place for me to develop as a hockey player – and as a person, as well.”
* * *
January 19, 2020 was a pretty normal day. That Sunday, the Knights had a 2:00pm game at Budweiser Gardens. It was their 42nd game of the season, and the 23rd that Bryce Montgomery had appeared in. But for one young Londoner in the stands, it was truly a life-changing day. For the first time, 7-year-old Javion (JJ) Zinnerman-Smith saw a Black player skating for the London Knights. Someone who looked like him – playing for his favourite team.
It couldn’t have happened at a better time, according to his mom, Amy Smith. Javion, who spent the first five years of his life in Alabama, had recently been talking about quitting hockey. He was feeling defeated He’d heard one too many times, ‘black people don’t skate,’ ‘black people don’t play hockey.’
Bryce and Javion during the 2019-2020 season (Photo courtesy Amy Smith).
That changed on a day the Knights beat the Erie Otters, 6-2, in January 2020.
“He saw Bryce come out, and that changed his mindset,” said Smith, who moved back to London, her hometown, in 2017. “He was like, ‘No, I can play. I can play hockey. I can look different and still play. It gave him hope and motivation.”
After a few more games watching his new favourite player, Javion got the opportunity to meet Montgomery (some strings were pulled). Bryce was happy to meet JJ, pose for photos, and chat with the youngster, who plays minor hockey with the London Bandits.
“I told him to stick with it. It was cool to meet him and just kind of be that inspiration for him,” said Montgomery, who has since given JJ several pucks at games. “I went through the same thing growing up, in terms of people saying, ‘you can’t play that sport,’ ‘you’re Black, go play football, go play basketball.’ I’m glad I showed him I’m here playing for the London Knights in the OHL, you can play hockey too. And you shouldn’t let anybody tell you what you can and can’t do.
“It really means the world to me that I was able to be kind of a guiding spirit to him and show him what’s possible. It means a lot that I can inspire somebody just through my play and through what I represent, too, with my ethnic background.”
Smith says Javion asked about Bryce during the pandemic. He knew he’d been drafted by the Hurricanes. Would he be back in London? On opening night, Oct. 9, 2021, he sure was, and Smith and her son were in the stands to welcome him back.
COVID restrictions prevented a true meeting, but they said hello, and Javion got a photo with Bryce again – and, of course, a puck.
“I get to talk to him, and we’ve started to be friends,” said Javion. “Mostly white people play hockey. Black people don’t play hockey a lot, but I do. I like hockey. It’s pretty cool seeing black people playing hockey. It really doesn’t matter what you look like.”
Javion’s favourite NHLer was PK Subban – at least while he was on the Montreal Canadiens, JJ’s favourite team (there are some hurt feelings there). Now, it’s Tyler Toffoli. He loves football, too, but he continues to play both ice hockey and ball hockey, despite the fact he’s one of the only minorities enrolled in either.
“I think when he saw Bryce, he thought, ‘Okay, I can play. It’s okay to be black and play hockey,” said Smith, a high school teacher, whose photo of her son and Montgomery was a hit on Twitter, shared by the London Knights and many others. “I told him, thank you, because you gave my son hope. You’re the reason he didn’t quit hockey. It’s all about black representation, and it’s because of him, and now (Isaiah) George too, that kids like my son are like, ‘Okay, I can play.’”
Not just play, but reach the highest levels. That’s what Montgomery is trying to do now, and he’s certainly headed in the right direction. Not bad for a teenager, who’s hoping to celebrate his 19th birthday with a win Friday against the Soo Greyhounds. His talent is a given. He’s already been drafted into an NHL organization. And, without question, he’s a role model, too.
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