Pursuit of excellence: Jaeden Nelson stopping at nothing to earn everything

Jaeden Nelson says he’s never seen the level of success he did on the ice with the Navan Grads last season, not in hockey, not in school, nowhere.

The young goaltender was named the CCHL’s Top Goaltender, Playoffs MVP, Rookie of the Year, and the recipient of the Top Prospect Award, also being named to the All-Rookie Team, and winning the Bogart Cup. At the Centennial Cup, Nelson was once again named the Top Goaltender, sporting a 2.97 goals-against average.

During the year, Nelson was signed by the Ottawa 67’s, eventually getting the opportunity to start his first OHL game. Though it’s on the ledger as a loss, it’s something he remembers positively, taking the Sarnia Sting deep into the shootout in their own building.

Still, Nelson didn’t become a full-time player with the club, returning to Navan to close out his incredible season. That, he says, hardly felt like a setback, he was bought into the plan, and knew he’d have an opportunity to face great competition in big moments down the stretch.

All of that positivity was a good thing for the now 17-year-old, but those around him reminded him daily that it was only the beginning.

“It was a lot to take in,” Nelson said. “Dave [Cameron] told me at the end of the season that I want to stay level-headed. Obviously, it’s exciting, but there’s still lots of work to be done, and every summer you want to grow as much as you can.”

Nelson’s summer included an invite from Hockey Canada with the opportunity to represent his country at the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament, if he cracked the roster. His competition was fierce, taking on CHL goaltenders including Jack Ivankovic, Lucas Beckman, and William Lacelle.

With the good times rolling, and Nelson competing well at camp, it felt like, once again, he might be the underdog destined to achieve far more than anyone expected, but it wasn’t to be. Like running into a brick wall with a cartoon record scratch sound added to the background, Nelson’s free-flowing success was shut off, and he was cut from the team.

“It was pretty hard on me for a few days, especially when I got the call,” Nelson said. “I dialled in right away and put in a really good month of training before camp, so to not get selected when I feel that I put my best foot forward left me with a lot of questions. I was wondering if my best wasn’t good enough, or where do I go from here?”

“I didn’t want to acknowledge it, because it almost felt like an embarrassment at the time. It felt like a failure that I didn’t make the team I worked so hard for, but my parents were a big support. They knew what I was going through, and they gave me time to cool off and find myself again.”

That headspace stuck around for a few week.

Like any wound, it needed time to heal. The reality in Nelson’s head greatly differed from what those around him thought. His Hlinka Gretzky Tournament bid was far from a failure, and goalies all over the country would give anything to be where he was.

With time, he began to see that. He understands how difficult it was always going to be to unseat three CHL goaltenders at that camp, and how – regardless of the outcome – just being invited was recognition on a scale he’d never seen before. He went toe-to-toe with the three best goalies in Canada in his age group, and didn’t feel out of place, what’s not to be proud of?

“It just takes time,” Nelson said. “Being there means you’re one of the top four goaltenders in your age group, and I’ve never been recognized like that on a national scale, but I set high expectations for myself. I can now say I’ve gotten over it, and I can use it to build confidence.”

Hitting the ice through training camp, and now the preseason, Nelson isn’t resting on his laurels. The competition in the crease is alive, and he wants to lock down one of the sports heading into the season. With that, the nerves have come back, as the youngster looks to take that next step.

“There are nerves,” Nelson said. “As we get closer, the nerves come in, especially stepping into a new team and routine. If I can get into a routine and hit the ground running, I’ll settle in pretty quickly, but there are nerves coming in.”

Only partway through his long journey, Nelson is hoping to show improvement, and prove his worth in the rest of the preseason.

“I’m a different goalie, athlete, and person than I was last year,” Nelson said. “I want to establish myself, and show the coaches and my teammates what I’m all about, both on the ice, and as a person.”