Troy Terry
A dynamic American winger whose silky hands and clutch performances made him an Olympic hero and an NHL standout.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: September 10·Generation Z
Biography
Troy Terry's story is one of patience paying off in spectacular fashion. Drafted in the fifth round by the Anaheim Ducks, he chose a longer developmental path at the University of Denver, where he honed his craft into one of college hockey's most dangerous offensive threats. His moment on the world stage came at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where as a college player he delivered a legendary shootout performance for Team USA, scoring three times against Russia in a pivotal win. That clutch gene followed him to the NHL. After early struggles to cement his place, Terry broke out in the 2021-22 season with a stunning 37-goal campaign, transforming from a prospect into the Ducks' leading scorer. His game is built not on overpowering strength, but on elite puck control, vision, and a calmness under pressure that was first revealed to the world in PyeongChang.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Troy was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Troy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Troy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored three shootout goals for Team USA in a dramatic win over Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
- Broke out with a 37-goal season for the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021-22 NHL season.
- Won the NCAA national championship with the University of Denver in 2017.
Did You Know?
He is known for his distinctive 'shootout move,' a slow, deliberate approach that he used to great effect in the Olympics.
Terry was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's best player in 2018.
He played baseball as a shortstop and pitcher in high school and was a talented enough prospect to consider it professionally.
“I just tried to stay patient and stick with it. I always believed I could be this player.”
