Irish captain knew he wanted to play hockey since age of 3
BY JUSTIN SCHUVER
Sports Writer
The day Evan Nielsen skated off of the rink in his figure skates and saw the older boys leaving their hockey practice was the day he knew he wanted to play hockey.
"About the time I was three years old, I was in the rink for my skating lessons and saw some of the bigger boys coming off with all their hockey equipment on," Nielsen said. "I looked up at my mom and said, `I want to do that.'"
That day, Nielsen traded his chance to be the next Brian Boitano for a chance to be the next Brian Sutter, and began a lifelong love of hockey that eventually brought him to Notre Dame.
Since wearing the Irish jersey, Nielsen has achieved almost every accolade one can earn in college hockey. He was named captain his junior year and continues to wear the "C" this season.
He served as the only freshman on a defense filled with seniors and juniors his first year at Notre Dame, and still managed to tie for the team lead in goals by a defenseman.
After his sophomore season, he was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the eighth round of the 2002 entry draft.
In his junior year, he achieved career highs in goals, assists, points, shots and plus-minus.
"If I could sum up Evan in a few words it's that he's an all-around player," said Irish head coach Dave Poulin. "He has improved his play in each category of the game every year he's been here. He's a mature kid and his leadership and presence are intangible."
Nielsen has always had the talent to compete at a high level of play. At the age of 16, he was faced with the decision of going to play junior hockey or going to prep school. He chose to attend The Taft School, in Waterbury, Conn., hundreds of miles away from his home in Evanston, Ill.
"I knew I was going to have to leave home," he said. "But playing at Taft offered me a chance to both play hockey and get a good education."
After making a name for himself at Taft, one of the premier hockey prep schools in the country, Nielsen was confronted with the choice of where to attend college. For him, the choice was simple.
"Notre Dame was the only school I visited that wasn't on the East Coast," he said. "When I had the chance to come here, it was really refreshing to be back in the Midwest. Attending Taft gave me the academic reputation to go to any school I wanted."
As a freshman, Nielsen clicked with the Irish right away, taking advantage of the chance to be an important part of Notre Dame's defense.
"I always knew I had those other guys to count on," he said. "So I was able to go around and play my game. I didn't play all situations back then either, like the penalty kill, so it was nice to get a chance to rest. It was a great opportunity to grow as a player."
Nielsen's growth was well noted by scouts, and after his sophomore year, as he was driving to South Bend for a summer hockey camp, he received a call from his parents that he had been drafted.
That year and the year after, he was invited to take part in the Atlanta Thrashers' prospect camp, which consisted of nearly every prospect in the Atlanta organization, many of whom are currently in the NHL or the minor leagues.
"It's a great experience," he said about the camp. "The last two summers I knew I was coming back to school, so it was a chance to get a taste of what kind of skill is needed to play at the next level. You really get a sense of what it would be like to have hockey as your profession."
Poulin noted a difference in Nielsen's play immediately after the Irish defenseman returned from prospect camp.
"I think that really helped him," Poulin said. "You never really know until you've been there and can say, `I can play with these guys.' You could just see the increased confidence."
Nielsen may be confident, but he's certainly not arrogant.
"Definitely one of my goals is to play in the NHL," he said. "But I plan on playing for as long as it takes to get there."
After the final game of the season for the Irish, Nielsen will hang up his Notre Dame jersey for good and continue on the road toward his ultimate goal.
"That's the driving force in my life," he said. "I'm looking forward to new experiences and meeting new people. It's been a good four years here, but I'm also looking forward to moving on."
Maybe some day, in some NHL city, a young fan in the stands will see Nielsen skating around on the ice in a bright clean uniform. And maybe that kid will turn to his mom and say, "I want to do that."
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, January 29, 2003
