Nick Merkley hoping to make impression at Arizona Coyotes rookie camp

While amassing a 90-point regular season and helping his junior club capture the Western Hockey League championship and a berth in the final game of the Memorial Cup, Coyotes prospect Nick Merkley found a good luck charm in an unlikely place.

The freezer.

Last season with the Kelowna Rockets, Merkley started eating ice cream sandwiches as part of his pregame routine.

“We were winning and I thought I was playing good, so I just kept having them,” he said.

As cherished as the superstition was during his junior season, Merkley kicked the habit before arriving in the Valley for Coyotes rookie camp.

“I had to cut those out now that I’m up here,” he said.

Although the 18-year-old is one of the newest up-and-comers to join the pipeline, he’s taking his face time with management and the coaching staff seriously.

“Obviously, you come in here and you try to make the team, try to do all you can to give yourself the best opportunity,” he said. “Obviously, I’m going to try to do that and whatever comes of it, comes of it. If I have to go back to junior, I’ll have a good year there and be a leader on my team. But if I make it, that’ll be surreal.”

The Coyotes landed Merkley with their second first-round pick at the NHL draft this past June, using the selection they received from the Blackhawks in the Antoine Vermette trade to acquire the winger.

Team brass projected Merkley to go in the middle of the first round so when he was still available at No.30, the Coyotes eagerly scooped him up.

Earlier this month, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract.

“He’s quick and competitive and (has a) good stick and knows how to score,” General Manager Don Maloney said.

Aside from leading the Rockets with 90 points – 70 of which were assists – Merkley had 27 points in 19 playoff games to help the Rockets nab the WHL title. In 2013-14, he was the WHL Rookie of the Year and also grabbed gold with Team Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup while serving as an assistant captain.

And yet his most striking attribute, at least in Merkley’s eyes, might be his competitiveness.

“I think you gotta get in the mindset you want to be here and you want to make the team,” he said. “(It) just kind of sets in that you’re battling for a spot, and you want to stay so I’ll do whatever it takes to do that.”

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.

Camp schedule

Today’s on-ice session will run 11 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. The Coyotes will travel to Los Angeles to play the Kings’ rookies on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

The practice is at Gila River Arena and is free and open to the public. Enter the arena at Gate 3.