Trecroce assists Soo Eagles
Small in size but big on skills and smarts, Nick Trecroce has proven to be a valuable set-up man for the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The pint-sized puck-whiz, who returned to competitive hockey this season after a year in the local beer league, Trecroce has assisted the Eagles in a big way from his blue-line position.
In 42 games with the Eagles thus far this season, the 5-foot-7, 155-pound Trecroce has 24 assists. Twelve of Trecroce’s 24 assists have come on the power play.
Curiously, Trecroce has yet to score a goal for the Eagles.
“You would think I am going to get one at some point,” Trecroce laughed good-naturedly, after being ribbed about his lack of goal production when guesting on a recent edition of the Hockey North Show on radio station ESPN 1400.
“Maybe I should try actually shooting the puck,” the 20-year old Trecroce added with another chuckle.
Having re-discovered his love for competitive hockey after a year away from it, Trecroce hopes to move on from the Eagles and the NOJHL after this season and play at the Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association level.
“For sure, that is something that I am hoping to be able to do,” said Trecroce, who would like to major in business at university.
Trecroce’s older brother, Andrew Trecroce, is a former high-end forward who parlayed an NOJHL career with the Blind River Beavers into combining hockey and education with the Division 3, Finlandia University Lions.
“My brother came away with a good education and got to play D3 hockey at the same time and I would like to be able to do that as well,” said the younger Trecroce.
To be sure, it’s been a productive return to the NOJHL for Trecroce, who previously played in Blind River after being an Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Sudbury Wolves.
Eagles co-coach/general manager Bruno Bragagnolo is a fan of how Trecroce plays the game.
“He is a really smart kid with a lot of hockey sense who handles the puck very well,” Bragagnolo said of Trecroce. “He’s also good in his own end and for a little guy, he’s a real tough kid.”
Playing with an edge and a fibrous style that compliments his skill, Trecroce has racked up 70 minutes in penalties for the Eagles this season while showing a penchant for getting under the skin of his opponents.
Eagles coach Jim Capy is also a big fan of Trecroce’s as the person responsible for getting the slick defenseman to the Michigan Soo this season.
Nick is a great kid, and has a great work ethic. He always give a 110 percent every shift . Great team player