Lost in the shuffle of the Chris Kreider trade is 20-year old Carey Terrance, the prospect the New York Rangers received in the trade. By now, most Rangers fans have seen scouting reports telling you about the young center. However, tto get a better idea of Terrance, I asked those who know him the best, the folks of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.

Terrance has spent the last four seasons playing for the Otters with the last season spent as the team captain. So, what do the Otters think of Carey?

200-foot player and plus skater

Otters’ assistant coach Ken Peroff has this to say about Terrance:

            “Carey is a 200-foot player, who battles, skates well and takes pride in defending. He’s not going to blow the doors off offensively, but he does have a nose for the net. He’s versatile, can play C or W, kill penalties etc. He strikes me as the type of competitor, glue guy you can win with at the highest levels. His play at the world jr tournament for team USA was a good coming out party for him and he’s got a gold medal to show for it.

His leadership was critical to the culture of our team this year and we really missed him while he was out. He leads by example on a daily basis with his work habits, but he can also say what needs to be said when the time requires. That’s a skill that can be harder to find these days….

He’s a smart kid and has been really well respected by his teammates. We got a chance to play an exhibition game last year in Cornwall to see the impact he’s had in the Akwesasne community as well. He’s clearly a leader on and off the ice and a kid we truly hope has all the success he deserves.

Terrance is a high character player

But what about off the ice, what kind of person is Terrance and for that Otters Media & Communications Coordinator Trevor Kubeja had this to say about him:

            He is a very proud member of the Mohawk nation, growing up in Akwesasne, NY. In 2023, the Otters took a preseason trip to his hometown and volunteered in the community, going to the Boys and Girls club and culminating in a benefit game played in nearby Cornwall, ON.

This was a trip that clearly meant a lot to Carey and was a huge success. In Erie, Carey is involved with various activities such as school and community appearances and is very very generous with his time around the rink on a game night.

Terrance in 230 games with the Otters is 89-73-162. While most are expecting Terrance to earn a spot on the Hartford Wolfpack for the 2025-2026 season, he still has one last season of eligibility remaining with the Otters.

Thank you to the Erie Otters for taking the time to talk about Carey and for preparing him for the next step in his professional career.