“I’m focused on now. I think ‘in the moment’. Life after hockey will take care of itself. You’d be naive to say you’ll take care of it later, but it’s a special time right now, and it’s all playoffs,” Chris Terry
One year ago, Chris Terry was asked why he kept on playing. After playing in over 900 career games in the American Hockey League, scoring over 300 goals and registering 800 points, what else does he need to do? His answer was simple. “I want to win,” and he returned to the Bridgeport Islanders for his 16th AHL season with that drive and motivation in mind.
Fast forward, and the Islanders have a 34-30-3-5 record and have won seven of their last 10 games to clinch a playoff spot and the fourth-best record in the Atlantic Division. After a 2-1 win on April 18th over the Hershey Bears, Terry looked like a veteran proud of the bet he made. He bet on an organization that won 16 games in 2024-25 and had a historically bad season. That bet has paid off with the Islanders putting together a special season, although the word special doesn’t do it justice.
A Special Season for the Islanders
The Islanders have been one of the best teams in the AHL in the past month. Aside from winning seven of their last 10 games, they’ve gone 10-3 since March 21st and are averaging 3.7 goals per game in that stretch. This team is built to go on a Calder Cup run with a mix of prospects and veterans coming into form at the right time.
They’ve caught fire lately but the groundwork was set at the start of the season, even in the offseason when the Islanders brought in a good veteran group and re-signed Terry. “It’s a special group. I think from training camp on, it’s been a group that’s naturally bonded,” Terry noted in a conversation with The Hockey News.
It speaks to the culture the Islanders have put into place. They hired Rocky Thompson and brought in players who could play his brand of hockey and buy into his style. “The culture’s obviously changed. We’re just reaching the potential we all knew that we had,” Terry added, and they’ve been playing their best hockey at the right time thanks to the coaching staff and veterans setting the tone.
What Rocky Thompson Brought to Bridgeport
In the AHL, coaches come from all types of backgrounds. Thompson previously coached in the AHL and was an assistant for multiple NHL teams. He runs a unique style that is tough to learn and tougher to stop.
What makes Thompson impressive is that he’s detailed in his approach. “He’s a brilliant coach. He’s so smart with the details and structure. Obviously, a lot of coaches have different ideas and structures. He’s just broken it down in so many different layers, and we finally grasped it in the second half of the year,” Terry noted.
Because of the pressure and the pace that the Islanders play with, it took time for the players to buy in. It’s an exhausting way to play and hard to do so in a 72-game season, plus the playoffs. Now that the Islanders are bought in, they’ve become a tough team to stop, especially on the offensive end.
The hot streak to close out the season is proof that they’ve bought in and are playing their best hockey of the season. It also shows how the team has adjusted and acclimated to Thompson. “It takes a little time to get used to and understand but he holds everyone accountable, I think it’s a huge benefit to be honest, and I think you’re seeing results,” Terry added. The results are there indeed, and it’s made them a fun team to watch.
Thompson will be the first to say that he’s not the one who deserves credit. Instead, he’ll point to the veterans and how they’ve made his job easier. The veterans, like Terry, have become the buffer for Thompson to get the message across. “We’ve all just gelled together to form a leadership group that has gotten us to where we are,” Terry added, and it’s the right formula for a team preparing for a playoff run.
Bridgeport’s Swan Song
The Islanders won only four games at home in the 2024-25 season. “We were all embarrassed by last year’s results, especially at home,” Terry stated, and it motivated the returning players to step up at Total Mortgage Arena this time around. The Islanders won 10 consecutive home games to close out the season and clinch a playoff spot.
This is the 25th and final season the Islanders are playing in Bridgeport. They are moving to Hamilton, Ontario, next season. It almost feels non-coincidental that the Islanders won every home game once the relocation rumors started to surface. “To be completely honest with you, no, it’s just a coincidence,” Terry responded, adding, “Obviously, there were inklings of what could happen with the team but we don’t talk about that internally. It’s a credit to Rocky and the guys in the room who come ready to play.”
The Islanders block out the outside noise, and it’s why they’ve kept winning even when history suggests they shouldn’t. Teams that relocated usually fell apart when the rumors circulated, with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24 and the 1995 Cleveland Browns being prime examples. The Islanders have only gotten better, and it’s a credit to the group that they've prevented it from becoming a distraction.
With the 2-1 win over the Bears in their season finale, the Islanders secured the fourth-best record in the Atlantic Division. They will play at least one playoff game.“It’s awesome! Obviously, last Sunday, clinching a playoff spot was incredible not only for this group but also for the fans there. It was an electric crowd,” Terry stated. It’s a good reward for a fanbase that’s been kicked around in the past and deserved better. They’ve gotten a good sendoff with a great season, and it might be even better if this run continues.
Terry Isn’t Thinking of Coaching Yet, But He’d Be a Good One Someday
Terry is 37 years old, which seems young for coaching. Not in the AHL. He’s the same age as Trent Vogelhuber and a year younger than Mike Leone. Terry isn’t just a veteran in the AHL; he’s been a veteran for a few years, someone who has mentored prospects for over a decade. It’s made him an ideal candidate to coach someday, especially in a developmental league like the AHL.
So, has Terry thought about coaching in the future? “Yeah, I think your mind wanders at times but I love the game. I love being around it, so it doesn’t matter what it is.” It’s hard to block out the idea when he’s been a buffer for coaches for years and knows a lot about leadership. “But I’m focused on now. I think 'in the moment'. Life after hockey will take care of itself. You’d be naive to say you’ll take care of it later but it’s a special time right now, and it’s all playoffs,” Terry added.
Terry is solely focused on the Calder Cup Playoffs, and he should be. That said, when he does retire, he would be a great coach at any level. “I love the game. I love the experiences I’ve had. I’ve had a lot of different coaches and long-time mentors. So, I feel like I have a wealth of knowledge to put to use after hockey, whenever that is,” making coaching presumably, his best post-career path.
Other Thoughts on Chris Terry
After last season, there was a dark cloud hanging over Bridgeport, and Terry was a bright spot in a rough season. He led the team and was in the top five in the league with 66 points, making him a great player for a team that was otherwise going through a lost season. The conversation last season came after a milestone moment, a game where he recorded his 800th point.
Last season was about him and not the team. This season is about the team and the magical season they are putting together. The Islanders became a team of destiny with Terry returning for one more run, and the Islanders making one more run in Bridgeport. They are set up to do it, and it will be intriguing to see how this story plays out.