Login

NUCK · 02-09-2024, 10:42 PM

During the season 76 SMJHL rookie draft, the Maine Timber took a chance on a young right shot defender whos great grand father was a hall of fame member of the SHL. Picked at number 11 of the draft there was plenty of people who felt he feel in the draft but even more who think that the Timber reached in picking him so high based just on a name. The budding defender in question is Will Nuck and although he is still young, Nuck seems to be proving half of that demographic correct.

He may have had a respectable pre season putting up decent numbers and looking at home on the third pair. He played all 7 games for Maine putting up surprising offensive numbers with 2 goals and 4 assists during the stretch. His defensive game was on par with what the optimistic scouts had him pegged at. He only coughed up the puck 3 times during his 19:07 average minutes of ice time per game. This coupled with his 1 take away per game made his General Manger looked brilliant taking him at 11th. Nuck also boasted 10 hits and 4 blocked shots over the time spent on the ice. All this was impressive enough that the coach even had him taking a few face offs to test the youngsters all around abilities out. Pre season made him look like a draft day steal and the Maine brass like hockey geniuses!

The early part of the season 76 season has been anything but up's for Nuck. His start to the regular season has been anything but roses and the Maine staff were left wondering just what changed in the week between pre season and the regular season. Toted as a shut down stud of a defenseman, Nuck had high expectations laid on him from the get go. Weather it is nerves or maybe its just the jump in caliber, young Will has been struggling to match up with the hype surrounding him. The SMJHL has proven to be a rough place to play for the right hander from Munich.

In his first game he looked to be the player that was worth spending a first on and raised the hopes of the Timber faithful. He managed to rise above his scouting report and scored a goal at 08:11 of the second period, was a +3 and had 3 shots on goal. He played 22 minutes had 1 block and 1 hit and ended the game with a game rating of 67.

Thats when the honeymoon ended! He has sense struggled to hold his early form, he sported a 36 Defensive Game Rating in the following game and even though he gained 1 assist he was a -1 and just looked unsure of himself out on the ice. We have seen some slight improvement sense his lackluster game 2 performance but he has been nowhere near the defensive gem that was expected of him during scouting. We sit only 14 games into the season and it has not been all negatives for the young blue liner, there still rest a lot of promise from the Maine management that Nuck can kick the slump and live up to the name he wears on his back. Here's to hoping were just looking at him working out some stage fright!