Nemisz, who was named an alternate captain at the start of this season, leads the team in goals (4) and points (6), including five points in the last four games. He also accounted for both tallies in Sunday’s win over Hamilton, putting the Checkers ahead in the second and then, after surrendering the lead, netting the game-winner in the final frame. Both of the goals came as a product of gritty plays by Nemisz down low, which has been his specialty.
“It’s nothing flashy, but it’s efficient,” said head coach Jeff Daniels. “He does a lot of the little things that, as a coach, you appreciate. When he gets the puck around the net, he can either finish the play or make a play.”
The 24-year-old was a first-round draft pick by the Calgary Flames, and headed into his rookie year in the AHL coming off consecutive seasons of averaging over a point-per-game with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Nemisz registered his highest point total as a pro in that rookie season, putting up 33 points (14g, 19a) in 68 games with the Abbotsford Heat. But his offensive production declined with each subsequent campaign in the Calgary system. After recording just nine points (5g, 4a) in 32 games last season, Nemisz was shipped to Carolina in exchange for Kevin Westgarth.
Nemisz clicked right away with the Checkers, racking up 11 points (3g, 8a) in the 14 games he appeared in.
“A change of scenery is sometimes good,” said Daniels. “He took advantage of it and was able to get off to a good start and that carries over to your confidence.”
The Ontario native was forced to miss the end of last season due to an injury, but has shown no signs of rust with his hot start. His team-leading six points this season gives him 17 in his first 23 games as a member of the Checkers, and he has shown no indications of slowing down. It’s still early, but Nemisz has shown offensive proficiency that was largely absent in his time with Abbotsford. For Daniels, patience is the key.
“I think it’s always been in him,” said Daniels. “You look at his past, throughout junior he was always a pretty big goal scorer. With some guys it takes a little longer.”
Other news and notes from opening weekend:
On The Right Track
“You’re seeing that they’re getting more and more chances now and they’re getting more comfortable out there and more confident,” said Daniels. “They adapt to the pro game, the on and off ice parts, and the pace of the game.”
Di Giuseppe has shown flashes of brilliance at practice and has had productive spurts in games, ranking second on the team with five points (2g, 3a), as well as registering a team-high +6 rating through nine games. McGinn hasn’t shown the same offensive flair just yet, with two points (1g, 1a) in eight games, but has made himself a force on the ice, playing with a physical edge and not being afraid to get his nose dirty. Both have been impressive in the early stages of their rookie seasons, and while the points haven’t started to come just yet, Daniels is confident they will.
“They don’t need to do anything different really,” said Daniels. “Brock is going to be a crasher and banger and go to the net and finish plays and Phil is a shooter and he can make plays with his speed. So just keep doing that.”
Just as he did with Nemisz, Daniels preaches patience with the young talent.
“Just stick with it,” said Daniels. “For some guys it takes a little longer, but for me, they’re both on the right track.”
LaRose's Comeback
“He’s getting better and better,” said Daniels. “We knew it was going to take some time. Anytime you miss a year of hockey and then have an injury in the summer, it puts you back a little bit. I think he’s getting back up to where he wants to be.”
LaRose has put up three points in the last four games, after going pointless through his first five. A former 30-point scorer in the NHL, he has started to get his legs back under him.
“He’s very tenacious, does a great job of finding loose pucks and does a great job protecting the puck on the cycles using his quickness,” said Daniels. “His goals are just going to the net, deflections, rebounds.”
At 32, LaRose is the oldest player on a very young Checkers roster. It’s always expected that there will be a transition period when returning to the game, especially physically, but LaRose seems to be getting into the swing of things, and if his game continues to progress, he could provide an offensive spark to a Checkers team in desperate need of one.
“I think it comes with getting the timing back, the grind of the practice schedule and the games and the banging and all that stuff,” said Daniels. “He knew he had to fight through early and now he and his body are adapting.”
Call The Reinforcements
With injuries forcing Ben Holmstrom and Justin Shugg out of the lineup, the Checkers have had to call on ECHL players to help fill those holes. The roster currently contains two forwards on PTOs, A.J. Jenks and Andrew Rowe.Jenks was added to the team to account for the losses of Brody Sutter and Patrick Brown to the Hurricanes. The recall of the two centers left the Checkers thin at the position, and Jenks has stepped in nicely, even after their return.
“He’s a big body down the middle, he’s good at faceoffs, he can shoot a puck,” said Daniels. “He keeps it simple, but he’s been effective.”
The fifth-year pro came to the team as a known commodity, having played 63 games across three seasons in a Checkers sweater. But when the team found themselves down a player prior to Sunday’s game, with Holmstrom hurt and McGinn suspended, they turned to a new face in Andrew Rowe.
“Just talking to different coaches down in the East Coast, guys that I have a little bit of a relationship with, they spoke highly of him and he’s proven himself at that level,” said Daniels.
The Michigan native established himself as a lethal scorer in the ECHL, averaging over a point-per-game in each of his last two seasons. So far this season with the South Carolina Stingrays, Rowe has notched eight points (4g, 4a) in seven games, and was brought to Charlotte in hopes of igniting some offensive firepower. The 26-year-old was held off the score sheet Sunday, but registered four shots on goal and made some plays, despite his exhausting weekend.
“We’re looking for a guy that has a little more skill, that can help us offensively,” said Daniels. “He got a chance to do that last game, and to his credit that was four-four for him, but he battled through it and I think he’ll get a little rest this week. It’s an opportunity to see where this goes.”
The Checkers are heading into a big matchup with the Texas Stars this weekend, and with the health of a few key players still an issue, it looks as though Jenks and Rowe will be given more opportunities to make an impact.
“Up front we only have 13 healthy forwards, so we’ll adjust as the week goes on and see who gives us the best chance to win on Saturday night,” said Daniels. “But right now, based on some injuries that we have, we need the extra bodies up front.”
