In the span of one year Nick Paul went from playing with the North Bay Battalion to the Ottawa Senators.
The former Battalion was back in North Bay earlier this week.
He says even though it was a small taste he enjoyed playing at the big league level, and getting to know his NHL teammates. He says he had some great mentors with the Senators including former North Bay Centennial Chris Neil, Bobby Ryan and Curtis Lazar.
Paul says they told him what he needs to do throughout the year and he says he learned a lot.
Paul says he is confident going into this years’ training camp with Ottawa.
He says it was a big jump going from the OHL to the NHL within a year.
He says playing at the World Junior Hockey Championships the year before helped prepare him for the pressure and the bigger crowds.
Paul says playing in Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre is a thrilling experience. He says it’s a loud building and if you make a mistake it gets put on TV. Paul says he’s the kind of player that feeds off the energy and the pressure and he hopes that comes across to his new coach.
The Senators announced on May 8th they were hiring Guy Boucher as the new Head Coach. Paul says everyone will have to prove themselves to the new bench boss once training camp opens.
Paul was in North Bay to play in the Golf for Kids charity event and he says hopes to be asked back every year.
He joined up with his former teammates including Mike Amadio.
Amadio captained the Battalion squad this past season. Paul says even from watching from afar the progress for Amadio has been unbelievable.
He says the last year they played together you could see there was something special about him. Paul says Amadio had a great year and has to remain confident in his own abilities.
Amadio was the first Battalion ever to score 50 goals in a single season. Paul says it makes it even more impressive that Amadio went on to score five points in 11 playoff games with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, once the OHL season had ended.
Paul says he thinks Amadio is ready for the next level.
