Nixon Caldwell Junior Review

[Kendrick 4,724]

 

Nixon Caldwell has spent the last two seasons grooming down in the VHLM, but before that he was graced with the opportunity to be coached in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks. Caldwell spent his first two seasons on the Winterhawks with only playing 15 games due to being undersized and of course a 16 and 17 year old. Being around the team and coaching staff allowed him to grow as both an individual and as a player. It's that maturity and growth that allowed him to be come a regular with Portland in his third official season with the franchise. His growth also was seen in his figure as the once 5'9" defensemen had grown quite a bit physically and was now 6'1" and ready to fill out his tall frame.

 

His third season started off with a bang as a former teammate of his in Bantam took a run on his captain, in the first game no less. Caldwell stepped up and dropped the mitts and smashed the opposing players face up pretty bad. Nixon was ready to assert himself and that he did in that first season of regular minutes. Nixon averaged 19:13 minutes of ice time a night and saw action in 52 games with the Winterhawks. It was there where they found out his booming snapshot was a key ingredient in their winning formula. Nixon notched 12 goals for the Winterhawks with playing on the third pairing and also saw minutes on the second power play unit.

 

In his fourth season with the Winterhawks while turning the age 19, he saw increased minutes and some NHL Draft buzz. NHL Scouts started to fill the press boxes looking for some gems in the WHL and Caldwell caught the eye of several clubs. His strong play that year which consisted of 14 goals and 44 assists allowed him to get some WHL player of the week awards as well. It was in this season that Caldwell also increased his penalty minutes as he was a leader and leaders step in when teammates are in trouble. Ultimately Caldwell didn't get a lot of fighting majors but did end up getting roughing minors for stepping into altercations.

 

At that seasons conclusion Caldwell was not drafted in the NHL but the VHLM did come calling he ended up getting selected in the VHLM Draft. It was in the VHLM that he finally felt wanted and accepted and the selection allowed him to have more pride on what he does.