Nate Misskey (photo courtesy/Victoria Royals, Jay Wallace)

By Ben Tompkins

NHL Scouting Rankings

Melfort’s Misskey focused on team over self ahead of NHL Draft

Feb 14, 2024 | 6:00 AM

A former northeast hockey player is more focused on his team, rather than his future, despite getting one step closer to his lifelong goal.

Melfort native, Nate Misskey, recently appeared on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.

“It’s an honour, it’s great to see recognition for myself, I wasn’t on it last year, so it’s a big improvement to be on it this year, and great to be getting noticed by a lot of teams and stuff like that,” Misskey told northeastNOW. “I just hope to keep it going and hope to keep improving.”

While the current Western Hockey Leaguer and member of the Victoria Royals is hopeful to make the National Hockey League, he’s putting that on the back burner and focusing on his team.

As it stands right now, his team is fifth in the Western Conference and 11th overall.

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“I think it’s more just focusing on our team, obviously the draft is in the back of your mind but just gotta focus on the team making the playoffs,” Misskey added.

“Obviously, it gives me a little bit of fire playing games and stuff, but I just gotta help my team in whatever way I can, so trying to contribute the best I can to help our team win in any way is what’s most important.”

The former Prince Albert Minto and Melfort Mustang is most of the way through his third Major Junior season, as he has 32 points in 40 games, as a defenceman.

According to him, his teammates along the way and his time spent in northeast Saskatchewan have been some of the biggest contributors to where he is now.

“Teammates have been a great help and I’ve had great support from all of them. Obviously, they helped me on the personal side as well, and I think we just need to continue doing well as a team, and I’m sure a lot of good things will come for a lot of us,” said Misskey.

“I grew up in Melfort and played there till second year Banta, so I played on the highest level team I could every year and there’s great competition around that area. I know a lot of guys who are playing high-level hockey now, so I think just growing up there with friends and really loving the game of hockey really helped me out today and in my younger ages.”

The 2024 NHL Draft is expected to be held in Las Vegas in late June.

After jumping from U18 AAA to the WHL with only one game of Junior A under his belt, the 19-year-old Misskey is prepared to make a similar jump to the pros, when/if he’s asked to.

“As a young guy in my third-year major here, coming into the WH here was a faster game, with a lot better players than midget. The game moves a lot faster and there are a lot stronger guys up here, so I think that kind of jump going to help anybody improve their game and in the future, take a step up in any way they can.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8