When the Seattle Thunderbirds drafted Nico Myatovic in the sixth round of the WHL Bantam Draft, he stood just 5-foot-9 and weighed less than 150 pounds.
The following year, the Thunderbirds signed Myatovic, and he sprouted to 6-foot-1.
Thunderbirds play-by-play commentator Thom Beuning recalled the memory: “They didn’t even think it was the same player they had drafted.”
Now Myatovic stands 6-foot-3 and has become one of the WHL’s premier rebounders and net-front players, coming off of a career-high 30-goal season.
Myatovic is a draft prospect many teams are keeping a close eye on. He registered 60 points in 68 games with the Thunderbirds this past season, but most importantly, he notched the championship winner in the WHL final against the Winnipeg Ice.
Now, he finds himself on one of the biggest stages for a major junior hockey player, the Memorial Cup. During Maytovic’s first Memorial Cup game against the OHL Champion Peterborough Petes, he found the scoresheet twice, picking up two assists.
“Growing up, I used to watch this tournament all the time with my family and friends. It’s cool to be a part of a tournament like this,” Myatovic said.
Myatovic recorded just four goals a year ago, so his evolution into one of the most dangerous CHLers around the net came as a bit of a surprise. But the young forward made scoring a huge part of his development over the past year, and it shows.
“I wanted to improve my shot and the ability to finish around the net,” Myatovic said. “I wanted to try and make that jump in ability, and I think I made big strides. But I know I can probably accomplish a bit more, and I will work on that this offseason.”
It’s Myatovic’s net-front presence that makes him so difficult to play against. He sits in front of the net, tips pucks home and is relentless on the rebounds. You could even say he is the WHL s version of NBA superstar Anthony Davis.
“I just use my body and my reach. I think that’s a big advantage for me,” said Myatovic when talking about his nose for the net and scoring greasy rebounds. “When I put myself in front of the cage like that, it’s all about getting those rebounds and being able to finish those is an important part of my game.”
Myatovic’s relentless forechecking and ability to use his stick to knock pucks loose have become a dangerous combination. The 18-year-old plays a crucial role on the Thunderbirds’ first-line penalty-kill unit, a role he truly embraces. During the WHL postseason, the Thunderbirds’ PK ranked third league-wide at 85.3 percent.
“Yeah, I think everyone has bought into their roles here with such a deep-forward group; everyone has to play their roles, and I did the same.”
Myatovic likes to model his game off of two-time Stanley Cup champion Anthony Cirelli, a dynamic forward with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Cirelli’s 200-foot game is something I admire a lot in a player and just how he has bought in with those deep Tampa Bay runs he’s kind of gone unnoticed with all those stars on the roster, but come playoff time he is super important,” he said.
Myatovic will not only look to use this tournament to boost his draft stock for the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, but he’s focused on helping the Thunderbirds hoist the franchise’s first Memorial Cup. With Myatovic playing some of his best hockey as of late, that’s definitely a possibility.
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