Virden Oil Capitals forward Nolan Chastko got to compete recently against some of the best Junior A hockey players in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The Brandon product scored a goal in each game he played at the Manitoba Junior Hockey League-Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase in Winnipeg last week. While his MJHL 18U White squad unfortunately fell twice to its SJHL counterpart, Chastko said the Showcase was a “fun experience.”
“It was cool playing with guys you usually play against,” he said. “The compete level was very high as both sides wanted to win so each game was a good battle. I was glad to be able to share that experience with two other teammates in Josh Lehto and David Bielik.”
The talents Chastko displayed at the Showcase are the same ones that have allowed the 17-year-old rookie to emerge as an important contributor this season for the Oil Capitals. As of Monday, Chastko was first on the team in points and second in goals.
“Nolan is a very, very good young player,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “He is extremely smart and sees the ice very well. He has a pro release on his shot and can be equally dangerous distributing pucks to teammates. He works hard on and off the ice and he is as pure of a goal scorer that we have on our team. He is very exciting to watch, and we are very excited about his potential.”
Through 37 games, the 5-foot-8, 146-pound Chastko has accumulated 30 points. He has scored 14 goals, including seven on the powerplay. What has allowed him to produce in his first Junior A season?
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play with good line mates throughout the season,” Chastko said. “Confidence is a big thing too for sure, just trusting my skillset. The guys have been very welcoming to me, which has allowed me to be comfortable on and off ice, allowing me to play at my best.”
Before joining the Oil Caps for this season, Chastko spent time in camp and in the preseason with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League. In January, that squad swapped his WHL rights to the Everett (Wash.) Silvertips.
“Camp in PG definitely helped me adjust to the pace of junior hockey,” Chastko said. “(That) along with the couple preseason games I played, definitely helped me know what the speed was going to be like throughout the year in junior hockey.”
He has enjoyed his time in Virden. Chastko billets with Jack and Karen Forster.
“Virden is a great organization and a place that I love to play,” he said. “From the coaching staff to our trainer, athletic therapist and equipment manager to my amazing billets and great fans, it’s been a very fun season so far because of that.”
