Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/1/2018 (977 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nolan Patrick finds himself relearning the game of hockey these days.

The 19-year-old graduate of the Brandon Wheat Kings has played 34 games with the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, scoring twice and adding six assists, with 14 penalty minutes. He has a plus-minus of minus-3.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Brandon Wheat King Nolan Patrick, who now plays with the Philadelphia Flyers, tries to get possession of a puck while being defended by Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad during an NHL game in December.

"It’s been not bad," Patrick said. "Obviously it’s a pretty big adjustment. It’s a lot different and I think the main thing is just staying confident and believing in yourself. I think our team has been playing some good hockey lately so it’s been pretty fun."

The second overall pick in the NHL entry draft by the Flyers last June in Chicago, Patrick has been forced to adjust to a new role. After posting 205 points in 163 regular season games in the Western Hockey League, the six-foot-two, 198-pound rookie forward is averaging 12:06 of ice time per game in the NHL, and six times has been on the ice for less than 10 minutes in a game. His season high is 15:37.

"You have to learn how to play differently," Patrick said. "When you’re a top guy you’re playing a lot more and you know you’re getting the opportunities so it’s easier to get into the groove of the game. I think the main thing for me is adjusting to sometimes four or five minutes between a shift so you just have to stay in the game. I’m trying to work my way up and stay confident."

Following a star-crossed final season in the WHL in which a second undiagnosed sports hernia cost Patrick all but 33 regular season games — and then a knee injury late in the season wiped out the playoffs — he’s had more bad luck in the NHL.

On Oct. 24, Patrick took a hard hit from Chris Wagner of the Anaheim Ducks that whipped his head into the glass and left him with a concussion. He didn’t return to practice until Nov. 12, missing nine games.

He said part of the transition to the pro game is dealing with the size and skill.

"Everyone is a lot bigger and stronger," Patrick said. "Probably the biggest thing for me is faceoffs. It’s the hardest thing. You learn a lot of new things from playing with guys like that but faceoffs is probably the biggest thing. Everyone is strong on their stick so that’s something that takes a little getting used to."

Patrick is currently winning just over 47 per cent of his faceoffs.

Despite the fact that he’s achieved a longtime dream by playing in the NHL, Patrick said he doesn’t have the luxury of looking around and enjoying the fact that he’s sharing the ice with players such as Sidney Crosby.

"I don’t think you ever really have time to have that moment," Patrick said. "If you have that moment, you’re going to get caught watching and he’s going to make you pay. There are some good players and every game is tough so you always have to be ready to play."

Patrick lives in a house with Swedish defenceman Robert Hagg, another new experience for the 19-year-old. He said it’s been good, although some parts of his domestic game clearly need work.

"I don’t do much cooking," he said. "I think I’ve cooked once for myself. I usually just order something in. Laundry, I push it to the limit when I’m going to do it. I like it. It’s been a good change and I’m having fun."

Fortunately, with the NHL’s schedule, Patrick doesn’t mind airplane travel.

Patrick and former Wheat Kings defenceman Ryan Pulock of the New York Islanders were both on their bye weeks last week and watched Brandon drop a 3-2 overtime decision to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Jan. 9.

He hasn’t lost touch with his Wheat Kings roots, saying he watches every highlight package and keeps up as much as he can.

"It’s obviously good to see how good they’re doing this year," Patrick said. "Hopefully they can keep going."

Patrick, who returned to Philadelphia last Thursday, has a living reminder of his time in Brandon on the ice with him. He played two years as a Wheat King with Ivan Provorov, and said one of the finest defencemen in Brandon history keeps finding ways to improve.

"He’s better," Patrick said. "He’s unbelievable for how old he is. His defensive game, he plays against top guys every night, 25 minutes a night. He’s having a great year already. He’s at eight goals. He’s an unbelievable player."

Provorov, Patrick and the Flyers are in the thick of the competitive Eastern Conference wildcard race that also includes the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Islanders.

"I think it’s a really good group off the ice and when we lost 10 in a row, nobody turned on each other and nobody was pointing fingers," Patrick said. "Then we turned it around and won six in a row after that. I think the main thing for us is just being consistent and I think we have a good shot against any team."

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