North Cook News

Nick Christianson's hockey journey began not on ice, but on the floor.

“No one had ever played (hockey) in my family previously, and when I was around 6, I played floor hockey with one of my close school friends, and after that, I just fell in love with the game,” Christianson told the North Cook News.

Many years later, after trading a floor for an ice rink to display his hockey prowess, Christianson is the captain of the Buffalo Grove-Hersey-Wheeling Stampede varsity team of the Illinois High School Hockey League (IHSHL). And he has the team driving toward a second-straight state title.

Through Dec. 14, the Stampede was third in the Champion Varsity level of the IHSHL's North-Central Division, according to the league's statistics website. The Stampede had a 9-1-1 record in league play for 19 points. In all games, according to the team's website, the Stampede had a 22-12-2 record.

In the midst of that run, Christianson, a forward, was tied for the lead in the division's individual scoring race. He had nine goals and 16 assists in 11 games for 25 points, which matched teammate Connor Kelly's total-points output in the same span. For all games, Christianson said he had 30 goals and 48 assists.

Last season, Christianson finished third in the division, with 24 points on 10 goals and 14 assists.

It has been a strong rise for a player who said he remembers not being able to skate very well.

“I started a little later than everyone else, so I was usually the worst kid on the ice growing up,” he said.

What draws him to the sport and what he loves most about it is the level both of skill and desire required to be successful.

“Not many people can even skate; try doing it with guys trying to hit you every time you touch the puck,” he said.

In his first year on varsity, during the 2013-14 campaign, Christianson played in eight division games, notching two goals and an assist, with one of the goals being a game-winner.

Then, in the 2014-15 season, he went off for 10 goals and 26 assists in 20 division games.

“I’ve played on the varsity team for four years now, and every year, I have been getting better,” he said. “I do a lot of work on my own, but my coaches, Chris Watters and Bob Wagner, are really the reasons why I’m the player I am today.”

Last season was not only a sterling one individually for Christianson, but also for the team, as the Stampede topped Glenbard in overtime in the United Center to win the state championship for combined teams – the first-ever state title for the program.

“It was an unbelievable experience and the highlight of many of our hockey careers,” Christianson said.

This season, other teams have been making it challenging on the road to repeating.

“Every team comes ready to play and definitely wants to beat us a little more,” Christianson said. “You can tell that they have a different mindset and more motivation to beat us.”

As far as his future in hockey, Christianson said some junior teams have shown interest, but that he is looking to attend college and focus on school.