As you may have read, I'm excited about next year's team. You may also know that I take a special interest in Islanders prospects. In my mind, Nino Niederreiter is the number one guy to watch right now. I have no doubt that he'll be a member of the New York Islanders next season.
That said, "El Niño" (who gave him that nickname anyway?) is tearing through the minor league playoffs again. Fresh off a 41-29-70 regular season (in 55 games), Niederreiter has stayed hot with two goals and three assists in his first two postseason games. In Game 2 of the series, his three point night (2G, 1A) earned him the honor of being named the 'first star' of the game.
In case you have forgotten, Nino performed well in last season's playoffs for his Western Hockey League Portland Winterhawks, putting up an 8-8-16 line in 13 games. His team came into the playoffs as a five seed and advanced one round, eventually losing in the Conference Semi-Finals.
This season it's a different story, as he is playing with a much stronger team. Portland earned the top seed in the Western Conference. He has more firepower around him, and he's a year older and more experienced.
He's off to a splendid start, and I'll provide periodic updates. The Winterhawks are up 2 games to 0 in their best of 7 series against Everett. Game 3 is on Wednesday, March 30th.
Monday, March 28, 2011
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5 comments:
The origin of the "El Nino" nickname is due to on the west coast being a weather pattern that comes along every few years that brings with it some punishing storms.
Kind of like the way Nino has been punishing the rest of the WHL with his play the last 2 seasons.
No, I know that. I also like the double meaning of "The Child." It fits him.
I am just wondering who was the first to call him that. It caught on so fast!
Thanks for the info and for reading.
Went to the Friday night game with my wife at the Rose Garden. From my point of view, he played very strong game he had lots of shots on goal, had a couple assists. Overall very strong game.
Make that the Saturday night game.
I give the credit for the El Nino nickname to Andy Kemper the voice of the Portland Winterhawks.
He gives the PWH nicknames after goal
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