Former University of Maine hockey star Bradly Nadeau has become just the sixth American Hockey League player under 20 years of age to score 30 goals in a season dating back to 1940.
The 19-year-old Nadeau, a first-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes (30th overall), is playing for their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, in his rookie season and has tallied 30 goals and 26 assists for 56 points in 62 games.
He is just the third under-20 to reach the milestone over the last 50 years.
His 30 goals are tops among AHL rookies and his 56 points are second-most among first-year players.
“It’s pretty special. My linemates have been a really big part of it,” said Nadeau, noting that it’s easier to accomplish something like this when you have top-notch linemates like he has had.
Center Ryan Suzuki has been his linemate for most of the season and the two are tied for the team lead in points. Whereas Nadeau leads the team in goals, Suzuki is atop the assists category with 45 to go with 11 goals.
Nadeau’s eight power play goals lead the Wolves.
Nadeau has played on both wings and they have had rotating teammates on the other wing.
He said if you had told him at the outset of the season he would be a 30-goal scorer, he would gladly have taken that.
“Any day,” said Nadeau.
He said that it’s difficult to know what to expect coming into a new league as a rookie, and that he “just wanted to try to help the team win” and to score some goals to help on the offensive end.
“It has been pretty good,” said Nadeau. “It’s a big jump. The players are bigger and faster than college players and they can think the game more.”
Nadeau has been on a scoring tear of late with eight goals and seven assists for 15 points over his last 10 games.
“I feel more comfortable with the pro schedule and I have gained more experience in the process as well,” said Nadeau, who added that with experience comes more confidence.
“When you play with confidence, it helps a lot,” said Nadeau.
AHL teams play 72 regular season games compared to the 34 that are allowed in college hockey’s regular season.
Nadeau said he also received a confidence boost from playing for Canada in the World Junior (under-20) Championships in Ottawa. Nadeau scored two goals in five games.
Nadeau and older brother Josh began their college careers at UMaine a year ago and were the team’s top two scorers last season, helping lead the Black Bears to their first appearance in the Hockey East semifinals and the NCAA Tournament since the 2011-12 season.
Bradly Nadeau had 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 37 games and his brother and linemate had 18 & 27.
Bradly Nadeau was a second team All-Hockey East selection and was also chosen to the All-Rookie team. Josh Nadeau was a third team pick a year ago.
Bradly said his year at UMaine was beneficial in preparing him for pro hockey.
“I was in the same spot as I am this year as a rookie. The players are bigger and faster so you try to find ways to find open ice and hold onto pucks and make plays. There are a lot of similarities between last year and this year,” said Nadeau. “Last year, I found a way to do those things and that really helped me have success this year.”
The St. Francois-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick native, who will turn 20 on May 5, said he doesn’t have a timetable for becoming an NHL regular.
“I’m still really young. I have a lot of time in front of me,” said Nadeau. “I have to make sure I keep working hard so when I get the opportunity [to play in the NHL], I can perform.”
Nadeau said he watched the Black Bears as much as he could this season and was pleased to see them win the Hockey East tournament. His brother scored a scintillating goal in the 5-2 championship game win over UConn as he skated the length of the rink before snapping a shot past UConn goalie Tyler Muszelik.
“That’s one of the best goals he has scored in college, for sure. I texted him after the game,” said Nadeau.
Living in Chicago has been different and he is enjoying it.
He said he has discovered why they call it the Windy City. It lives up to the name, he said.
The 5-foot-11, 172-pound Nadeau said he has enjoyed seeing and playing against former Black Bear teammates.
“It’s fun,” said Nadeau.
In fact, former UMaine goalie Victor Ostman made 29 saves for Coachella Valley in a 4-0 shutout win over the Wolves.
Ostman was then called up by the Seattle Kraken and played the third period of the Kraken’s 7-1 loss at Utah. He stopped all 12 shots he faced .
“I may have helped him by not scoring on him,” quipped Nadeau.
