Nico Myatovic won’t deny it.
He’s switched his allegiances and no longer considers the Prince George Cougars his favourite Western Hockey League team.
He became a diehard Seattle Thunderbirds fan on May 2nd last year, the day the T-birds selected him in the sixth round, 119th overall, in the WHL bantam draft.
Having just celebrated his 15th birthday in December, Myatovic was savouring his time on the ice at CN Centre Tuesday practicing with the T-birds as they prepared for their two-game series with the Cougars. Earlier in the day he signed a standard WHL contract with Seattle. There was no doubt he was enjoying himself while offering his future bosses another glimpse of what they can expect from the Prince George minor hockey product once he’s old enough to play in the league.
“It’s awesome getting out with the guys here, knowing most of them from main camp as well, the icetime was good,” said Myatovic. “I was so excited draft day and especially excited when I saw Seattle pop up. They’ve been great to be so far and I’m super-excited to sign with them.
“Growing up watching the Cougars play in this rink, I’ve just loved watching hockey here and to be with a WHL team here it’s something special. I’m a T-birds fan all the way now.”
Myatovic has six goals and six assists in 26 games as a rookie centre playing for the Cariboo Cougars in the B,C. Hockey Major Midget League. Last spring at his home rink at Kin 1 he led the Farr Fabricating Cougars to triple-A bantam provincial title as the team captain.
He was quick to thank his coaches in Prince George and his parents, Karen and Marco, for their efforts in speeding his development into one of the WHL’s top young prospects.
“Special thanks to the coaching staff, Tyler Brough, RJ Berra and Jordan Duncan, they’ve all helped, as well as Mirsad Mujcin (his former bantam coach), they’ve all helped me excel and (realize) my dreams with the WHL and helped me get drafted by this team,” said Myatovic.
“I think I’ve just matured (since last season). My game has gotten a lot better. Playing with older guys this year I’ve become more aware defensively and as well kept my offensive abilities.”
The five-foot-10, 140-pound Myatovic made a great first impression on T-birds head coach Matt O’Dette when he watched him in training camp and O’Dette also heard positive reports about him from the WHL Cup in Calgary in October, where Myatovic had two assists in five games for Team B.C.
“He’s a very smart player first of all, he has all the tools that can translate into a good WHL hockey player,” said O’Dette.
“We were very impressed with him in training camp. He plays a good 200-foot game. Our scouts have tracked him throughout his season and he’s had a really good season. Being able to play on that B.C. team was a huge accomplishment for him.
“Those type of guys who are captains on championship teams have a knack for doing that throughout their career and as a team we want as many of those kids as we can find, those high-character kids who have been involved with winning teams. He’s earned his way to being signed by our team and he’s got a bright future ahead.”
Myatovic won’t play for the T-birds tonight or Wednesday when they face the Cougars in a critical two-game series at CN Centre. The Cougars are chasing Seattle for the last wild-card playoff spot, trailing the T-birds by 10 points, and the teams will meet again Sunday in Kent, Wash.
“We’ve been approaching our last several games as playoff games, each and every one, we’re in the middle of that playoff race and these guys are right behind us,” said O’Dette. “We play those guys four times in the next little while (also on Feb. 23 in Kent) and we’re going to have to dig in to solidify a playoff spot.”
