Nash Nienhuis is hoping a jump to the USHL will help him realize his dream of earning a NCAA scholarship.
The Sarnia defenceman was taken in the eighth round of the USHL Phase Two draft by the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Nienhuis skated at the Lumberjacks' rookie camp earlier in the spring, but wasn't sure if anything would come of it.
"The skate went really good, but nothing was said or anything, and all of a sudden I got drafted," says Nienhuis. "It was exciting but it came out of nowhere, I was just sitting at school and my dad texted me to tell me I was drafted, it was pretty awesome news to get."
The former Lambton Jr. Sting product enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Sarnia Legionnaires, scoring four goals and 28 points in 50 games.
Head Coach Mark Davis says Nienhuis is able to provide a lot of offence from the back end, while maintaining a sound defensive game.
"He's a very smart hockey player, he doesn't get himself into trouble and he jumps into the play well. His development throughout the year was unbelievable, his decision making got better and he was able to help out more offensively," says Davis."He sees the play so well, he was able to score some nice goals for us, he certainly does have the tools."
Listed as 5'7" and 141 lbs, Nienhuis knows he needs to get stronger to reach the next level.
"The biggest thing for me, I'm trying to gain weight to help with my overall strength and battling in the corners," says Nienhuis, who adds that he doesn't want to take away from what's made him successful in the past. "Keep working on my skating and defensive play, you gotta be quick and know what's going on at all times in your own end."
A team in the USHL is allowed up to six imports on a team, which can make it challenging for Canadians to crack the roster. That won't hurt Nienhuis' chances, who is a dual citizen. He was born in Michigan while his father Kraig Nienhuis was playing for the Port Huron Border Cats of the United Hockey League.
Nienhuis says playing in the states could better help his chances of earning a scholarship.
"At the end of the date I want to play college hockey, and Muskegon is one step closer to reaching that goal," he says. "Having my dad, who's been there and done that, he's helped me with some advice, and gives me confidence and makes me a bit more comfortable going in."
His father also played in the NCAA, spending three seasons at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York from 1982 to 1985, before playing in 87 games with the Boston Bruins.
Nienhuis was drafted by the Sarnia Sting in the 14th round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. Born in 1999, the St. Patrick's Catholic School grade 12 student wont turn 18 until December. Davis says he would love to have Nienhuis back on the Legionnaires blue line season, but understands the young defenceman will have options elsewhere.
"As a coach you always hope you can move kids on, would I like him back? Definitely, I'd love to have him back," says Davis. "I have a lot of faith in our league and its ability to move players onto the next level, you see guys get scholarships all the time."
In recent years, Cam Clarke, Jordan Fogerty, Andrew Masters and Josh Kestner have all earned NCAA division one scholarships after playing with the Legionnaires.