Photo Credit: Kelsey Lee-Violet Turtle Photography

Alexander Tertyshny learned a lot in his first season in Springfield. The cerebral, puck-moving defender is working to improve with some great advice the coaches gave him and using a lot of his resources this summer to do so. First he talked about the promotion of Brendan Riley to Assistant Coach. “I’m very excited for him he definitely deserves it, last year he helped a ton off the ice.” Riley is “ very personable and genuine.” Tertyshny on last year called Riley “one of the boys.”Finally on Riley Tertyshny praised his work and dedication to the team’s success last year, and expects it to translate behind the bench this season.

He also noted that meeting with the staff heading into the off-season went well. He focused on regaining strength, used his year as time to learn from the guys. He praised Luka Maver, Brett Callahan, Blake Bennett , Chris Theodore, Zak Galambos, and Jake Stella among others for helping him get better. He also credits that group for helping him get through and overcome his lower body injury sustained at the start of last year that limited his playing time to one game that came in February against Army West Point. Recovering from that injury and now being at full strength is a big part of his motivation going into next season. In game action he has a chance to effectively make a second first impression on college hockey when he has a full year of healthy play ahead of him.

This off-season “having been there and prepared for it helped a ton, the coaches were clear on what they’ve wanted me to improve on. The biggest difference for me this off-season is spending more time in the gym.” He has lived on a consistent diet of lean chicken with rice and vegetables, that he has nearly eaten every day. His grandmother has made and sent his chicken to him for part of the summer, and he has enjoyed her home cooking quite a lot.

He felt comfortable because of “the way we practice at AIC.” It helped him feel prepared for his one game at AIC that he did get to play. As to the season opener, he gets to go to Alaska Fairbanks the same town where his Northeast Generals where when Covid shut hockey down. He is looking forward to that opportunity.

After the season Alex focused on family and his mental health, and then spent time focusing on ways to improve and get better. Off the ice he has been working out all summer and getting ready to go, along with studying video as much as he can. Like many college players he’s looked at some NHL players shifts for guidance. In addition he has reviewed his own game tape going back to his time in the MHL in Russia. Tertyshny watched many player’s shifts for guidance including Nick Bailen’s.

Bailen was one of his mentors that talked to him about college hockey when Alex was still growing as a player in Russia. Bailen had a good career at RPI before playing many years overseas. He is set to play in Germany this season. The puck moving defender has served as a mentor for him.

Tertyshny has a unifying theme for his goal for this season. He is beyond proud and thankful for the vast group of support he has in his life. He summed up what he’s looking to show people this year in a nice and humble way “I just want to prove them right.”

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