Blades Sign 2nd Round Bantam Pick Ayrton Nikkel

Press Release

Saskatoon, SK -- Saskatoon Blades’ Alternate Governor, General Manager and Head Coach Lorne Molleken is very happy to announce the signing of one of the hockey club’s top, young prospects in defenceman Ayrton Nikkel to a Western Hockey League Education Contract.

A Kelowna product, Nikkel was the Blades’ 2nd round selection, 42nd overall, in the 2010 W.H.L. Bantam Draft.

“It meant a lot to our family to get this done,” explained Ayrton’s father, Brad Nikkel. “It was always about the two routes that everyone thinks about in college or W.H.L. We did a lot of homework on it and, really, the Education Contract the W.H.L. and the Blades provided was very good.

“Let’s face it, with Ayrton, he always wanted to play in the W.H.L….always has and has always liked the Blades. So, it was great to get that contract signed and the education part of it signed so we can back him in the direction he wants to take.”

“We’re extremely pleased to have Ayrton join the Blades’ organization,” said Molleken. “During our orientation weekend was my first opportunity to see him and I was impressed with the way he got involved in different situations on the ice. Anytime that you can get these guys under that contract, it’s a real bonus…not only for our own team but for the league.”

Nikkel is a 6’0”, 163 lb. left-handed shooting defenceman who played “AAA” Bantam this past season with the Kelowna Rockets. In 25 games, the 14-year-old (he’ll turn 15 on August 30) scored 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points with 64 penalty minutes.

The signing of Ayrton Nikkel means the Blades have received commitments from their first two 2010 Bantam draft choices…Nikkel and first rounder Tim McGauley…plus from 2009 fourth round selection Adam Todd. McGauley is a centre, Todd a goaltender.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)