Biography

Nick joins the Bucs this year as the new Assistant Coach, but is no newcomer to the organization! He was with the team from 1991-94, for the Anderson, Clark and Gold Cup wins, and was the captain of the Anderson Cup championship team. After his time with the Buccaneers, Nick played Division 1 hockey for Ferris State and finished his college education and Iowa State University. Nick took over the Head Coaching duties of the Des Moines Capitals High School team from Steve Nelson mid-way through last season.

Interview

Steve: Nick, tell me a little bit about your background, maybe going back to when you played with the Bucs, and maybe even before that.

Nick: Well, my first year with the Bucs was ‘91-’92, my senior year at Dowling high school. I left the high school program to try to earn a scholarship. The coach was Bob Ferguson. When I came in to play, I really wasn’t anticipating playing a whole lot. I stayed with it and I played in all the games and had a pretty decent first year. It was a pretty big adjustment year for me. It was a lot of work with going to high school. We won a national championship and playoff championship that year. I was an assistant captain the second year. We had a pretty successful season. We were about second in everything - the league playoffs, nationals. That year I suffered an arm injury. I got my arm stepped on. So it was career threatening, but I recovered from it and made training camp the next year. That year I was captain of the team, and we won league championship and then got second in the playoffs and didn’t fair real well in the national tournament that year. So that was about my Buccaneer career, and then I earned a scholarship the same year with Ferris State.

Steve: Tell me about when you played for Ferris State. Where is Ferris State?

Nick: Ferris State is in Big Rapids, Michigan. It is just 50 miles north of Grand Rapids; just a small little town but it is fun. It is Division I hockey in a great conference with some of the big schools like Michigan, Michigan State, Lake Superior State, Bowling Green, Iowa State, Notre Dame. I was there for about a year and a half. I didn’t adjust real well to that hockey level, and I kind of knew it was time for me to move on, and that is when I went to Iowa State and started coaching here in high school.

Steve: Going back to your Buc career, you won a national championship in ‘91-’92. Where was that played at and who did you play against?

Nick: That was played in Omaha on Easter Sunday and we beat Detroit Compuware in the national championship in ‘91.

Steve: Wow, you killed them!

Nick: Yeah, we did! We had a great team that year. We had some players like Pat Mikesch, Eric Rud, Dan Reimann, Jamie Adams. So we really had some talented players.

Steve: Do you ever keep in contact with any of those players from those teams?

Nick: Yeah. Actually, I was in Eric Rud’s wedding last year. Jeff will be in my wedding in October. Jason Zupkus is a good buddy of mine, Pat Williams. So yeah, I speak with a few of them. Doug Bowrude, Dan Carney, and I went to Iowa State together and still hang out to this day.

Steve: So you mentioned you are getting married in October, Congratulations!

Nick: Thank you. It is the Lincoln game!

Steve: Are you going to get the day off?

Nick: I get the day off!

Steve: Tell me, what is it like coming back to Des Moines in a coaching role? Is it difficult because you are from here, or do you feel it doesn’t matter?

Nick: I think it is a big advantage for me because I have been here before and I know what to expect, and I know a lot about Des Moines. Honestly, I have always promoted Des Moines so I am kind of excited to recruit because this program is something that I have grown up and loved and have followed even when I wasn’t a player. So it is something I am very excited about because, you know, I enjoy Buccaneer hockey and I have always been a fan. So it is kind of fun to get to do something that you love so much for your job.

Steve: What is your role as assistant coach? What are some of the things that you’ll be doing?

Nick: Right away we are just going to kind of ease into it a little bit. I will probably be in the stands for the first couple of periods and then on the bench for the third period. I will be in charge of the D, the defensemen. Basically, I will be going out on the road looking for players for next year, doing some recruiting, getting in and talking with families and players. I will be helping out with the practice plans. You know, just trying to help these kids that we have and get them to the next level. Help them in the weight room, you know, just everything. Trying to be an advisor and a friend and just get them to the next level so they can develop, and so they know what to expect for next year and things like that.

Steve: Having gone through this before, what are some of the things that the new players face that maybe would be difficult for them? Are there any common things?

Nick: Well, for some kids this is their first time away from home, which is often difficult. You know, we have had players in the past leave because they were home sick. We just try to welcome them here and make them feel comfortable. That is probably the biggest adjustment. And then there is the hockey side of it. Juniors from high school or midgets is a big adjustment. It is a faster pace, the guys are bigger, it is more hitting. So I think that is a pretty big adjustment for them. And then you have to get used to your house family, and that is also an adjustment.

Steve: Yes, it is.

Nick: It is a big change for a lot of these kids and it takes some time to go through it. It takes some time to get settled and really to where they want to be.

Steve: Let’s talk about this year’s team. We have got a good group of guys coming back. What about the new guys coming in? What do you see? Do they look like they are going to be good?

Nick: Yeah, I think we may even have a little bit more talent than we had last year. It all depends on how it comes together, you know. I think last year the team had a really good bond, and that is something I don’t know that we can do as coaches. It just has to happen between the players. And I think if that happens, I think again we will be very successful. We have a lot of talent. You know, things like that. Winning will take care of itself if you know these kids can come together and just work hard and play the systems, and I think winning will take care of itself. We have a good team.

Steve: Well, I know that we have gotten a lot of good comments about you coming already out on the discussion forums out there. And they knew before any of us knew that you were going to be in and we would like to welcome you and we are glad you are here.

Nick: Great! Thank you very much.

9/1/98

To 1998-99 Roster