“He’s come a long way because he’s bought into what we want to do as an organization. Work ethic, commitment, a leader. It’s everything that you want. He’s a true Regina Pat and we’re very fortunate to have him.” High praise from Pats head coach Dave Struch of Logan Nijhoff.
Nijhoff, a Comox, British Columbia native, is one of the few players left that has seen the highs and lows of the recent Pats teams. Drafted in the 8th round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, Nijhoff is one of two players that is still with the organization from that draft. Ryker Evans being the other. Nijhoff avoided two seasons of heavy trades as the Pats made a run in 2017 to the WHL Championship and hosted the Memorial Cup in 2018. Robbie Holmes and Riley Krane are the only other players on the current roster that played in the 2016-17 season.
“Interesting at first there, but I’ve gotten used to it now. I just got to dress a little warmer every morning,” said Nijhoff on the move from Vancouver Island to the prairies.
As a 15-year-old Nijhoff saw his first action as a Pat in the 2017 playoffs. He dressed for two games, one versus Calgary in the first round and one versus Lethbridge in the conference championship.
“He’s committed to winning. He was a part of it from the start. The year that we played Seattle (in the 2017 WHL Championship), he was a young kid, he experienced that,” said Struch
(Photo – Keith Hershmiller)
The next season, as a 16-year-old, Nijhoff saw part time action, splitting his season between his midget team at Okanagan Hockey Academy and the Pats. He suited up for 30 regular season games and one playoff game. The Pats were eliminated in the first round by the eventual WHL Champion Swift Current Broncos. Nijhoff did not dress for any Memorial Cup games.
With the heavy turnover going into the 2018-19 season Nijhoff was primed for a much bigger role. Nijhoff played in 59 games, scoring seven goals and adding ten assists. After the trade of Jake Leschyshyn, Nijhoff was leaned on as a key piece down the middle. He took many important faceoffs as a 17-year-old. He was almost always out there with the first penalty kill unit. By season’s end, he had taken over 1000 draws and won 49 percent. Off the ice Nijhoff also excelled in the classroom, with an overall average of 89 percent at Michael A. Riffel High School. He was named the team’s Scholastic Player of the Year.
“Because of his work ethic.”
Struch on Nijhoff’s success in the faceoff circle
With the 2019 season on the horizon, Nijhoff was named an alternate captain. Along with the increased leadership role, he has increased his production on the ice. He has doubled his point total from last season with 16 goals and 18 assists in 61 games while increasing his face off win percentage to 52.6 percent.
(Photo – Keith Hershmiller)
“I think it’s grown a good amount. I don’t really look points wise for my success. But I’ve been very fortunate to play with (Robbie) Holmes and (Riley) Krane here for the last two months or so. We’ve been clicking good, so lots of credit to them for my success,” said Nijhoff on his improved game this year.
For next year, “hard work, hopefully, some more production, be a good teammate and lead the guys back to where we should be” is what Nijhoff is looking to bring to the team. As for the season, there is only one thing on the players’ mind. “Get back in the playoffs. It’s been a tough two years here. In my first years, obviously (a) different scenarios there. So I think that’s the end goal,” continued Nijhoff.
“He’s one of those guys for sure, he’s an assistant captain right now. He’s a guy that we expect a lot from,” said Struch on Nijhoff leading the team into the 2020 season.
