Head coach impressed with Nijhoff at Pats’ camp
Logan Nijhoff is working his way to the head of the class.
The 16-year-old forward was one of several players looking to make an impression when the Regina Pats opened rookie camp early last week, and it didn’t take long to separate himself from the pack.
“He has been the brightest light so far of that age group,” head coach/GM John Paddock said after main camp opened Saturday. “For the most part, as the pace picked up with better players around him, he has sort of rose to the occasion. He has been really good.”
After a strong performance in pre-camp fitness testing, Nijhoff went on to lead all rookies with six goals in three scrimmages. He followed that up by scoring twice, including the game-winner, in the first scrimmage of main camp.
“Things are going good,” said Nijhoff, a 2016 eighth-round pick. “I’m pretty comfortable now. I’m just trying to play fast, play hard, play my game and hopefully get a spot.”
Nijhoff realizes it’ll be no easy task to earn a full-time job with the Pats, who are playing host to the 2018 Memorial Cup.
He’s simply trying to control what he can control — his own effort and performance.
“I’ll just give it my all and see how it pans out,” said the 5-foot11, 180-pounder. “(The Memorial Cup) is definitely in the back of my mind but I’m trying to block it out.”
Nijhoff, who describes himself as a hard-working two-way forward, had 18 goals and six assists in 32 games last season with the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s prep team. He made his WHL debut in Game 4 of Regina’s first-round playoff series against the Calgary Hitmen.
“I’ve never really been around that high pace of hockey,” he said. “The team was great and the guys were all good to me. It was a good experience to just see what they do for the games, how they focus. I tried to learn as much as I could.”
Nijhoff ’s competition at camp includes three other forwards from the 2016 bantam draft: Cole Muir, Kjell Kjemhus and Tristen Robins.
“All those guys are going to play,” said Paddock, whose team opens the pre-season schedule Thursday (7 p.m., Brandt Centre) against the Saskatoon Blades.