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Nordstrom tapped by rockets

Terrace bantam Nick Nordstrom was one of 10 bantam prospects selected by the Kelowna Rockets during the WHL draft May 1

Terrace bantam Nick Nordstrom, 15, has been plucked by the Kelowna Rockets, the team which finished first in this year’s Western Hockey League season.

Nordstrom was one of 10 bantam prospects selected during the WHL draft in Calgary Wednesday, May 1. He was picked in the 10th round.

“I’m so excited,” he said. “I got calls from other teams and spoke with them but I wasn’t expecting to get drafted by the Rockets.”

Speaking to the draft, the Rockets said they picked up “a lot of guys with size who can skate,” and Nordstrom, 6’2, fits that bill.

The defenseman caught the eye of scouts at the BC U16 Cup, where he was one of three Terrace players who made the cut to compete with some of the best in the province. That was the first time the scouts had seen Nordstrom play.

Kelowna Rockets assistant GM and director of player personnel Lorne Frey said considering the level of play he would have played at all year (coming from a small town in northwest), he performed very well against the other top players his age from across the province.

“We were very pleased with his overall ability. He has good size and is a good skater,” said Frey. “Considering the level he had played at all year, he handled himself very well competing with those guys. He’s potentially a very good player.”

Nordstrom said he is planning to try out for the Caribou Cougars major midget team next year as a next step.

Nordstrom’s brother, Kenny, plays for the 100 Mile House Wranglers in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.