Vandenboorn Taking Overage Season One Game At A Time

The clock is ticking on Nolan Vandenboorn’s Junior hockey career. For now however, the overage forward isn’t looking any farther than the next game on the schedule.

Setting the PJHL Stobbs Division on fire, scoring more than a goal per game with the Dresden Kings, Vandenboorn recognizes it’s his final season, but he still has goals he’d like to achieve.

“It’s pretty crazy to think that this is my last year of Junior hockey,” said Vandenboorn, who has also played for the Blenheim Blades and Chatham Maroons in his five seasons of Junior hockey.

“I have played for five years already and it feels like yesterday it was my first game as a Blenheim Blade. I haven’t really put too much thought into it being my last year, I’ve just been focusing on one game at a time and taking it day by day. I think the team and the coaching staff that has been put together this year has a lot to do with me not focusing on when my last game could be. We have a great dressing room this year, all the boys get along. I know when I come to the rink I will be having fun with the group we have.”

That attitude has been paying off, as Vandenboorn is the top goal scorer in Ontario. He attributes this success to experience, his teammates, and a renewed training regiment.

“I’ve been off to a good start so far and I think it comes with experience as this is my fifth year playing Junior hockey,” Vandenboorn explained.

“I have a few games under my belt to understand how the game is played and what I need to do to have success, but I can’t give my team or my line mates enough credit, I wouldn’t be putting up the numbers I have without them,” he continued, pointing specifically to teammates Brendan Ritchie, Eric Carter, and rookie netminder Brett Brochu as contributors giving him the opportunity to score.

“I have also been training at a local gym in Ridgetown, South Kent Barbell, that is owned and operated by former Kings captain Derrick VanEvery. The gym has helped me out a lot, I feel a lot quicker on my feet this year in comparison to previous seasons.”

While it’s nice to have individual success, Vandenboorn still has something bigger in mind – bringing a championship back to Dresden, Ontario.

“My personal and team goals are the exact same, I want to win the league and then win the Schmalz. 2004 was the last time Dresden won the league championship so I want to be a part of the team that brings it back to this town.”