Bergey’s Inc.
SOL SHSHL Player of the Week
This recognition is sponsored by Bergey’s Inc. Athletes are chosen based on nomination of coaches, and the recipient must be a positive presence on the ice and a credit to the game. Consideration also is given to the student-athlete’s standing in the school and community.
Ryan Nowicki – Senior at North Penn High School
Nowicki is the captain and leader of a Knights’ squad battling Central Bucks West for the top spot in the SHSHL Continental Conference standings. The starting center on North Penn’s football team in the fall, Nowicki is a standout defenseman for a team that has allowed an average of less than three goals a game. He also has two goals and six assists (8 points). The senior captain, who also played with the Ice Dawgs, has been part of the program for eight years. He is a three-year varsity player after seeing some varsity action as a freshman. Off the ice, Nowicki is an honor roll student
Note from the coach:
“He’s a defenseman and the only time we throw him in at forward is on the power play because he’s such a big player,” coach Kevin Vaitis said. “He’s a player that’s always out there giving 110 percent. He’s a big defenseman. If you’re looking for somebody who can go out there and shut down the other team’s top players - we typically look to use him in that situation, so he’s always playing against the other team’s top guys. He also has a very good shot from the point, so any time we’re able to get the puck in the zone, if we’re able to get him the puck at the point in the offensive zone, it usually leads to a really good scoring chance for us.
“There are times when he’s a vocal leader, but there are also times when he’ll look to pull somebody aside and look to talk to them and help them along the journey. It’s nice in the sense that he’s flexible in dealing with a particular individual or situation in terms of what’s best from a leadership perspective.”
About Ryan:
Best memory playing high school hockey: Beating Souderton in the SHSHL championship game last year in front of a huge crowd.
Part of the game I enjoy most: Definitely the physical aspect. With my background in football and being such a big kid compared to everybody else, it comes naturally for me.
How did you get involved in hockey? I started playing roller hockey when I was about four or five with my friends from the neighborhood. Then when I was about six or seven, we switched to in-house ice hockey at Hatfield Ice.
My role model is: My Grandfather because he worked so hard to make a living and a good life for his family.
Music on iPod: Rap for pregame and country for everything else.
Favorite food: Baked Ziti
Favorite class: Economics
Future plans: Go to college and get a degree in Accounting with a minor in Marketing and eventually get my masters.
Four people I’d invite to a dinner party: Steve Jobs, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Paterno, and Wayne Gretzky.
- Log in to post comments
