Nic Sima ready for 300th career OHL game
OTTAWA, ON – Since the OHL’s inception in 1974 as the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, there have been 8.527 skaters to have suited up in a regular season for the league. Of the 8,527 skaters, only 143 of them have dressed in 300 career games. Ottawa 67’s forward Nic Sima is set to become the 144th to accomplish the milestone in Saturday’s game against the Peterborough Petes.
“It means a lot,” said Sima. “It’s a blessing that I’ve been able to play so many games in this great league.”
A former second-round pick with the North Bay Battalion in 2021.
“I’d say my development over the years has been huge, as a player and person,” he said.
“Coming from minor hockey, when I was young, everyone wants to be the skill guy, put up a lot of points,” he said. “I’ve found a role to contribute to a team.”
Sima would get dealt to the Saginaw Spirit partway through his second OHL season, providing new challenges, areas of growth, and new memories.
“As a person, I’ve learned so much: giving back to the community, interacting with teammates, being able to live in billet houses in different countries and cities,” he said.
“The biggest thing I probably learned was to stick with it, be resilient through the highs and lows,” he said. “Just to be able to handle the lows and grow from that, learn from mistakes, and come back stronger.”
It was the Spirit who nurtured Sima into becoming a productive OHL player, but also where he found his winning pedigree.
“My biggest memory has probably been winning the Memorial Cup,” he said. “That’s something every team, every year, at the start, tries to do.”
As the Memorial Cup hosts that season, Saginaw came into the season with the tournament in direct focus, which only made the win that much more special.
“We were able to complete it on home ice,” Sima said of winning it as the tournament’s hosts. “It’s something I’ll never forget… It’s probably the greatest day, week of my life.”
While Sima made some unforgettable memories with the Spirit, the 67’s enlisted his help at the deadline as they prepare for a memorable run this season.
“It’s been awesome,” Sima said of settling in the nation’s capital. “The city’s great, the boys are amazing, the coaching staff, everyone’s been unbelievable.”
“Very lucky to spend my last couple of months in the league here,” Sima said. “Just to go through a hopefully long playoff run and experience a championship with this group is something I crave and I want for these guys as well.”
While Sima was able to win the Memorial Cup with Saginaw, that elusive OHL championship remains the one thing the overager has his eyes set on.
“What’s left for me is that I haven’t won an OHL championship,” he said. “That’s something that’s always been on my mind.”
“I think we have the group here to do it, go through that experience with them one last time, and hopefully get it done.”
