While the season did not end as well as Kelowna could have hoped, it still was a great season by the team's terms and expectations. A team picked to finish in the middle of the pack did in the standings. Then they surprised everyone and made it to the Four Cup Finals. They couldn't finish the job, however, losing to Anchorage in 7 games. For the rookies on the team, it was a real fun firsthand experience on professional ice. One rookie said it best in a somber locker room after the crushing loss: "We had a hell of a season, and while we didn't win it all, it was a blast to experience this awesome team and fanbase.". That player? Rookie Swedish defenseman Noah Nystrom.

     The rookie had an interesting first season on North American ice, notching 11 points in his first season over. That doesn't really tell the whole story, however. While Nystrom was billed coming over as a two-way defensive machine, he really excelled at defense this season. He tied with Andrey Barbashev II for the team lead in +/- with 9. He had over 50 hits. On the second pairing, he played power play and power kill time, while averaging over 20 minutes a game and playing more than 1000 minutes on the season. It was an impressive first season, and as Nystrom prepares for the SHL draft, he has a lot of good tape for interested teams to look into. However, there are some concerns with Nystrom's game, something he acknowledges. His postseason was certainly poor, with low numbers both defensively and offensively. In addition, there are still questions on when Nystrom will start to show some of his offensive, especially scoring, potential. If he can't score here in the SMJHL, how can he be expected to in the SHL? Still, having your biggest complaint as a defenseman be a lack of scoring certainly is not the worst problem to have.

    Pundits around the league praised the #6 overall pick from the moment he was drafted. The pedigree has certainly showed some returns. Compared to slow performances and talent development out of at least a few of the forwards drafted above him, the pick certainly looks good right now for Kelowna. This turns to Nystrom, like the rest of his draft class, looking ahead to the upcoming SHL draft. Once again, Nystrom's projections are all over the place. Some sources have him very high in the first, while others cite Nystrom's offensive struggles and believe he will be drafted lower than in the SMJHL draft. The Kelowna Times sent a reporter over to Sweden to ask Nystrom some questions about how he is preparing for the draft and about what he is doing as he trains in his home country in the offseason to prepare.

     When asked about how he felt about his season, Nystrom responded, "There were ups and downs. I was able to prove I can play well and a lot over there, and I think it will be a stepping stone to greater things next season, both in the SHL and SMJHL." When specifically asked about his lack of scoring, Nystrom responded, "Obviously I didn't have great puck luck and wish I could get on the scoresheet more, so this offseason I'm really trying to make my game more two-way versus defensive." This was seen by our reporter who watched Nystrom practice. For over an hour, Nystrom did nothing but practice his shooting from various places on the ice. It seems the defenseman is really taking the need to improve on his shot to heart, and next season will tell how well this training helps him on said scoresheet.

    However, when asked about his draft strategy, Noah demurred. "Unlike when I jumped the Atlantic, I don't think I'm going to be as active in trying to get teams to talk to me. If they like me, they'll call or mail. Otherwise I'm not interested." This comes probably in relation to reports Nystrom did a lot of work getting on the radar of SMJHL teams interested in him. It was a lot of work, but it did pay off getting him taken at #6. Now it seems Nystrom has the attention, and wants to go to a team who seeks him out instead of the other way around. Already unnamed SHL sources say he is getting interest despite these comments.

     Of course, when Nystrom comes back over for his second season after the draft, he should join a loaded team. In fact, an unnamed source from The Prospect Times, the first newspaper to interview Nystrom by the way, they think Kelowna will likely be the favorite to win the Four Star Cup next season, for good reason. Many of their players will likely stay down in the SMJHL to develop, and their defense in particular looks menacing. Time will tell how good this team looks, but look for a lot of preseason predictions to pick Kelowna a champion. Many other teams are also losing a lot of talent as the turnover hits the SHL, and we will see how that translates down in the SMJHL.


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