Nate Danielson skates the puck up ice in his first game for the Portland Winterhawks, in Kelowna on Jan. 17, 2024. He had a goal and an assist in his Portland debut. (Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

pride of red deer

Red Deer’s Nate Danielson excited for potential deep run with Winterhawks

Jan 19, 2024 | 4:37 PM

It’s been a whirlwind last several months for Red Deer’s Nate Danielson, who was traded on the WHL Trade Deadline last week from the Brandon Wheat Kings to the Portland Winterhawks.

In his first game for his new team, Wednesday in Kelowna, Danielson potted a goal and an assist.

He had only been back in Brandon shortly after returning from the World Juniors in Sweden, and it was just last summer that the right-handed 19-year-old centre was drafted ninth overall by the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.

“It was tough leaving Brandon after being there for five years,” Danielson told rdnewsNOW on Friday. “I formed a lot of relationships and friendships there, and had a really good time. I can’t thank them enough. But I am excited to be here in Portland because we have a really good team and we hope to make a deep run.”

Thankfully for him, there are some familiar faces in Josh Davies (Airdrie) and Marcus Nguyen (Calgary), whom he crossed paths with while still playing minor in Alberta.

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Nate Danielson skates during warmups ahead of the Portland Winterhawks’ game against Kelowna on Jan. 17, 2024. (Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

As of Jan. 19, Portand sits tied atop the U.S. Division with Everett, and two points back of Prince George — whom they play Friday night — for first in the Western Conference.

Though a bit off his 78-point pace from a season ago, Danielson now has 28 points in 27 games this season.

On the World Juniors defeat to Czechia, Danielson says what many will surely understand, that that’s not how Team Canada saw it going.

“It’s pretty disappointing. It was an unfortunate bounce at the end, but I think I just have to move on and get back to focusing on my year here,” says Danielson, who scored Canada’s first goal of the tournament. He ended up adding two assists in the team’s five games.

Focusing means getting ready for the aforementioned playoff run, a potential 20-year-old year in the WHL, and/or endearing himself even more than he already has within the Red Wings’ system.

“Probably the biggest thing I’m working on is growing into my body, putting some weight on, and getting bigger and stronger,” he says at 6’2″, 188 pounds. “Another thing I try to focus on is being more explosive and quicker. My shot is something I’m always working on.”

Danielson was selected 5th overall by Brandon in 2019.

In exchange for his services, Portland shipped away forward Nick Johnson and blueliner Rhett Ravndahl, both 2005-born players (Danielson is an ’04), plus a 1st round pick in 2025 and 2027, and a 5th rounder in 2016.

This season, Johnson (Calgary, AB) has 18 points in 29 games for Portland, and Ravndahl (Birch Hills, SK) has two assists in 27 games.

Last week, Wheat Kings GM Marty Murray called Danielson an “unbelievable” player, while Winterhawks President, GM and Head Coach Mike Johnston expressed his belief that his new centre will have a significant impact down the stretch.

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• Red Deer’s Nate Danielson shipped to Portland at WHL Trade Deadline