Zajac goes from blades to Bisons
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This article was published 09/05/2016 (3666 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Headingley’s Nick Zajac could have probably left the Saskatoon Blades when things started getting tough, but he was always reminded that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
A Memorial Cup appearance in 2013-14 was followed up by a few lean seasons in northern Saskatchewan after a number of changes took place in the team’s front office.
But Zajac, who was drafted by the team when he was 15, decided to stick out and try and build a legacy others could look up to.
“Things were awesome there and I wanted to stick it out and hopefully make a change,” Zajac said. “Hopefully I did that and can say down the road that I helped the young guys I played with.”
Zajac was recruited by the Bisons last week and will begin his freshman season with the Herd later this fall.
“I’m super pumped, man,” he said. “I’m just really excited to get home and stay home. I’ve always felt that I was just visiting home in summer months and then going back to Saskatoon to play junior. Now, I feel like I’ve been settling in here again.”
Being a rookie again will be an adjustment for Zajac, but he admits his favourite year in junior was his initial season.
“I’ve never worn a different jersey at the competitive level so I’m looking forward to see my parents excited,” he said. “They will be able to watch a lot of hockey and I’m excited to come home and talk hockey with my dad in the hot tub.”
The decision to come home after five years away was an easy one. However, Zajac looks back on his time with the Blades with a big smile on his face, including playing in the Memorial Cup.
“That was pretty cool. I was almost tearing up going on the ice for that,” he said. “Going on the ice to a full crowd, you can imagine what it would be like to go out into an atmosphere like that.
“Scoring my first goal in the league, that was pretty exciting. I remember it like yesterday. And playing my 300th game. They had a special ceremony for me. And my last game in the league, it was at home, it was special. They put us three 20-year-olds on the ice, we started the game and finished together. We were out there for two minutes, so I was trying to just get into lanes.”
The key to Zajac’s longevity, he says, was his work ethic.
“Every team is looking for a hard-working guy,” he said. “There’s room for a guy like that on every team, and I had to change my role going into the WHL. I was a point-producer coming into the league, but I was good at adapting. I just wanted to stay in the lineup. I’d kill penalties, block shots, skate hard, fight when I had to — whatever it took.”
Zajac has a good head on his shoulders as well. He’s working on his electrical certificate and will be heading to the Asper School of Business while at the university.
But he’d still love to pursue his dream.
“I’d love to play pro hockey, whether it was in Europe or the American Hockey League. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”