NSIHL HAS BEEN PRODUCING SOME HIGH LEVEL TALENT
NSIHl (North shore inline hockey)
Probably asking yourself who or what is NSIHL? North Shore Inline Hockey League or North Shore Zulu known as their Roller Travel program. If you've been playing NARCh for a while then you definitely have heard of this Organization from up in the Great White North (Canada) North Vancouver, BC. This Organization is loaded with talent. You've probably heard of a guy named Woodsie or Thomas Woods as you may know. He grew up playing in the North Shore region, loaded with talent. It's Fair to say he is one of the more known players in the Roller scene from that area. Well he was in the Pro Roller scene but I think he's living the real dream all over the world now. Woods eventually went from playing Roller Hockey in NSIHL to playing for Team Canada, Playing pro Roller in France in the Ligue Elite and also playing with the Dominant Tour Mudcats in the Pro Roller Tournaments. The Roller World misses that guy. I know the Mudkittens would love to him back to. So can someone tell him to get back on the tile.
Young Thomas Woods | Woods with Team Canada |
Lately the NSIHL has been producing some high level Roller and Ice guys. They have a pretty unreal league up there full of talent from the BCHL, CHL, NCAA, AHL ETC.. You probably saw that Unreal top 10 Sport Center goal (Video Below) by Kent Johnson (02') at University of Michigan. The kid absolutely wheels! Layton Ahac (01') is another stud from that team playing D1 Ice Hockey for The Ohio State University, he was drafted by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2019. (On a side note , anyone want to explain why they call it THE Ohio State?) Back to Hockey. You've probably heard of the name Connor Bedard (05') the one of 7 players in history to receive exceptional status by the CHL. First player in WHL History. Stud!
In 2018 , At NARCh WC Finals the North Shore Zulu 16u Team won the Bantam Platinum Championship over the Powerhouse Revo 01's at the time. Zulu went 4-0 in the RR with 25 GF and 0 GA. Zulu won the Ship 3-1. This team included Kent Johnson and Layton Ahac.
Credit : Picture from NARCh WC Finals 2018. Bantam Platinum Champions
Layton Ahac Back row third from Right.
Kent Johnson - Bottom row on the Right
Below is a list of players we wanted to highlight from this organization that are playing high level Ice hockey
- Layton Ahac (2001) - 2019 86th to Vegas Golden Knights - Currently - Ohio State Buckeyes - NCAA D1
- Carter Berger (1999) - 2019 106th to Florida Panthers - Currently - University of Connecticut - NCAA D1
- Jake Christiansen (1999) - 2016 185th to Columbus Blue Jackets - Currently - Cleveland Monsters - AHL
- Kent Johnson (2002) - 2021 NHL Draft Prospect - Currently - Michigan University -NCAA D1
- Connor Bedard (2005) - 2023 Draft Prospect - Currently - Regina Pats - WHL
Layton Ahac
Layton Ahac (2001) - 2019 86th to Vegas Golden Knights - Ohio State Buckeyes . Ahac has 9 points this season for OSU. Layton played NARCh growing up with North Shore Zulu. Took bronze in 14U Plat division in 2016. He also played 16U Plat Division winning Gold both times. Ahac scored the GW in the finals in 2017. His 2018 only allowed one goal all tournament.
CARTER BERGER
Carter Berger (1999) - 2019 106th to Florida Panthers - University of Connecticut . Berger had 9 points in his sophmore season at UCONN this year. Berger has played in Narch Qualifiers, Provincial Championships and BC Summer games for Inline hockey.
JAKE CHRISTANSEN
Jake Christiansen (1999) - 2016 185th to Columbus Blue Jackets - Cleveland Monstars. Jake is in his Rookie year in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters. Last year he had 50 Points in the WHL for Everett Silvertips. Jake Played with team Canada Inline Juniors in 2016. Jake played in Narch Qualifiers, Provincial Championships and BC Summer games for Inline hockey.
KENT JOHNSON
Kent Johnson (2002) - 2021 NHL Draft Prospect - Michigan University , As a freshman this year Johnson has had 27 points in 26 Games. Kent was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award his Freshman year 2020-2021. Kent was a consistent NARCh player going to the NARCh finals in 2016 with North Shore Zulu playing Peewee Platinum division as the only 2002 player on a team of 2001s where they won the bronze medal. In 2017 he led his team to the gold medal in the Peewee Gold division with 14G and 8A for 22P in 6GP. In 2018 he played in the Bantam Platinum division where they won the gold medal with only 1 goal against all tournament and he led the team in scoring. All at NARCh Finals.
Connor Bedard
Connor Bedard (2005) - 2023 Draft Prospect - Regina Pats (First exceptional status player for the WHL) Bedard spent half this year playing for HV71 J18/J20 . Gathering 6 points in 5 games in Sweden. Bedard has been playing inline since he was 7 years old. He once scored 17 goals in the Atom (8u) BC provincial championship game which they won. In 2019 Bedard played in the Peewee platinum division at NARCh finals where his team placed 4th and he won Leading scorer of the tournament. He is Currently playing for the Regina Pats of the WHL.
What if...
Imagine if North Shore Zulu had a D1 or even a Pro Team with these high level players. They would be a scary team to watch especially when Connor Bedard turns 18. They would be lethal. Doubt this would happen but what if Woodsie came back and paid homemage to his hometown team played with the Zulu. Some how got Virtanen to wheel with them. He's in Vancouver... Woodsie, Virtanen , Ahac and Johnson on one Roller line would be scary. Then you got the young stud Bedard just wheelin' around. We're just thinking out loud over here about the possibilities. Don't get me started on what their Team Canada Inline roster could be if some of these players were available to play.
Check out some Videos and Articles about the boys we have covered so far.
Layton Ahac Article on NHL.com
CONNOR BEDARD INLINE HIGHLIGHTS (CLICK HERE)
KENT JOHNSON INLINE HIGHLIGHTS (CLICK HERE)
Credit to NARCh Hockey on Both Inline Videos
Credit to NARCh Hockey and NSIHL For all Photos.
Huge thank you to Dylan Williams and Ryan Ghuman of the NSHIL for helping out with this info!
North Shore Inline Hockey Info
Info on Sea to Sky Championships
The Sea to Sky Pro Championship is tentatively scheduled for Aug 6-9th, 2021 in North Vancouver, BC, Canada. The tournament will be hosted at Karen Magnusssen Recreation Center in North Vancouver and by the North Shore Zulu. The goal of the Sea to Sky Inline Championship is to bring Elite Inline to Canada. NSIHL is fortunate to be one of Canada's largest Inline Associations (700+ players)
-Teams will be competing for a $2000 prize presented by Coast to Coast Hockey Shop to winner of the final playoff series.