There is perhaps no better time to talk about Nick Paul then on the eve of this year’s World Junior Championships, for it was last year’s tournament that made the former North Bay Battalion forward a household name in hockey-watching homes across Canada.
Paul’s goal in the final game against Russia, just 2:32 into the first period, ignited the Air Canada Centre crowd and gave Canada a 2-0 lead. The nation breathed a sigh of relief, the goal resulting from a play that Battalion fans had grown accustomed to seeing at Memorial Gardens, the big-bodied forward relentlessly driving the net, stick on the ice, with a hapless defender draped over him.
As hockey fans in North Bay prepare to turn the page on 2015, we can reflect on what has been an amazing year for Paul, a gentle giant off the ice and a fierce competitor on it, who began the 2014-15 season with the Battalion, facing long odds of cracking the national squad roster. He not only ended up with a gold medal, he simultaneously inked a pro contract with the Ottawa Senators, and is closing out the calendar year with their AHL affiliate in Binghamton.
His arrival in the OHL is stuff of legends, in that he had been bypassed at the Priority Selection in his first year of eligibility, normally the death knell for a young career. He might have slipped by unnoticed in his second year of eligibility as well, if not for an equipment malfunction at a Toronto arena.
“Coach Butler found him because the Zamboni broke down and delayed the minor midget game he was there to see and he spent time at an adjacent sheet watching midgets, where Paul stood out,” recalls Battalion team owner Scott Abbott.
The Battalion used their 5th pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection to nab the lanky forward, who had been playing midget with the Mississauga Reps. Eager to prove his worthiness to his new club, he registered 12 goals and 16 assists in his first season, often playing with Barclay Goodrow who was, by then, in his fourth season with the Troops.
“He came in, and I didn’t really know what to expect from him,” said Goodrow, his former captain. “He had a great first season and ended up getting drafted and turned into one of the better offensive players in the League.”
Paul would go on to become a thoroughbred for the Battalion, a rare blend of power and performance, an ox in the corners, winning battles and shielding the puck as he searched for opportunities to pass or, more likely, turn his 6-foot-3 frame in the direction of the net and barge through, tank-like, with bodies bouncing off him. The very definition of a power forward, Paul demonstrated acute hand-eye coordination, allowing him to command small spaces, and was most at home in the Dave Andreychuk zone, the dirty areas within a few feet of the goaltender, where he could use his telescopic reach to deposit a puck into the far side of the net, beyond a goalie’s reach.
His father Elwood being from Powassan, Paul quickly became a fan favourite in North Bay and while his leadership on the ice was unmistakable, his commitment to the community off the ice was equally impressive, collaborating with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at the North Bay Regional Health Centre to launch Points for Paul, an initiative to raise awareness and money for mental illness in youth, a cause that had personal significance for Paul, who lost a high school friend to suicide.
While his easy-going demeanor had a positive impact on teammates and fans, the coaches with whom he worked regularly were equally affected, including Battalion assistant coach John Dean, who directed the offense in 2014-15, Paul’s final season.
“We want a have a fine line between friendship and a coach,” said Dean. “But it was nice to see a smile on his face when you walk in, and it’s contagious, for everybody, from the coaching staff, the support staff, trainers and, obviously, especially young guys and players. It’s just who he is as a person.”
But the secret of Paul’s success boils down to more than just being a nice guy. After all, nice guys do finish last if they’re not prepared to work. But hard work was what this young man was all about. Following up an impressive debut as one of 25 invited forwards at Team Canada’s 2014 Summer Development Camp in Calgary, local fans continued to admire his work ethic at Memorial Gardens, cheering him on as he racked up 19 goals and 15 assists before being called back for Team Canada tryouts in December. In the run up to the tournament, Dean sensed something special about his number one forward.
“As a new guy coming in, I got to meet Nick Paul early,” recalled Dean. “The fun thing about coaching Nick is that he loves to work on small things, and I think he recognizes what his tool box is, and what parts of his game he needs to work on. We used to work on small things like hard passes to his feet, picking up ugly pucks, driving the net and getting ugly rebounds. He made me work on that stuff in practice. All the time, after practice, he asked me to throw dirty pucks to him, dirty rebounds. That’s the kind of kid he is.”
Now Paul finds himself applying those same principles of hard work to his newest challenge: converting success at the junior level to success at the pro level. As a 20-year old in the OHL, his size afforded an advantage over younger opponents but now, presenting a slimmer 210-pound physique, he competes nightly against AHL players who are older, faster and stronger.
Even OHL stars are not immune to dips in performance when entering the pro ranks, and these can wear on a young player who is accustomed to success. But one player who has faith in Paul’s ability to adapt and flourish is Goodrow who, himself, emerged at the NHL level with the San Jose Sharks, and now splits time with their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
“He’s shown that you can develop into a player, and for a guy who wasn’t drafted in his first year of eligibility in the OHL, he’s proven a lot of people wrong,” offered Goodrow. “The sky’s the limit for that guy. He’s got a great body for pro hockey. He knows how to protect pucks and I think he’s going to have a successful career.”
Goodrow may be on to something.
Just prior to Christmas, Paul was rewarded for going to the net, in typical fashion, in a game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recording his first AHL goal, adding to his seven assists with the Binghamton Senators.
As a busy first half of the American Hockey League season neared completion, I reached Nick Paul at home, where he was able to share his thoughts on his pro hockey journey so far.
Ranjan: Hi, Nick. The World Junior Championships are upon us once again. What comes to mind when you reflect on your experience at the tournament last year?
Nick Paul: A lot of hard work, a lot of bonding. You go there before the tournament starts, and it’s a lot of hard work: conditioning, coming together as a group, living at a hotel. At the time it seems really hard, but once you go through the process you can look back and remember how much fun it is. All the friendships that you make, all the hard work that pays off. It’s just an amazing experience. For people that go there, just take everything in, because it goes by real quick, but it’s a really fun time.
Ranjan: Coach Butler told the folks here in North Bay that you’re going to have to play the best hockey in your life to make that team...
Nick Paul: Yeah, for sure. They’re a really high-skilled, hard-working team. You have to put everything on the table. Sometimes it’s not good enough, sometimes it is. Luckily enough, last year, it was good enough for me. But honestly, just put all your cards on the table and try to make that team.
Ranjan: You played at a high level on the world stage, but also at the OHL level, when you reached the OHL finals, and the conference finals. What would you say about the two levels of competition?
Nick Paul: They’re both pretty good. OHL finals are a little bit different because you’ve gone though the playoffs already, in the first, second, and third round. It’s definitely harder on the body. You have to play through injuries, whereas World Juniors you’re a little more fresh, but the pace is a little faster. Both levels are really high and both you have to give it your best.
Ranjan: Describe your time with the Binghamton Senators so far...
Nick Paul: It’s been good. It’s been a little bit of an adjustment for me, going to Binghamton. I think the first part of the season was little bit of a learning curve, getting used to everything, being a rookie on a team again, skating and confidence. But the thing here is working every day, getting better every single day, whether it’s in the gym or on the ice.
Ranjan: That sounds like something you learned when you were with the Battalion, that you have to get better every day...
Nick Paul: Yeah for sure, that was one of Stan’s biggest things was that you either get better or worse every day. It’s so true. A lot of things that Stan taught me has really helped me in going to the AHL so far.
Ranjan: It took a couple of years in the OHL before you emerged as a dominant forward. How does breaking into the AHL compare?
Nick Paul: It’s sort of similar. You start off as a rookie not knowing everyone, trying to find your place, your role and your confidence. I think it was quicker for me to become a dominant player in the OHL. Right now I just have to find my confidence, and the only way I can do that is to keep working hard every single day.
Ranjan: Compare your role with Binghamton to the role we saw you play in North Bay...
Nick Paul: Obviously you have to earn the coaches trust as a rookie. My role right now is to be strong in the defensive zone first, and let the offense take care of itself. I’m a big guy, and I want to be difficult to play against and they want me to win my battles. I want to be one of those players who’s best in the corners, and tough in front. They want me to be more physical.
Ranjan: Did your time with Coach Butler and the North Bay Battalion prepare you for hockey at this level?
Nick Paul: Yeah, for sure, and the way he taught me to play hockey is the way that professional hockey teams want. At the time, it wasn’t always fun, because I didn’t want to play defense first, but now, becoming a professional athlete, and seeing what they want, the style of play, it really did pay off. The AHL guys are bigger and stronger... You’re moving up a level, going from being one of the oldest guys, where your spot is more secure, to one of the youngest. You’re playing for a job now. People here are working every single day and the biggest difference I’ve noticed is strength and the speed. In the OHL, I could go into the corners and I knew I was going to hold that puck and take the body out, whereas here it’s a little harder because players are ready for you, they’re older and smarter. Definitely I’ve been hitting the weight room more, going on more bike rides, trying to get stronger.
Ranjan: If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to a 17-year old Nick Paul, what would it be?
Nick Paul: Just to keep working. Sometimes things are hard, and a little rough, but keep a positive mindset, hard work will get you through it. One thing I know for sure is that talent is a good thing to have, but if you have someone who works harder in everything that you do, in time the person who works harder is going to be a better player.
Ranjan: Your team finds itself near the bottom of the AHL. With a gold medal and a Bobby Orr Trophy to your credit, that’s not a familiar position for you to be in. How are you approaching the situation?
Nick Paul: Well, it’s a new team and I’m part of it. We have some great veterans. We’re in a little bit of a slump now, but it’s just coming together as a team, finding each other as a team, playing for each other. That’s what I took away from World Juniors and the North Bay Battalion. When you start playing as a team, playing for each other, that’s when you start winning, and I think that’s what we’ve been doing lately. We’ve come together as a group and hopefully can keep that up.
Ranjan: When you think back to North Bay, what’s your fondest memory?
Nick Paul: I’d say playoffs in North Bay. North Bay is such a great city. Playoff time there was absolutely amazing. All the people came to the games and how loud it was when our team scored a goal, or after a big win, and the whole place shook. It was just an amazing place to play.
Ranjan: Is there anything you want to tell the folks back in North Bay?
Nick Paul: I miss being back there and hopefully I can visit soon. I hope the Battalion is going to come up with a good year this year and make it far in the playoffs. I thank them all the time for supporting me, and honestly some of the best years of my life, playing in North Bay. And, oh…Merry Christmas!
Bluelines: A fireside chat with Nick Paul is the third-of-four articles running over the holiday season.
Christmas Day: Bluelines: A fireside chat with Barlcay Goodrow
Boxing Day: Bluelines: A fireside chat with Brenden Miller
Tuesday December 29: Bluelines: A fireside chat with Nick Paul
New Year’s Day: Bluelines: A fireside chat with Marcus McIvor
Hey Bluelines readers! Free holiday offer!
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