Railers: Rookie J.D. Dudek continues to learn while healing

WORCESTER — At first telling, the story seems like just another scam to get through airport security faster.

When the Railers were flying home from Newfoundland last month, rookie forward J.D. Dudek hit the security line wearing take-‘em-off shoes. Except that when the agent told him to take them off, Dudek said he couldn’t.

His back hurt so much he wasn’t able to bend over.

Dudek got through the line shoes on, but it was no scam. Almost two months have passed since the Railers came back from The Rock, and Dudek has still not played a game in 2020, although he does expect to be back before the season ends.

He has skated in only 27 games, but Dudek does not consider his time with Worcester to be wasted.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” he said. “Practice is huge. Game reps are important, but what you learn in practice, what you learn from the coaches — that’s what being a pro is all about — paying attention to detail, making the next step forward. I’m looking to ramp that up in the second half.”

Dudek had a previous back surgery, and another operation was an option this time around, but he chose to let the injury heal naturally.

He is half of the roster oddity that is the 2019-20 Railers, a team that has no sons of former NHL players on it, but two sons of former NFL players. Kyle Thomas’ dad, Bill, played major league football as did Joe Dudek. Bill Thomas had a longer career, but Joe Dudek remains a football legend.

A running back at Division 3 Plymouth State in New Hampshire, Dudek broke Walter Payton’s NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns, was on the cover of the Dec. 2, 1985, issue of Sports Illustrated and finished ninth in that season’s Heisman Trophy balloting.

A Quincy native, Joe Dudek eventually settled in New Hampshire, and J.D. grew up in Auburn, outside of Manchester. J.D. Dudek was a fine all-around athlete but never played a snap of competitive football.

“Both my parents were very supportive of whatever I wanted to try,” J.D. Dudek said, “but my dad did ask me that if I wasn’t going to play to try the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition. So when I was 11 years old I did and ended up doing very well.”

Indeed he did. J.D. Dudek finished seventh nationally.

“It was a good bonding experience with my dad,” he said. “We had so much time to talk football and hang out, and he supported me with my decision to play hockey.

“I had no idea about some of his accomplishments. He is so humble, and never talked about it. I had to find out on my own about some of the things he did, and I take that to heart. My dad has taught me a lot because he is so humble. I don’t think he gives himself enough credit.”

J.D. was a highly recruited prep player in New Hampshire who was also a big fan of that state’s hockey team at UNH. In fact, he had season tickets. Dudek’s decision came down to two colleges — UNH or Boston College — and he went with his dream school — Boston College.

“It was a very difficult decision,” he said, “because UNH was my hometown school. I don’t want to take away from either school, but I would have had a blast at either one of them.”

Dudek played four seasons on the BC varsity. In 149 games, he went 28-28-56 with 88 penalty minutes. After the Eagles’ season ended last year. Dudek had a five-game tryout with Binghamton of the AHL, where he went pointless, then signed an AHL deal with Bridgeport last summer.

J.D.’s parents, Joe and Jodi, are currently living in the St. Louis area, where Joe’s job has taken him. They are big fans and follow their son closely from a time zone away, and Joe has become a hockey convert.

“He would rather watch hockey than football now,” J.D. said. “He had no clue about hockey going into my career, but his knowledge of the game grew, and now he understands it very well.”

It did take a while.

“I didn’t start skating until I was 8,” J.D. said. “I didn’t have parents whose first instinct was to throw skates on me. I didn’t get out there when I was two or three like the Canadians.”

Now that he can tie his skates again, J.D. Dudek is back on the ice and hoping to get back on the roster and make the most of the rest of his rookie season.

—Contact Bill Ballou at sports@telegram.com.