Rockets go with skilled forward in WHL draft

#4 Nick MerkleyHeight: 5'4 Weight: 150 Year of Birth: 1997 Shot: Left Position: Forward

Nick Merkley has been playing hockey since he was 5 years old. He played from tyke through to Pee Wee for the Lake Bonavista Breakers and had many fantastic years with many great coaches. He was fortunate to play for the number one team for all of those years. Those teams had many tournament wins and were very competitive in Calgary minor hockey. One of Nick’s greatest strengths is his skating which he owes much thanks to Fred Sloan as Nick attended his power skating program every year from age 4 to age 12. Nick was asked by Fred to help instruct with the program which he did for 2 years.
Nick also played spring hockey for many years. He played for Top Guns the following year he was invited to try out for the Alberta Brick hockey team which he made and was named the assistant captain. His team finished 3^rd in the Brick tournament. The following year Nick played for the Calgary Dino’s and was named assistant captain. That team won two big spring tournaments the Canwest tournament in Edmonton and the Challenge Cup in Vancouver against very strong competition. Nick finished his spring hockey playing for Pat Elynuik and Dennis Polonich with the Calgary Jr. Flames for the last three years.This team was very competitive and played all the top teams in Western Canada.
Currently Nick plays Bantam AAA hockey for the Calgary Bisons. This is his second year on the team and he is very proud to have been named captain. Last year the Bison’s AAA team won southern Alberta and lost in the best of 5 in the provincial final to SSAC from Edmonton. 
Nick has an older brother Jay who plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL and Nick hopes to follow in his footsteps.