Patience paying off for Nighthawks’ rookie Brown

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/10/2023 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Defenceman Carson Reed was the breakout star of Niverville’s inaugural season in the MJHL.

In Year 2, 17-year-old rookie left-winger Nathan Brown is quickly making his mark with the Nighthawks after a rapid ascent in the prospect ranks over the past two seasons. On Wednesday, he was the lone MJHLer to be named to the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players-to-watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft.

“Whether he’s got the puck or he doesn’t, he’s always trying to make something happen,” said Nighthawks GM and head coach Kelvin Cech. “The nice thing about him is he can play anywhere in the lineup and he makes players around him better. He really battles to get the puck back and he checks hard. It’s still a jump to be playing against 20-year-olds and really skilled 19-year-olds and there’s been an adjustment period, but he’s just getting better and better.”

Brown, who played three games for Niverville last season while also racking up 73 points in 54 games with the Winnipeg AAA U18 Bruins, nearly earned a spot in the MJHL as a 16-year-old.

“It was going to be a good team, right, so I wasn’t too upset about (being sent back),” said Brown, who has four goals and seven points in 13 games to start the 2023-24 season. “It was nice going back to U18, with top-line minutes and first-line power play and everything, so I think it helped me. I have more confidence coming back.”

Remarkably, he looked good enough in a preseason game against the Selkirk Steelers just prior to being reassigned to U18, that he attracted attention from St. Cloud State University scouts, the same NCAA Division I program that signed Winnipegger Adam Ingram two years ago.

Shortly thereafter, Brown made a verbal commitment to the Huskies. Earlier, he was protected by the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, but did not sign with the team.

“Honestly, he probably could have stuck around as a 16-year-old,” said Cech, who acquired Brown’s rights in the second round (19th overall) of the 2022 MJHL Draft. “He was a really good penalty-killer last year and he could have played but was that the best thing for his development? He went back to his U18 team, he was the man and got a lot of confidence and that’s where he got his scholarship, by playing U18. It just goes to show that sometimes patience is best.”

The Nighthawks, off to an excellent 9-3-1-0 start, are allowing Brown to grow into a role with his new team. He’s on the second unit of the power play and playing a regular shift, most recently with right-winger Carter Spirig and centre Bryce Warkentine.

“I don’t think there is a ceiling because he just does everything so well,” said Cech. “Sometimes, when guys play at 17, they’re super skilled with the puck and they have an awesome shot, but that’s all they’ve been focused on is offence.

“He could go to college, probably not next year, but the year after as a 19-year-old, and he could play on the fourth line and kill penalties and check or he could play on the first line and put up offence.”

Brown admits his biggest deficiency is strength. At 5-11, 165 pounds, he’s not yet equipped to battle some of the strongest 19- and 20-year-old forwards in the MJHL.

“I think my hockey IQ is really high,” said Brown. “I know what to do in certain situations and I also kind of like the grit I play with. I like to skate and shoot the puck and make plays but I also like to get getting into the corners and making hits.”

Brown will have to get accustomed to the spotlight.

“We’re gonna have NHL scouts in our building to watch him and hopefully there’s some other guys that are gonna get some attention with that as well,” said Cech. “I mean, that’s important, right? A rising tide floats all boats. And he knows, he’s gonna grow. He’s a lean kid right now.”

There is a potential pitfall if Brown’s stock continues to rise. The Fargo Force, who drafted his USHL rights earlier this year, could sign him prior to the start of his college career. He attended the Force’s training camp in June.

“I obviously hope he’s back (in 2024-25) but at the same time, Carson Reed went to (USHL) Waterloo, and that looks good on everybody,” said Cech.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca