BLADE JENKINS LOOKS TO BUILD OFF STRETCH RUN IN FIRST FULL SEASON WITH WOLF PACK
Sep 25, 2024HARTFORD, CT – When opportunity knocked at the door last February, Blade Jenkins made sure to answer. On Feb. 17, Jenkins signed a deal for the remainder of the 2023-24 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, joining the club during a stretch of injuries and recalls.
Jenkins turned his contract into 13 regular season and five Calder Cup Playoff games with the club. He made enough of an impression in that stint to earn a second contract with the Pack, a one-year deal for the 2024-25 season.
For Jenkins and the Wolf Pack, a reunion for a second season was a perfect match.
“The overall atmosphere within the organization is what grabbed my attention right away,” Jenkins said when asked about what drew him to re-sign with the team. “Coming in and seeing the attentiveness on developing players and creating a winning environment is something I really enjoyed and something I want to continue to be a part of.”
In his 13 games with the Wolf Pack during the regular season, Jenkins scored twice and tacked on an assist. He provided depth for the team down the stretch, earning the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates.
A majority of those games took place with the Wolf Pack battling for a playoff position, something that helped Jenkins naturally mesh with his new teammates, building bonds that made coming back the right decision for the winger.
He was also around for Hartford’s entire Calder Cup Playoff run, playing in a career-high five postseason contests.
“When you are making a playoff push you really see the camaraderie amongst the players go to a new level,” he said. “Everyone wants to win, and everyone has the same goal going into it and that’s something that is really special. You’re leaning on every single guy to excel at what they do best in order to win hockey games and during the playoffs they become harder and harder to win. That’s the biggest thing I took away from it. Having that taste of a little run makes you hungrier for the next year and we will be striving for a championship coming into this season.”
Of course, Jenkins likely never would have gotten that experience if not for a terrific season with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL. Before signing with the Wolf Pack in February, Jenkins was a key cog for the Railers’ attack. In 56 ECHL games during the 2023-24 season, Jenkins scored 55 points (24 g, 31 a). His 55 points were second on the team, while his 24 goals paced the club.
His time and production in Worcester led to a more confident player, which in turn led to Jenkins’ return to the AHL.
“Having a great support staff was a big part of my success with Worcester,” Jenkins said when asked about his time with the Railers. “From the management, coaches and players, they were always pushing me and trusting in my capabilities each and every night. That leads to playing with more confidence and having more success. Gaining that confidence was huge for me, helping me get back to playing at a high level on a consistent basis.”
With a return to the AHL earned, and a new contract for the 2024-25 season now locked up, Jenkins can turn his attention to a new season and his first training camp with the Wolf Pack. He’s hungrier than ever to prove he can help this team on a nightly basis.
“I’m just looking to build off of last year and continue to play confident, consistent, be a positive impact and add depth to our lineup each and every night,” Jenkins said when asked about his goals for the coming year.
In just a matter of days, he’ll have a chance to build off of his stretch drive in Hartford.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.