Can you tell he’s happy? We certainly can!
Nico Myatovic went 100 per cent all in (literally) on his Western Hockey League (WHL) debut Tuesday night (April 13) with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Prince George product only took two shots throughout the 60 minutes of play, but that’s all he needed to pot the first two goals of his young major junior career and lift his new team to a 4-2 win over the Tri-City Americans.
Myatovic was able to play his first game in white, green and navy after departing for the Emerald City on April 1, was activated to the roster the next day and served as a healthy scratch for the following five games.
Once he took the ice yesterday, he immediately made his presence known in the U.S. Division and across the entire league.
At 2:25 of the first period, while on his first shift, the 16-year-old took control of the puck along the left side of the rink in the neutral zone, poked it past a defender and skated towards the Tri-City cage on a partial breakaway.
Myatovic then faked the forehand shot and moved to his backhand to beat goaltender Talyn Boyko and give the home side the 1-0 lead.
His first of the rookie campaign was named the ‘Highlight of the Night’ by the WHL.
The former Cariboo Cougar’s second goal came in the early stages of the second period after the Americans tied it up 1-1 before the end of opening frame.
After Seattle gained possession in the offensive zone, Myatovic took a pass from teammate Lucas Ciona at the top of the right face-off circle, skated towards the net and beat Boyko short-side, this time on a backhand shot over his glove.
The goal gave the T-Birds a 2-1 lead just under five minutes into the middle stanza, which would turn out to be the jolt they needed to eventually win the contest.
Two Shots. Two Goals.
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) April 14, 2021
Nico's second puts us up 2-1!#LetsGoBirds #MyOhMyatovic pic.twitter.com/J2uLknxebx
Myatovic helped increase Seattle’s win streak to two games and improved their record to 7-5 halfway through the 24-game U.S. Division season, two games back of the Everett Silvertips.
He was also given the WHL’s third star of the night for his impressive outing.
Myatovic signed a WHL standard player agreement on Feb. 4, 2020, roughly a year after he was selected by the T-Birds in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.
In 37 games with the Cariboo Under-18 AAA Cougars, as a 15-year-old, he potted 10 goals and added 12 assists for 22 points.
He also represented Team B.C. at the 2019 WHL Cup, which showcases up-and-coming prospects for teams across the league.
Myatovic may take the ice once again on Friday (April 16) when Seattle welcomes Everett to the ShoWare Center for a 6:05 p.m. puck drop.
