Rookie forward Nathan Amidovski is looking to make a monumental impact with the Ottawa 67’s.
Amidovski, who was drafted 11th overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection by the 67’s, is coming off a monster season. This 16-year-old, 6’2”, 165-pound left winger made a statement with the Barrie Colts U16 AAA team, where he concluded the 2023-24 campaign with 40 goals, 69 points, and 37 PIMs.
Showing to be a clutch performer, Amidovski followed that up with a clutch playoff performance which saw him score 11 goals while also accumulating 22 points and eight PIM in nine playoff games.
“Obviously, I was really excited,” Amidovski said about being drafted by Ottawa. “I saw it come up on livestream and I was really happy. Obviously, I was excited to go first round. I’m going to come here and do my best.”
Without any hesitation, Amidovski admitted that there is a little more pressure heading into the season.
Leading up to the draft, Amidovski met with Ottawa, who expressed that if he were still available, they would select him.
Heading into Thanksgiving weekend, this Alliston, Ontario native has been solid. He has recorded an assist and stands with a plus/minus of +2 in the regular season’s first four games.
Amidovski, who grew up as a big Sidney Crosby fan, believes that his overall strengths as a player are “Scoring goals and making teammates better.” When asked about what he still might need to work on, he replied, “Working on defence and positioning.”
In terms of watching Crosby, Amidovski stated, “I try to model my game after him. I like to watch his highlights and pick things up.”
Following the games, Amidovski often communicates with the coaching staff, whom he credits with helping him “Trying to be the best player that I can be. They definitely motivate me.”
So far, Amidovksi’s transition to the OHL has been going smoothly, and besides his coaches, he also gives lots of credit to his teammates, who he has described as being very welcoming.
“Luca Pinelli talks to me a lot, and Nic Whitehead talks to me, and they have helped me get used to the league,” Amidovski said in reference to two veterans on the team.
In terms of the adjustment from making that monumental jump from the Barrie Colts U16 AAA team to the OHL, Amidovski stated the obvious in saying, “Physicality and speed. It’s tough coming in as a 16-year-old because it’s so much faster and the physicality. I just have to prove that I can play like I know I can.”
After starting the regular season on Friday, September 27 by dropping a 3-2 home decision at TD Place against Niagara, the 67’s quickly turned things around when, two days later, they travelled to Oshawa, where they pulled out a 4-3 win before going on a role and winning on Saturday, October 5, their first home game, by a 6-3 score against North Bay. The next day they followed with a 5-4 road win against Kingston to improve their record to 3-1 in the young season.
“It gives confidence,” Amidovski said about the early season winning streak. “It shows we have a good team and can succeed.”
Amidovski believes that this is a very talented team that, if they work hard, has the potential to accomplish some great things this year.
Photo: @Ottawa67s