Misconceptions are an ever present part of modern sports culture. Whether purposeful or ignorant, all sorts of hockey generalities are repeated by fans throughout the sport. Chief amongst them is that once a player has been drafted to the big show, the hard work is over. For generational superstars and first overall picks this may be true, but for 143rd overall pick Nate Misskey the real grind has only just begun.
The down to earth 19 year old chose not to tune into the 2024 draft, instead spending the day with his dad and his brother on the golf course, only finding out he was picked in the fifth round after hearing directly from his agent. After a whirlwind 24 hours (including completing all 18 holes) Misskey landed in California, ready for development camp to begin.
Walking through the doors of the Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Misskey was thrilled to be a part of a NHL franchise. The road to the draft was an uphill climb, but the path to holding a roster spot in the NHL is a long one.
The 2024 NHL Draft marked the second year of draft eligibility for the Melfort, Sask., native. At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, Misskey has all of the physical attributes a heavy hitting defenseman could ask for, and questions about his offensive impact are already being answered in his play with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. Scoring only 14 points in his first season with the team, that number soared to 34 in the following season, even with a month-long absence due to injury.
Through just 22 games so far in 2024-2025, Misskey is on pace for 56 points, a total that would outscore his first two Royals seasons combined, and place him amongst the team’s top point getters. It’s clear the right messages were heard in his time stateside.
“Learning from the guys, learning from the coaches, taking in all you can and trying to apply it to your summer training or the next season,” Misskey discussed in a September interview.
Only time can tell the longevity of an athlete’s career. The NHL draft doesn’t guarantee a contract, only rights for that team to negotiate with an amateur player. Any great journey requires a difficult climb, and in the case of Nate Misskey it could be the first chapter of many.
by Johnny Cole
Johnny Cole is a 23 year old writer and university student working out of Victoria, British Columbia. A passionate sports fan and lifelong athlete, Johnny is focused on telling human stories that often go under appreciated and under-covered.