‘New Chapter’: Corey Perry entering 21st NHL season as Los Angeles King

Corey Perry prepares to enter his 21st NHL Season but this time in LA after signing with the Kings. CTV London’s Brent Lale reports.

Entering his 21st season in the National Hockey League, Corey Perry knew he couldn’t take much time to rest after his fifth Stanley Cup Final in six years.

“You have to get back at it right away,” says Perry, 40, who is about to head to training camp with the Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s a must especially at my age. I’m trying to keep up with these 20 year olds that are coming into league that are bigger, faster, stronger and making the game a lot better.”

After signing with the Kings, Perry spent the last two months working on the ice power skating at Western Fair Sports Centre and in the gym.

“Some guys will take a month off when they go that late,” said Spero Mantzavrakos, Perry’s personal trainer in London, Ont.

“Two weeks later Corey started calling me saying ‘Give me a program. I’m going to Paris. I’m going here, I’m going there.’ It doesn’t matter where he is in the world. If he’s in Peterborough, at his cottage. He’s asking for workouts every day. He’s dialed in.”

On July 1, Perry signed to a one-year contract with new GM Ken Holland.

Including playoffs, he’s played more than 1,500 games, scored more than 500 goals and racked up nearly 1,100 points.

The Kings are his seventh NHL team after playing with Anaheim, Dallas, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Edmonton. He and his family have moved to California already with his son starting school and Perry threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers came Monday.

“It was tough leaving Edmonton,” said Perry.

“It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, it’s a new chapter and we’re looking forward to as a family.”

Also looking forward to meeting him is London Knights defenceman and Kings first-round pick Henry Brzustewicz.

“He was in our locker room last year during the Memorial Cup thing, so that was pretty cool seeing him,” said Brzustewicz, who is headed to Kings rookie camp along with teammate Jared Woolley.

“Obviously him signing in LA now is pretty cool. He’s a legend in the game for sure and sharing the ice with him will be really cool.”

Perry has become notorious for helping teams get to the final series of the year. Five of the past six years, he’s lost in the Stanley Cup Final, winning his only Cup in 2007.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” Perry says of losing the final series.

“You work so hard all season long to get to that point and to not get across the finish line. Every team that I’ve been to the finals with has been exciting. Good friendships, good teammates and long-lasting guys that I always talk to. You can take that away from it.”

And at 40 years old, he’s looking to take a sixth team to play into June. He has no plans to hang up the blades.

“As long as I’m having fun and still competing and playing well and I feel good out there,” said Perry.

“I feel young and it’s still fun for me. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”