A Calgary Flames prospect has been honoured and for once it’s not Dustin Wolf! Wolf’s fellow 2019 NHL Draft pick Josh Nodler was named a AHCA All-American Scholar for the 2019-20 season.
A true freshman for Michigan State – in that he was 18-years-old for most of the school year – Nodler posted a 4.0 GPA while playing Division I hockey for the Spartans. Nodler carved out a niche for himself as a reliable middle-six center for MSU, playing regular minutes and generating eight points over 36 games.
The Flames’ fifth round selection in the 2019 draft, Nodler is originally from the Detroit area and has only really played away for home for two seasons – he spent the 2018-19 season with the USHL’s Fargo Force where he was named to their All-Rookie Second Team. Given the adjustments he was making both on and off the ice, his scholastic achievements are quite impressive.
Coincidentally, Nodler joins Wolf as being a 2019 pick getting honours for scholastic achievement – in his draft year, Wolf was named the CHL’s top scholastic player.