After setting a record for most points by a defenseman, Landry enters NHL

Jon Landry has come a long way from being the last person to be picked on the team. At the age of 5, his parents almost pulled him out of Pee Wee hockey to save his self-esteem. Good thing they didn’t.

A senior defenseman, Landry became one of the best hockey players to set foot on the ice at the Hart Center Rink, holding the Holy Cross Division I career record for most points by a defenseman with 86, while his 24 goals and 62 assists rank him ninth in the program’s history.

In addition, Landry was recently named to the Atlantic Hockey all-conference team for the second year in a row. Despite his season ending almost two months early due to a broken ankle, Landry was named the league’s Defenseman of the Year. This season he finished tied for second in assists and was third on the team with 9 goals and 27 points.

Landry is on his way to play in the NHL, following in the footsteps of recent grad Patrick Rissmiller ’02. He signed a two-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 17.

Professional teams have had a lot of interest in Landry since the NCAA tournament last year, where the Crusaders beat Minnesota in an upset for the history books. Landry was recognized nationally by making the all tournament team for the NCAA alongside future NHL players.

“Jon always played best against the toughest teams, like Maine and Minnesota. He had some really big plays for a team that was at the NCAA for the first time,” said head coach Paul Pearl.

A humble Landry says it was more than his development and ambition as a player that led the team to success. He says Rissmiller, of the San Jose Sharks, gave the Crusaders motivation.

“Rissmiller’s performance last year in San Jose inspired our team to do well,” says Landry. “For Riss to come out of a small school like Holy Cross and play with the likes of players from top hockey schools across the country and Canada, he inspired us to play at a higher level and beat potential NHL players from Minnesota.”

Landry, from Lexington, grew up watching the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Ray Bourque inspired him to “skate” across the hardwood floor in front of the television and eventually on an ice rink with hockey stick in hand. Landry has an extensive hockey career playing for a variety of teams, from the Boston Metro League’s South Shore Kings, to the AAA New England Generals.

In high school, Landry played for coach Brian Day at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham. Coach Day had the perfect recruit for his friend Paul Pearl up on the Hill.

“Jon fit the mold. He fit into the school and academic profile, and he was a good and talented kid,” says Pearl.

As Holy Cross head coach for 11 years, Pearl has cultivated a team of many prominent players in the past. He makes sure that his recruits are not only stellar hockey players willing to grow, but are well-rounded individuals and good citizens.

“He has been a great leader on this team” says Pearl, “Jon is one of those kids that really developed over his four years here. He has done well by Holy Cross and Holy Cross has done well by him. That’s what we are ultimately looking for in our students.”

An economics major, Landry’s interests in the subject also came from his high school mentor Coach Day, who was an economics teacher.

After the fateful Quinnipiac game in late January, where Landry suffered his injury, fans and teammates feared his hockey career would be over. Perhaps it was the perseverance he learned when he was a kid because he kept fighting.

Landry’s response to the injury is “it’s nothing a little rehab won’t fix.” With that attitude and the support of his teammates and friends, Landry is almost ready to lace up again. When asked about his future as a professional athlete, Landry continues to be modest.

“Of course it is exciting, but I will need to continue to play harder to get myself up to that level.”

Pearl is not worried about Landry’s future in the NHL. “To do well in pro hockey, it’s all about opportunity and luck. If Jon gets his chance, he will shine.”