Blues’ Nault all about hard work and consistency

Hard work, systems, and sometimes a little luck play a factor in putting up points on the ice. But in the end, some players just have that offensive touch around the net.

That’s an accurate description for Winnipeg Blues’ forward Kamerin Nault. The 20-year-old Winnipeg native has picked up where he left off last season, when he scored 33 goals and had 71 points.

This season, Nault is having another outstanding season, reflected in 20 goals in 26 games played. He’s also explosive when on the powerplay: seven goals…..equalling his total from last year, and sits fourth overall in the points race.

Nault credits his offensive production to his head coach Don MacGillivray, who has put faith and set challenges for him every year.

“(Don) had given me that chance to play those minutes and given me those roles,” said Nault, who stands six foot two inches, and weighs 182 pounds. “He’s helped me with so many aspects of my game. I started as a fourth-line guy as a rookie and learned that role, and I have been given a different role every year, and that tells me something, that I’m able to play those different types of roles.”

Nault also has nine power-play assists this year, giving him 16 power-play points (out of 39 total). Scoring with the man advantage takes some skill, some coaching, and, as Nault admits, a little bit of that aforementioned luck.

“A lot of the time it’s about being in the right place at the right time,” he said. “The (puck) has seemed to go in for me this year, and I’ve had a lot of quality chances.

As for team success, the Blues are part of a pack that includes Steinbach and Virden. Two of those three teams will get home-ice advantage in the first-round of the playoffs.

Where the Blues end up doesn’t matter as much as how they finish the season, according to Nault. And he has recent history to back him up.

“I think we need to come together as a team, and that’s starting to happen already,” he said. “I was on the team that won a couple of years ago. We weren’t a great regular season team, but we came together, and had that chemistry in the playoffs. We were committed to playing for each other.”

With only a few months remaining in his junior career, Nault said he hopes to take his hockey game to the next level, whatever that might be for him.

“I’d like to continue on a play college hockey, or play hockey somewhere, and continue on with hockey in my life,” he said.