PLYMOUTH - If you watch Plymouth Whalers defenseman Connor Carrick for any length of time, you'll see he's a man on the move.
On the ice, Carrick's skill is evident as one of the better skaters and puck handlers in the Ontario Hockey League.
At the rink? Carrick is a work-out fanatic, going through several routines before and after practice.
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In school? Carrick attends classes at the University of Michigan.
Carrick was prominent during the Whalers scrimmages to start training camp on Thursday and Friday at Compuware Arena, scoring two goals each day as one of the offensive leaders in the scrimmage.
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Carrick's pair led the Whites in a 4-3 shootout win on Friday over the Blues. Connor Chatham's shootout snipe was the difference, while Liam Dunda scored the other Whites goal. Mitch Jones, Zach Lorentz and Yannick Rathgeb replied for the Blues.
The motor is always running with Carrick, but he downshifted to chat for a few moments.
"Working out is great in the summer, but it's a lot more fun to get into the routine of the regular season," Carrick said. "I'm just happy to be back into it. The games are a lot more fun than working out in the summer. That's why I had a little extra step out there."
A Washington Capitals draft choice, Carrick improved as last season wore on, earning a trip to Hershey and the American Hockey League playoffs last spring when the Whalers were eliminated by London in the OHL's Western Conference Finals in April.
"Coach Vellucci got more comfortable with me as the season wore on, and I got more comfortable with him," Carrick explained. "The relationship got better and better and he trusted me more and more. I played more and had a bigger role and that's why you saw better results. I'd like to think it will carry over."
Carrick watches puck-rushing defensemen in the National Hockey League like Pittsburgh's Kris Letang and Washington's Mike Green.
"That's one of things I try to watch for when I watch NHL games," Carrick said. "The offensive defensemen (there) are so efficient. When they jump up, the percentage of time that it results in a goal is really high. So I try to take my chances carefully. That's something that coach Vellucci stresses a lot. We watch a lot of video together and he helps me out."
WHALERS AUDIO - Please listen to the complete interview with Carrick.
Carrick and the Whalers practiced Friday afternoon in preparation of Saturday's pre-season opener against at 7pm at Eddie Edgar Ice Arena in Livonia.
The Whalers complete a busy Labor Day weekend on Monday against Windsor at 2 pm at Windsor Family Credit Union Centre.
