North Cook News

Jack Drury is not your typical teenager.

The 18-year-old Winnetka resident was recently selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the NHL draft and is now on his way to attending Harvard and competing for the Crimson.

Drury, who joined the Chicago Mission youth program after two years at Loyola and was later drafted into the United States Hockey League (USHL), is so focused on the goals he's set for himself he rarely has time for things like social media.  

“That stuff can be distracting, and I feel like it’s a waste of time,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “My personality and the way I am, it doesn’t appeal to me.”

PK O’Handley coached Drury in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks and recently raved to the Tribune about his sense of direction.

“He knows who he is,” he said. “I’m not sure too many 18-year-olds know who they are.”

With the Waterloo, Drury was unanimously voted captain, a distinction O’Handley said makes him one of the youngest team captains in his 17 seasons as coach.

“We run our organization like a pro organization,” he said. “Jack is not afraid to tell someone who is 16 years old that he’s doing something wrong.”

Drury had 24 goals and 41 assists in 56 regular-season games during the 2017-18 season, including a 23-game point streak that set a USHL record and got him on the Hurricanes' radar.

All the while, he managed to command the locker room, convincing his teammates not to overdo it on social media by celebrating too soon with pics of their Anderson Cup title for finishing as USHL regular-season champs.

“He kept order in the room,” O’Handley said. “He’s the ultimate teammate.”

At Harvard, Drury will follow in their footsteps of his parents, both of whom were Harvard athletes. His uncle, Chris Drury, is also a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

Drury said all the hard work and sacrifice has been well worth it.

“You hear ‘Carolina’s pick,’ and they announce your name,” he said. “It’s a special thing.”