Nolan Kadachuk played in 171 games over three years with the Melfort Mustangs. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

By Mat Barrett

Hometown Kid

From Melfort to Marian: Kadachuk commits to NCAA for college hockey

May 13, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Local Nolan Kadachuk hasn’t had to go very far for his hockey career.

That has changed now as the Melfort Mustang graduate has committed to Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Panthers play in the NCAA Division III ranks.

Kadachuk, a Melfort native, said he had talked to Marian early in the year, and conversations continued throughout the season.

“I asked around a bunch, and heard nothing but good things about their program and about their coach,” he said.

Kadachuk added the courses at Marian do transfer well back to Canada which was a big pull. Another draw to Marian was the fact Fond du Lac is right on Lake Winnebago, hopefully giving him some time to fish in his down time.

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He said there’s also an opportunity on the ice to play right away, likely in Marian’s top four defence.

“They’re looking for some [defence],” Kadachuk told northeastNOW. “And by the sounds of things, my playing style is going to fit in well with their team.”

From playing bantam hockey with the Northeast Wolfpack, to Midget AAA with the Tisdale Trojans, and then his junior years with Melfort, Kadachuk has been lucky to play close to home. He said his three seasons with the Mustangs were three of the best years of his life and that “all three teams were great.”

“Just being able to just keep playing where I initially started hockey,” Kadachuk said.

“It’s just a cool thing to think about.” _{-Nolan Kadachuk on playing with his hometown junior team}

He said he’s excited to move down to Wisconsin and get schooling and the hockey season started. Kadachuk said he’s already got some roommates lined up from British Columbia.

On the ice, it was a progressive build for the blue liner during his time with the Mustangs. It began with 16 points in 38 regular season games in 2017/2018, his rookie season, to 21 points in 52 games in his sophomore year, to a massive 41 points in 58 games in 2019/2020, ultimately being tied for second on the team in scoring while also being an assistant captain. Kadachuk said through the years he got lots of opportunities, and kept things simple.

“I typically didn’t try and do too much,” he said.

“I just kind of stuck to my role and played my game, and it worked out for me.” _{-Nolan Kadachuk}

The 2018/2019 Mustang team that featured Kadachuk made it all the way to the finals. Kadachuk played in 15 of 16 games that run and said it was one of his best memories in the blue and green.

“It was a really tight knit group of guys, everybody wanted to be there and everybody wanted to win, which was a great team to be a part of,” he said. “And just being able to spend that much time together with your team, having those extra couple months going to the finals, it brings you a lot closer together especially when you’re going through playoffs.”

That season was the first time the Mustangs fan base was introduced to a defence pairing of Kadachuk, and Alex Rondeau. The two were together most of that season, and progressively improved leading them to be a top pairing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in 2019/2020. Both players tallied 41 points in the season, which had them tied for fifth in the SJHL. Kadachuk was also the only Mustang to play in all 58 regular season games, and all four playoff contests.

Kadachuk said this year, he felt like the team had the horses to make it to another final. There’s a bit of unfinished business due to the fact that COVID-19 shut down their playoffs when they were up 3-1 against the Estevan Bruins in their first round series.

“It sucks that it had to end this way, and I guess we’ll never know,” he said. “But hopefully the boys can take care of it next year.”

Kadachuk finishes his career with 171 regular season and playoff games with Melfort, 15th on the franchise’s all-time list among defenceman. His 84 overall points are tied for 10th on the franchise list as well among blue liners, and his 71 assists are eighth on that list.

Off the ice, Kadachuk was also very involved in community and with kids. Whether it was helping coach youth teams in the city, or going to schools, Kadachuk said he remembered the Mustangs doing it when he was a kid.

Kadachuk poses with a young fan who came with a sign, as well as somewhat of a mask with Kadachuk’s face. (Facebook/Tekla Shields Kadachuk)

“I know how much it meant to me back in the day,” he said. “So, I just tried to repay the favour to the next wave of hockey players and kids.”

For his efforts, Kadachuk was the Mustangs nominee for the SJHL’s RBC Community Ambassador Award.

Nolan Kadachuk (right) is awarded his plaque for being the Melfort Mustang nominee for the SJHL’s Community Ambassador Award. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

While at Marian, Kadchuk said he will study business finance.