| Nick Roukounakis | West Kelowna Warriors | BCHL | L | F | 6’2″ | 220 | Boston University | Pembroke, MA | 2003 | 2021-2022: C |
BCHL: Cranbrook Bucks and West Kelowna Warriors, January 23, 2022: Big, power forward who plays a heavy game. Roukounakis moves well, as he has a powerful stride and can get up and down the ice in a hurry. He chips pucks in behind the defenders and has the strength to get it back. Roukounakis uses his body to his advantage as he loves physical play and causes turnovers in the process. He is not afraid to attack the net or cut to the middle of the ice. Consistently used his strength and size to gain space on his opponents, which created offensive chances. Grade: B
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, July 2021: He’s going to get drafted, and he should. Any thoughts of him not being drafted have evaporated during the 2021 playoffs where we’ve seen big strong power forwards have an impact on just about every shift. Well this is Nick and how will have to play to be an NHLer. He might not have the bite to his game that some of today’s NHL power forwards have right now, but I believe that he will after spending a few years at Boston University. And you know who’s going to have the biggest impact on his NHL career? Newly hired BU Assistant coach Jay Pandolfo. There’s no doubt in my mind that Pandolfo will help Nick understand what it takes to be a professional and the approach he will have to take to have a career.
Neutral Zone’s Ed Besinger, June 2021: Nick is a big, strong winger that is listed at 6’2’’ and 220 pounds. He plays for Thayer Academy as well as the Boston Jr. Eagles. He also dressed in 5 games this past season for the US National Team. He is committed to Boston University for the 22-23 season. He plays a heavy, physical game and works well in the corners and below the dots in the offensive zone. Strong lower half lets him fight through pressure and roll-off checks from defenders. Good along the boards and like to battle for position down low. He sees the ice well low-to-high and frequently creates offensive chances from below the goal line. Processes the game quickly and finds open teammates quickly through the neutral zone. Has some touch and makes simple touch plays all over the ice. He has an average set of hands and uses his reach and body well to protect the puck from defenders. He will need to improve his first step and overall quickness. Once he gets up to speed he moves fairly well and will drive the puck wide. Snaps passes tape to tape and is effective getting out of his zone and into the neutral zone.
Neutral Zone’s Michael Crawford, May 2021: This player is an interesting prospect as he shows well in high level competition and in meaningful games against players his own age. Nick seems cool & calm in all situations and performed with a presence which appeared impressive at the USA 18U Tier 1 National Championships in May of this year. Nick has drawn interest from not only NCAA Scouts but NHL scouts are probably very aware of this power forward. He intimidating to the opposition when he steps on the ice. He already has a good presence on the ice. He is a very good skater forwards and does transition well to backwards when he is on the defence keeping eye contact on puck and can also move in transition when carrying the puck as well. He drives the net with an ease that resembles someone who is not trying very hard or maybe he does not want to hurt anyone. If he does adjust, to become more of a fierce competitor, when he realizes the power he possesses, then he will flourish. He will be very hard to control as his puck protection skills are good now. He possesses a technically good wrist shot and his passes are crisp and also accurate. The Boston U Terriers have committed to this player for next year. Nick reminds some of a young John LeClair of the Montreal Canadians. It took him a few years to really get established in the leagues he played in (NCAA ECAC D1 U of Vermont, Montreal Canadians) but when he was traded to Philadelphia the rest is history. Possible late round pick.
U18: Cape Cod Whalers Midget Showcase, October 2020: Nick also enters into his draft year and will have plenty of eyes on him each time out on the ice. He was solid here. He wasn’t flashy but got the job done in straight lines. He continues to slim down and has increased his speed. He moves fairly well and gets in on the forecheck quickly to pressure defenders. He is tough to play against and works hard in each zone. Responsible in his own end and manages the puck well. Handles the puck well at speed and made some seamless zone entries before snapping the puck to an open teammates. At his best along the walls and off-the-cycle. He plays through contact easily and keeps his feet moving. Easily drove the net and created offensive chances. Good offensive instincts and constantly beat defenders to loose pucks. Solid outing on the weekend. Grade: B+ College BU
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Roukounakis came to camp after being invited to NTDP Eval Camp in the spring. He did not perform his best there but rebounded nicely with a strong performance at this event. He’s big, strong, heavy style power forward with just the right amount of snarl and power. His skating, in particular his stride and first few steps, has improved and while he isn’t pretty or swift on his feet, he is strong and has a powerful north-south game. He plays hard and makes a lot of plays at the net. He showed the dual ability to drive the net on the rush and use his puck protection and size/strength combo to get inside on defenseman and could power his way through checks in the corner to get to the net front for quality scoring chances. He isn’t overly skilled with the puck but he has patient hands and touch in tight areas and is productive around the goal mouth. He hits hard and can separate opponents from the puck and backchecks with a purpose and an edge to not only catch his man but drive them into the boards. The power forward only had 1 goal and 1 assist, but he was tough to play against below the dots with his puck protection and reach and created several chances for himself and his teammates. Roukounakis has lots of jam but also filtered pucks through traffic from behind the net and on the sticks of his teammates. He drove the net hard on the line rush and with the puck showed and carved out space for his linemates. Nick showed a slippery element where he slips pucks into defensemen’s blind spots, uses his body to fight by, and finds the puck on the other side. He scored a goal where he found a rebound and scored as he was being knocked over. He played through contact all week and hailed opponents with some huge hits, both in space and on the wall. He created back pressure, stole the puck and started transition quickly. He played great on the power play and was consistently finding rebounds and getting sticks on pucks for tips. He wheeled in zone and snapped pucks hard on net. The puck exploded off his blade. He used the same strong stick to zip passes all over on the tape. Really played an unselfish game and should have made the All-Star game. His game is trending in the right direction. Underrated skating, skill and vision. He is more than just a power forward; high compete with a high upside. Grade: B+
NTDP Evaluation Camp Report, March 2019: Roukounakis is a big, heavy style power forward who is quite raw compared to this group but has upside as a two-way power forward at the next level. He is strong along the wall, he protects pucks and scored several goals around the net on rebounds or catch and shoots in the slot. He has a heavy shot and snaps passes off the blade. He needs to improve his stride and overall mobility but once his feet are under him he can get around the sheet. He’s raw but he got better as the camp went on and has nice upside as a heavy power forward.
U16: MA Tier 1 Midget Playoffs, November 2018: Big, power winger that is tough to separate from the puck. His feet are still a work in progress and he struggles at times to get up to speed. Effective down low in the offensive zone and along the walls. Good net-front presence and plays physical which opens up space. Too often is standing still on the ice and receiving the puck not in motion. Has a good deal of upside if he can get faster and quicker with the puck. Grade: B-
MA Festival 2003, May 2018: Nick continued to impress and prove he is not just a big body. He has an ease and calm to his game that can be mistaken for lethargy. He isn’t lethargic. He is very engaged and worked hard here. His feet will need some polish over time but he gets where he needs to get right now. Played a heavy game and was tough to play against along the wall. Won pucks and protected the it below the dots. Easily picks pucks off the wall and from scrums. In transition, he let the puck do the work and does not dust it off. Moved it and worked to get to a good spot. Showed a slick element on the rush and soft hands. His touches were consistently good all over the ice. He is very interesting. Versatile and while his strength is below the dots, he showed some real ability in space and with pace. National Camp Selection
U14 Nationals, April 2818: Nick was usually the biggest and strongest player on the ice and at first glance we wondered if he was successful because he is just bigger. He does use his size well and to his advantage but there is a lot more to his game. He created a rebound off the rush that resulted in a goal. He one-timed a puck from the point on the power play for a score. He punished opposing defensemen on the forecheck. He showed very good speed and some wiggle in transition. His game is well-rounded and smart. Nick showed off a real speed/size combo with some wiggle that bears watching. Played his best games against the better teams and had his best shifts against opponents’ top players. More than just a big body.
Labor Day Bantams at Mennen (NJ), September 14, 2017: Nick is a big kid who was willing to go to the net. He is very raw but has nice upside. Good approach.
U14: River Rats Jamboree, September 2017: Big left shot forward, he always around the puck. He needs to work on his skating, but he sticks with his strengths and protects the well and is tough to defend below the dots. Heavy shot that gets to the net, he is constantly a scoring threat when he is on the ice.
2003 Crimson Combine, August 2017: The September 2003 had apart in two of the goals in the game we saw. He works hard to get the puck, makes smart plays and knows how to relieve the pressure. He has a big frame and uses all of it to win puck battles. Got in hard on the forecheck to cause a turnover for a goal.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images