Petes sign first-round draft pick
Nick Robertson’s journey to OHL was a long one
Nick Robertson’s journey to the OHL was a long one, literally, like 2,960 miles to be exact with several pitstops along the way.
The Peterborough Petes’ firstround draft pick was born and raised just outside Los Angeles, California. His father Hugh was a Michigan native but started a law practice in California after attending law school there. He met his wife Mercedes, who moved to California from the Philippines at age three, there and
Nick is the youngest of their four children.
The Petes announced Monday night they have signed Robertson to a standard OHL player contract following their annual development camp at the Memorial Centre on the weekend. He was one of 55 players vying for a return to the club’s main camp Aug. 28.
While most Californians grow up playing baseball, basketball, football or even surfing, Hugh’s love of hockey from his Michigan roots filtered to his boys Michael, Jason, who plays for the Kingston Frontenacs, and Nick. Hugh had season tickets to LA. Kings games and the boys started minor hockey there.
The lack of rep hockey teams in the area forced the boys’ teams to travel extensively to get competition often flying to places like Chicago, Detroit, Toronto and Montreal. With Hugh’s work commitments Mercedes often packed the children for long drives or flights. Eventually, they decided it might be less stressful to move to Michigan. They bought a home in Northville and Mercedes and the children moved when Nick was eight. Hugh commuted from LA. to be with them on weekends.
“The training in California was excellent, the coaching was excellent but the travel was a lot,” Hugh said. “We thought it was easier for them to move and for me to commute.”
As the boys showed promise they eventually ended rented an apartment in Toronto so Michael and Jason could play in the GTHL against the best available competition. Nick joined them a year later.
“When we got to Toronto it was like everybody ate, drank, breathed hockey,” Hugh said. “Nick couldn’t wait to move.”
When Nick was 12 he saw his first OHL game.
“IrememberseeingthePlymouth Whalers who were like three minutes away from our house,” Nick said. “I told my parents I want to play in this league, whatever it was called, because it looked a lot faster than the college leagues... They were younger and more elite and were draft picks to the NHL.”
Being drafted by the Petes was a dream come true.
“It’s another chapter in the book,” Nick said. “Minor hockey, all those tournaments, all the driving, all the pain, it’s over now. Now I can just focus on one thing and that’s the NHL and developing for that.”
It was also a good fit as far as the family was concerned. For one, his brother’s team is not too far away and they’ll play eight times each season. That will help mom and dad to see the boys more often. Hugh says the city is also a good environment.
“Peterborough and Kingston are great little cities,” Hugh said. “As a parent, having a team and a community embrace a 16-yearold is pretty important. It gives us comfort.”
Petes’ GM Mike Oke said it’s obvious Robertson is driven to be a hockey player.
“A lot of those moves were made because he wanted to challenge himself to be the best player he could be,” said Oke. “On the ice he’s demonstrated he’s a very good player. It’s a credit to him and to his family for providing the support.”
Oke and his scouts zeroed in on Robertson and had him ranked higher than where they drafted him at 16th overall.
“He’s got a tremendous amount of skill, he’s a good skater and he competes. In today ’s game, whether it’s the OHL or NHL, the game is moving towards a skill, speed and compete game. He possesses skills and abilities in all those areas. We think he’s going to be a very effective player for the Peterborough Petes and moving forward he’s going to give himself a chance to play at even higher levels.”