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Photo Credit: Island Images
Story by: Ethan Vandop
Born in Abbotsford, B.C., Zeke Nicholson grew up playing hockey. From the age of three, hockey has been a big part of life for him and his brother. When Nicholson was six, he and his family moved from Abbotsford to West Vancouver, where his hockey career really began to take off.
After arriving on the North Shore, he laced up for the Vancouver Thunderbirds, then eventually played for West Van Academy and St. George’s, which is a move he says helped shape his hockey career and contributed to him making the jump to the BCHL.
“In my year at [St. George’s], my coach was Tyler Kuntz, and he coached with Powell River before he came and coached us, so he had a lot of experience with what it takes to get to [the BCHL],” Nicholson said. “I think he really did a good job of helping me develop really good habits. Not so much the offence and flashy stuff that you often see in top guys all the time, but just the little things that are going to keep you in a lineup.”
During that year at St. George’s, Nicholson started to attract the attention of a number of BCHL franchises, but one team stood out the most during the recruiting process.
“Midway through my Grade 11 year, I started getting recruited by a handful of BCHL teams,” he said. “[Bulldogs head coach and general manager] Joe Martin was one of the first ones to recruit me with Alberni. The way Joe loves to just win hockey games is something that’s really important to me.”
When asked about what it’s like playing in Alberni, Nicholson praised the dedication of the fans.
“The fans are unbelievable,” he said. “Everyone says that their team has the best fans, but I’m pretty sure Alberni’s got the best. Every home game, the rink’s packed. Everyone’s cheering. It’s so loud.”
This dedication is not just a one-way street. The passion that the fans bring on game night is matched by the team when it comes to giving back to the community.
“We’re always trying to be active in the community,” he said. “We go and volunteer at schools with the Tseshaht and Hupačasath First Nations there and we work with kids on teaching hockey skills.”
Nicholson’s dedication to the team and to Port Alberni has not gone unnoticed. On Sep. 6th, 2024, the Bulldogs announced that the four-year veteran had been named the 22nd captain in franchise history.
As captain, Nicholson strives to follow in the foot steps of past team leaders and hopes to be able to guide a successful team.
When it comes to teaching and mentoring younger players, he preaches that they should focus on playing the game the right way.
“Everyone focuses on scoring goals and being an offensive producing player, but I think it’s really important for young guys to understand that you’re not going to be that when you’re young,” he said. “You need to just find a way to do the little habits right and make sure you can stay in the lineup. Passing that knowledge onto guys is something I’ve tried to do. I think it’s really important for us to have everyone contributing to the team.”
During the 2022-23 season, Nicholson and the Bulldogs made history as the first team in franchise history to make it to the Fred Page Cup Finals. While the result did not go the way he hoped, Nicholson reflected on what that run meant to him.
“That’s my favourite BCHL memory,” he recalled. “We lost to Penticton in the finals, but it was just really cool going on a playoff run like that.”
Despite having a few months still to play in his junior career, Nicholson knows he will begin his NCAA Division I career next season at Robert Morris University. Him and his family could not be more eager for the next chapter in his playing career.
“I was really excited to commit there last February,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out there next year. It’s kind of nice to have that process over with and now I know that I’m playing somewhere for the next four years. My family is obviously very excited as well.”
Nicholson’s Bulldogs currently sit sixth in the Coastal Conference with a record of 19-15-2-1 and firmly in a playoff position.
When it comes to aspirations for his last BCHL season, Nicholson has high hopes. He wants to finish what he started a couple of years back.
“I want to win the championship this year,” he said, “I feel like that’s the goal every team is going to have, but I think we’ve got the group to do it. We’ve got a lot of veteran guys who have been in the league a long time. My goal is to win the Fred Page Cup this year.”
