Kevin Mitchell
Black Press
Powell River fiery captain Chad Niddery, who played his minor hockey in Penticton, closed out a stellar four-year career with the Kings.
He led the Sunshine Coast crew with 10 playoff goals and when he wasn’t trying to convince Viper sniper Dylan Walchuk to fight, he was putting Viper captain David Robinson in a headlock, anything to help the Kings compete.
“I never thought I’d even make Junior B. Grand Forks took a chance on me, Powell River took a chance on me and I’m just glad on how my career went. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Niddery, a 5-foot-10, 165-pounder who never stops skating, lost his third straight Fred Page Cup series to the Snakes but showed grace in defeat.
“This is the third time I’ve had to go through this. Nothing against them. They work hard and they get the job done and the times that we need the bounces, we don’t really get them. One day, this team and organization will get it and I wish them the best of luck.
“We used to be nobody and we’re not satisfied just being in the finals. We all want to win it, but it’s a start. There’s a lot of kids sitting at home who have loved being down 4-3 going into the third.”
Niddery and Kings’ towering d-man Justin Dasilva, who also spent the last three seasons in Powell River, will play for the Ohio State Buckeyes next fall.
In 212 games over Niddery’s career with the Kings, he scored 70 goals and collected 220 points, including 28 goals and 86 points his final season.