Red Deer Rebels Director of Player Personnel Jamie Novakoski couldn’t help but smile when asked about Red Deer Rebels U15AAA defenceman Cruz Nicolay.
“He has the ability to run the power play down the road … he moves the puck and is a great skater,” said Novakoski while watching Nicolay during the Alberta Cup at the Gary W Harris Canada Games Centre Saturday.
Nicolay’s skating ability is something you notice right away. His ability to move the puck while under duress also stands out.
The funny thing is, he didn’t like skating when he was young.
“I didn’t like it when I was real young, so my parents kind of got me into it when I was four or five and went from there,” he said.
Cruz didn’t come from a hockey family as his dad Jason Nicolay played basketball, including with the RDC Kings, while his mother was into figure skating.
Figure skating could have been a great way to develop his skating, but he had to laugh and add he never did get into it.
He did play basketball and baseball, but “I gave them up this year to concentrate on hockey.”
Nicolay grew up in Rocky Mountain House before moving to Red Deer in December of 2023.
He played minor hockey in Rocky and U13 in Sylvan Lake before joining the Red Deer Rebels U15AAA program for the 2023-024 season.
It was while with the U13 program that he realized he had the talent to make hockey a career.
“It was there that I realized I was a good player,” he added.
He showed that with the Rebels and was a major contributor as they rolled to the provincial championship.
“A great season,” he said. “Personally, I started pretty slow but got it going in the second half.”
Playing with a championship-calibre team was certainly a benefit in his development, he indicated.
“Overall, this year I got it going a lot more, and I was happy with that.
“As for the team, it was awesome playing at that calibre. We had a great team which showed by winning it all.”
Cruz was named to the league’s second all-star team, finishing with 12 goals and 20 assists in 34 games. In the playoffs, he was even more spectacular with two goals and 10 helpers in 10 games. He also was picked up by the U17AAA Northstar Chiefs for the provincials where, playing in three games.
Nicolay has always played defence and was a puck-mover.
“I’ve always done that,” he said.
Nicolay is expected to be a high draft pick in this year’s WHL Prospects Draft.
He would love to go to the Rebels, but “I’d love to be drafted … I’ll go anywhere, but Red Deer would be great as it’s five minutes from my house.”
As for running a powerplay in the WHL “that would be awesome,” he said.
Nicolay enjoyed his time playing for Alberta Blue in the Alberta Cup,
“I learned a lot. There were great people in that room, great leadership and coaching.”
It was the first time he’s had an opportunity to play in a provincial calibre all-star tournament.
“It was awesome, it was a really, really good tournament … hard to get into and adapt to.”
Nicolay is listed at six feet, 163 pounds and realized he needs to build strength and size to play at the next level.
“I have to work even harder… to gain strength,” he said.
He understands the calibre of play in the WHL.
“I went to practically every Rebels game this year. I watched the defencemen, but also the forwards.”
He won’t play in the WHL next season and would be a nice addition to the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs U18AAA team.
“I don’t know about next year … my parents and I haven’t figured that out yet,” he concluded.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca
