“The Ultimate Team Player:” Nolan Chastko, Everett’s Everyman
EVERETT. Wash. — Nolan Chastko has always been a bit of a Swiss Army Knife.
A goal-scorer, a penalty killer, he’s done it all over his hockey life. So when the Silvertips approached him to play defense- a position he had not played since he was 8 years old- in the middle of his overager season out of necessity, he didn’t bat an eye.
“I had nothing to lose at all and was pretty intrigued with it,” Chastko explained. “I thought it was only going to be for a couple games and then it ended up being quite a bit, but it was a really cool experience. I can’t thank our defensive coach Mike Field enough for the work that he put in with me. Our entire d-corps helping me and giving me feedback after each shift was really cool. It’s something that I take great pride in.”
Chastko ultimately appeared in 25 games as a defenseman over the course of the 2025-26 season, accumulating 13 points and a +12 defensive rating. It’s an astonishing feat to not only plug into a new position- but to also thrive in that spot.
The Brandon native’s humility and willingness to jump in wherever he can best help the team is a true testament to his character and commitment to his team. It does not go unnoticed within the Silvertips organization and fanbase.
Fellow overager Rylan Gould remembers playing spring hockey both with and against Chastko growing up in Manitoba. “Even from that age it was clear that [Chastko] would do anything for his team,” Gould noted. “Being with him in Everett is just something that I’m so grateful for. He’s the ultimate team player. He will do anything for the team and we all love him. He’s one of the guys that you need on a winning team.”
Chastko signed his WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Prince George Cougars as an undrafted player in 2022. The Silvertips acquired Chastko’s rights from the Cougars at the trade deadline in 2023. In the meantime, Chastko spent time playing for the Virden Oil Capitals in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, where he scored 30 goals with 25 assists in 53 games in 2023-24. He finally cracked the Silvertips’ roster as a 19-year-old in 2024.
“Obviously it took me a little bit to get here,” Chastko smiled, “but as soon as I got here, I knew it was a pretty special place to be. Looking back at the last two years here, it’s been pretty surreal and I just couldn’t be happier for the opportunity that I got here. It’s been a great two years.”
Though Chastko had a later start in the Western Hockey League than most, he has accumulated valuable experience in a truncated amount of time. He appeared in 63 regular season games and all 13 Playoff games on a U.S. Division, Western Conference and Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy-winning ’24-25 Silvertip team, posting 14 regular season points. He has followed that up by appearing in all 67 games played this campaign with nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points.
“We have so much respect for him in our locker room,” commented overager Zackary Shantz. “He’s just been an awesome guy for us. It was just so impressive to see him not complain about his role and just do it with a smile.”
Chastko expressed gratitude for the opportunity to not only finish out his career as a Silvertip, but to do so surrounded by two other overagers with whom he’s grown so close.
“All three of us together, I wouldn’t want to live out my 20-year in junior hockey with any two other guys. It’s just been awesome.”
“It’s been a dream come true,” he continued, “just from the coaching staff, everyone in the front office, and the players that we have, it’s just been an amazing time. I couldn’t thank our coaches enough for the development and just the trust that they had in me, my two years being here. They definitely helped a lot for my hockey career on the ice and then even off the ice just making me a better person, they been great with it all.”
Chastko echoed a familiar sentiment when asked about the companionship found within the Tips’ room.
“This is by far the tightest group I’ve ever been a part of. It really feels like we’re just a bunch of brothers in the locker room which is just an amazing feeling. These are guys that I’m going to be talking to for the rest of my life. Whether it’s bus trips, even just practices with the guys, coming to the rink was a treat every single day, nothing’s better than that.”
Reflecting on a historic campaign for the 2025-26 Silvertips, he emphasized his favorite part was celebrating them all as a team. No matter if it is a team achievement or an individual one, a win for one is a win for all- a prototypical Chastko response.
“I’m super proud of the individual guys who have set records and then the team ones are obviously super special. Something that I never really thought I would be a part of but really cool to be a part of.”
As the Silvertips head into playoffs, Chastko admits that the finality of his last run is kept in the back of his mind. “As much as you don’t think that it would, I think it definitely plays a part. Just a lot more, ‘this is it’ type of mindset. I know all three of us [overagers] will be going all out and everyone in the dressing room will be playing really hard, so that’s all you can ask for.”
Article by Lindsey McClellan
