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Nick is currently the Assistant Hockey Director of the DYHA Jr. Sun Devil’s and head coach of the 15O team. He comes to DYHA with a vast playing and coaching background. After playing youth AAA hockey in Chicago he played in the USHL as a 16-year-old for two years before embarking on a collegiate career at the University of North Dakota. Nick was fortunate enough to represent his country for the U17 and the U18 US National teams. Drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1992 NHL entry draft, Nick began his college career at North Dakota in the 92-93 season finishing in 95-96 as the all-time leading goal-scoring defenseman in the University of North Dakota history. After his collegiate career, he signed an NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues. He would go on to play 15 seasons as a pro from 1996-2010, finishing his last 4 seasons in the Swiss A-League. Nick played in 4 Spengler Cups for the host team Davos while in Switzerland, winning gold in two of them.
After his playing career, Nick retired from hockey to Scottsdale where he began coaching in 2011. He has coached AAA from the 1993 birth year through the 2003 birth year here in the Valley. He has been privileged to coach players that have gone on to play in the NHL, drafted into the NHL, Division 1 college hockey, Division 3 college hockey, WHL, USHL, NAHL, NCDC, BCHL.
Nick comes from a youth hockey family. His father was a youth hockey coach and Ice rink owner for over 30 years, winning back to back AAA National Championships at the Midget level. He was a pioneer of AAA hockey in the Chicagoland area. His two younger brothers are both entrenched in the youth hockey scene in Chicago to this day.
He currently resides in North Scottsdale with his wife and 3 kids.
