The Powell River Kings are pleased to announce the commitment of 1995-born defenceman Nick Nonis to the team for the 2014/2015 season.
Nonis, from Hampton Falls, New Hampshire describes himself as a strong defenceman and a good skater for his size. “I love being a shutdown guy, playing against the other team’s top lines…it’s a part of the position I really enjoy” says Nonis. “I’m still working on becoming more offensive, but I always want to take care of my own end first.” He also comes from a hockey family, with his father Dave currently the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and a former BCHL defenceman with Burnaby in the early 1980′s.
Nonis also comes to the Powell River Kings with a top NCAA Division 1 scholarship, as he is due to go to the University of New Hampshire in 2015 or 2016. He plans to use his time in Powell River to develop as an all-round defenceman. “A lot of it has to do with just getting stronger and faster” says Nonis. “I’m looking to develop more, get bigger this year and ready myself for college hockey.”
“We know we needed to bring in some size and mobility this season, and in consulting with coaches at UNH, he’s got those skills” says Kings Head Coach and General Manager Kent Lewis. “He likes the shutdown, physical side of the game and playing here he’ll have the ability to not only play that way, but develop the other aspects of his game. We’re excited to have him with the Kings next season and know that he’ll be a positive influence on the ice and in the room with his leadership experience and the way that he carries himself.”
The 6’3, 190lbs blue-liner used a familiarity of the area and a good friend to help him make the decision to play Junior hockey in Powell River. “I used to live out west when I was younger playing minor hockey in Delta, so I was familiar with the BCHL and the area and had heard of the Kings before” says Nonis. “Then a former team mate of mine, Ryan Scarfo played here last year and had nothing but good things to say about the team, the coaching staff and the town…he basically made my decision for me based on what he said about Powell River.”
Both Nonis and Scarfo are from Governors Academy, a prep school based in Massachusetts. Over the past three seasons at Governors, Nonis scored 7 goals and added 8 assists in 83 games. He captained the team this past season, his senior year. “I really worked hard last summer to be a better overall player and be able to shoulder more responsibility” says Nonis on the captaincy. “I wanted to take on a much bigger role, a more offensive role with the team.” It worked, as six of Nonis’ 7 goals at Governors came in his senior year.
The 18-year old Nonis will use this off-season to prepare himself for the workload of Junior hockey. He plans to visit family in British Columbia before joining the team in late August for main camp and to get ready for the 2014/2015 BCHL season, which starts September 19th at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.
