John Tripp - Manchester Monarchs - American Hockey League (AHL) - Accident Of Birth - On MLN Sports Zone- A Minor League Sports News Magazine™

Manchester Monarchs [AHL]

No Accident Of Birth
John Tripp has learned that when you’re big, fast, and Canadian, you’re born to be a hockey player.

Dan Hickling
MinorLeagueNews.com

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Some people subscribe to the "accident of birth" theory.

While there is little evidence to support that idea, you might catch yourself wondering, "What if?"

For example, ‘What if’ John Tripp had entered this world in Beaver Falls, Pa., or Hewitt, Tex.; instead of Canada's Birthplace of Confederation, Kingston, Ontario?

You might well have found the rugged 6-3, 223 pound, 26 year-old ruling the gridiron as a hard-hitting free safety.

Or perhaps you'd spot him in the bullpen, fine tuning a 95 mph heater and getting ready to button down a save.

Neither football nor baseball was to be Tripp’s destiny; as a true Canadian, it was only natural that he would take to the ice.

Being blessed with size, speed, and a fine scoring touch, it's no wonder that Tripp, now in his first year with the Manchester Monarchs, has made a name for himself as one of the AHL's better power forwards.

As such, big things are expected of Tripp, a seventh year pro that saw his first NHL action last year in a nine game stint with the New York Rangers.

"He's a power forward, (so) I expect him to be our leading goal scorer," said Manchester coach Bruce Boudreau. "He does a lot of good things. That's why I expect so much from him. John is a guy we're counting on."

There isn't much finesse to Tripp's game, but that's not to say he lacks skill.

He possesses enough scoring ability to have racked up back to back 29 goal seasons --with Pensacola (ECHL) and Hartford (AHL)-- while reaching the 50 point mark each year.

That’s not to say Tripp is an Alexander Mogilny, trapped in a Brenden Shanahan body.

Make no mistake; in John’s mind, it's crash and bash first.

"The best part of my game is in front of the net and in the corners," Tripp stated. “If I could add some versatility to my game, it would be the scoring touch. If it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't. As long as I take care of my own end, and in their end, stay down low and in front of the net, I'm doing my job."

In the early part of the season, Tripp has seen plenty of ice time, playing right wing on Manchester's top trio, along with center Steve Kelly and left wing Noah Clarke.

That unit has produced the bulk of the Monarchs scoring, even though the team has ran out of the gates a bit slowly.

It's just that sort of leadership, on the ice and in the dressing room that Boudreau is relying on to carry his club through the grueling campaign.

"I am counting on him for (that)," Boudreau said. "He's been around, and he knows how hard you have to work to stay at this level, because he's been at the other level."

By "the other level", Boudreau means, of course the NHL.

Tripp's performance last year with Hartford earned him a late season call up by the Rangers. He spent nine games with the Blueshirts, where he notched a goal and two assists.

He also acquired a thirst for another shot at the big time; one that Boudreau thinks can come, if Tripp remains locked on target.

"(John) has to be a power forward. He has to score and be physical," said Boudreau. "If he can (do that) I think he's got a chance."

Boudreau's view is shared by at least one veteran NHL scout.

"He's deadly down low and he's got quite a shot,” the scout said. “If anything, he's got to work on his skating. Build up some foot speed. That means a lot of work in the off-season. Still, I've known guys who have done that and made the jump (to the NHL)."

Tripp understands all that. He knows that you don't get to the NHL, and stay there, by accident.

"I just have to keep doing the things I did when I was called up last year," he said. "I'm not going to change my game. I'll just keep playing my game, and maybe I'll get the break I'm hoping for."