Tuesday, 07. May 2024 |
Red Bulls sign a new defender Nash Nienhuis comes from the NCAA // Roster UpdateEC Red Bull Salzburg welcomes Nash Nienhuis, the first new addition for the upcoming season. The 24-year-old Canadian-born defenseman has played the last four years in the NCAA at Michigan State University and is now moving to Europe for the first time. There are several reasons why he chose the Red Bulls for his first European stop after college. “But mainly it's the ‘winning culture’. I know how hard it is to win. The fact that the Red Bulls have won back-to-back championships shows the character, work ethic and passion of everyone in the organization,” explains Nienhuis.
Head Coach Oliver David: “Nash has developed along a path that I am very familiar with and he comes to us from one of the outstanding programs in American college field hockey right now. College field hockey provides the NHL and all North American professional leagues with direct talent each spring. Fortunately, Nash was interested in starting his pro career with us in Salzburg. He is an outstanding skater with good stickhandling, a captain and a leader on and off the ice. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Nash to EC Red Bull Salzburg.”
Nienhuis describes himself as a “good skating defenseman who has a passion for creating offense as well as defending. I see myself as a reliable teammate on the ice.” And he is looking forward to starting a new chapter in Salzburg, even if he doesn't know anyone here yet. “In my first year in professional ice hockey, I want to take the next step in terms of speed, skills and body play. I think I'm ready for this and I'm looking forward to the challenge.”
Born in Canada, Nash Nienhuis grew up playing Canadian junior ice hockey. At the age of 18, the defenseman went to the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Omaha Lancers before transferring to Michigan State University in 2020. He played there for four years, narrowly missing out on a spot in the NCAA Final Four with his team as captain last season and also had his best season with 9 goals and 15 assists in 39 games.
Nienhuis has both Canadian-American and Austrian citizenship. In Austria, however, he would not be eligible to play for the Austrian national team and thus also at club level as an Austrian for at least two years.
The defenseman owes his connection to Austria to his father Kraig Nienhuis. The former NHL forward played for several clubs in Europe from 1988 to 1999 and also scored goals for the KAC from 1990 to 1994. With dual Canadian-Austrian citizenship, Kraig Nienhuis even took part in the 1996 World Championships in Vienna with Austria.
Red Bulls Salute 2024
Zell am See-Kaprun | 16-17 August 2024
Red Bull Munich | Växjö Lakers | ZSC Lions | EC Red Bull Salzburg
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