Nick Merkley

Nick Merkley
Born (1997-05-23) May 23, 1997
Calgary, AB, CAN
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Arizona Coyotes
Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
NHL Draft 30th overall, 2015
Arizona Coyotes
Playing career TBD–present

Nick Merkley (born May 23, 1997) is a Canadian ice hockey player. He is currently playing in the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a prospect for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Merkley was rated as a top prospect who was widely projected to be a first round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[1] In the said Draft, he was selected 30th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, the final pick of the opening round.

Merkley was selected ninth overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. Following a strong first season with the Rockets,[2] he was selected as the 2013–14 WHL Rookie of the Year and awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy,[3] and during the 2014–15 WHL season he was rewarded for his outstanding play when he was selected to skate in the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game[4] and was also named to the 2014–15 WHL (West) Second All-Star Team after scoring 20 goals and 90 points in 72 games.

On September 3, 2015, Merkley agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.[5]

International play

Merkley helped Team Canada capture the gold medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.[6]

Awards and honours

Honours Year
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy - WHL Rookie of the Year 2013–14 [7]
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament Gold Medal 2014 [8]
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2015 [9]
WHL (West) Second All-Star Team 2015 [10]
CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2015 [11]

References

  1. ↑ "Merkley Rockets' next top NHL draft pick". Sportsnet.ca. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  2. ↑ https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/kelowna-rockets-rookie-nick-merkley-blossoming-quickly-160234844.html
  3. ↑ http://www.okanagansportspage.com/early-draft-watch-includes-rockets-trio/
  4. ↑ http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kelowna-s-nick-merkley-proves-cream-rises-to-the-top-for-nhl-draft-203257669.html
  5. ↑ "Coyotes sign Merkley to entry-level contract". Arizona Coyotes. 2015-09-03. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  6. ↑ http://www.kelownarockets.com/article/merkley-team-canada-u-18s-claim-gold
  7. ↑ http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Weekly+Nick+Merkley+vaults+into+lead+scoring+race/10350642/story.html
  8. ↑ http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/nhl-draft-prospect-nick-merkley-is-making-a-statement-on-the-hot-list/
  9. ↑ http://www.kelownacapnews.com/sports/rockets/news/289193151.html
  10. ↑ http://www.kelownarockets.com/article/bowey-chartier-merkley-morrissey-named-to-all-star-teams
  11. ↑ http://www.mastercardmemorialcup.ca/article/2015-mastercard-memorial-cup-awards-and-all-stars

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Dylan Strome		 Arizona Coyotes first round draft pick
2015 		Succeeded by
TBD


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