Younger Nolan finding out the net in OHL

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Brandon Nolan's father Ted made it to the National Hockey League, first as a player then as a coach. And no doubt the 17-year-old would love to follow in his father's footsteps and play professionally one day.

For now, Brandon Nolan is learning the ins and outs of the Ontario Hockey League, where he's a rookie forward with the Oshawa Generals. Nolan was selected by the Generals in the first round, 12th overall, during the 1999 OHL bantam draft. Players chosen in that draft were considered underage and were not eligible to compete in the OHL last season.

So Nolan ended up starring for his hometown Jr. B squad in southern Ontario, the St. Catharines Falcons, members of the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League.

When the Generals opened their training camp this year, Nolan was a no-show. He reportedly had some doubts about leaving home for the first time and was interested in keeping his options open for U.S. collegiate hockey.

Those who play in the OHL are not eligible for athletic scholarships from American universities later on. So the thinking was Nolan would play another season at the Junior B level before possibly moving on to an American school next season.

But it didn't take long for that line of thinking to change as Nolan eventually reported to the Generals' camp.

"We were disappointed but we didn't push it," said Oshawa's coach/general manager George Burnett. "When he decided to come it was his decision to play in the league and to leave home."

Burnett is glad Nolan had a change of heart.

"He's had an outstanding start and fit in well," said Burnett, the former Edmonton Oilers' head coach, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. "He's basically playing a second-line role with some veteran linemates. And the ice is starting to open up for him."

Nolan has spent the majority of the season toiling on a line with centre John Kozoriz and right winger and team captain Brandon Cullen. Though he's a natural centre, Nolan has been shifted over and is playing left wing on his line.

During his first 21 games in Oshawa, Nolan picked up 11 points (five goals, six assists). One of his best games was Nov. 19 when he netted two goals and also had an assist in an upset over the Plymouth Whalers 6-3.

At the time the Whalers were in first place overall in the 20-team league standings. As for the Generals, they had their share of struggles early on this season. After 22 games Oshawa had a 5-13-3-1 record.

Nolan, who is listed at an even six-feet and 170 pounds, is definitely more offensively gifted than his father was on the ice. Ted Nolan, who was a defenceman, spent portions of three seasons in the NHL and collected 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 78 matches. He had stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.

"He does have a flair for the puck," Burnett said of the younger Nolan.

"His (11) points would indicate he's not going to lead the league in scoring. But his development throughout has been very good. He's had an outstanding start for us and fit in very well."

All under the watchful eye of his father, who is a regular at Generals' home games.

"Ted has been nothing but supportive of our program," Burnett said. "And he knows our league very well."

Ted Nolan led the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to back-to-back OHL titles in 1991 and '92, as well as a Memorial Cup championship in 1993.

He went on to coach in the NHL, starting off as an assistant coach with the Hartford Whalers (the franchise which is now the Carolina Hurricanes).Later Nolan became the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres where he captured the NHL coach-of-the-year award during the 1996-97 season.