April 16, 2024
Posted by: oklahomawarriors.com
Oklahoma Warriors defenseman nathan rickey He committed to play Division I hockey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The 20-year-old from New Lenox, Illinois, joined the Warriors for his final season of junior hockey. Rickey played in all 60 games, scoring eight goals and 35 points, making him the leading scorer for Oklahoma's defense. His seven power-play goals are the most by a defenseman in the North American Hockey League.
For Ricky and Alaska Fairbanks, the process was quick. The Nanoux coaching staff first contacted Ricky in January, shortly before he competed in the NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament. After being approached with an offer again last week, Nathan jumped at it.
“They checked all the boxes,” Ricky said. “I told the school that I'm looking for the best person academically and athletically. I want to be a mechanical engineer. There's a big oil presence there. They're great (academic). We have a program and we continue to grow in hockey, so I look forward to helping build a better program.”
In the hockey world, the Nanoks won back-to-back championships in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. Despite returning to an independent schedule in 2021, Fairbanks' opponents this season include fellow independent schools Arizona State and LIU, as well as quality opponents such as North Dakota State, Denver State, and St. Cloud State. Includes expensive universities.
“Nathan has done a great job for us all season,” Warriors head coach and general manager Garrett Ross said. “His vision and composure on the puck allowed him to be a game-changer for us from the offensive blue line. His competitive drive and the edge he played with as the season progressed led to his continued This will serve as a driving force for growth.”
Fairbanks, Alaska is a long way from other college hockey destinations, more than 3,000 miles from Rickey's hometown in the Chicago suburbs. But Ricky didn't have to go far to get his opinion on the town or the school itself. Former Warriors captain and all-time leading scorer William Lawson Bodie, a freshman forward for the Nanooks, met with Rickey over the weekend at the Blazers Ice Center.
“I’ve heard a lot about (Fairbanks),” Rickey said. “Two guys I went to high school with lived there, so I know it's cold. Grande Prairie (Alberta, Canada) is close, but not that far north, so it's going to be a great experience.”
Ricky's decision is very academically motivated and he plans to enroll in UAF's Faculty of Engineering and Mines. His intelligence is reflected in his habits on and off the ice.
“Nathan is a young man of high character who understands the importance of education, and his decisions were balanced and in the best interest of his career goals,” Ross said.
With his goal of reaching the Division I level accomplished, Ricky can now focus on his final challenge at the junior hockey level: the playoffs against the Oklahoma Warriors. Nathan's hockey career has taken him far and wide since he was 15 years old. After spending his three years at Gentry Academy in St. Paul, Minn., Rickey played last season in Grande Prairie, Alta., before heading south to Oklahoma City.
“The path I've been on has been crazy,” Ricky said. “I went to Canada, as far north as Minnesota, and stopped in a lot of places. To finally achieve my Division I goal was definitely a highlight moment in my career.”
Rickey is the 11th player currently on the Warriors' roster in Division I. He plans to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the fall.
Click here for the latest list of commitments from the NAHL to the NCAA.
