Jets Tender Bink

Dec 2, 2016

By Mason Lyttle

JANESVILLE, WI – The Janesville Jets, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), have signed forward Nick Bink to a tender contract, securing his services for the 2017-18 season.

A tender is a contract a team offers a prospect to reserve his rights for the upcoming NAHL season. When a player signs a tender, his rights belong to that team within the NAHL, and he may not be recruited or drafted by any other member club. Each team is granted 10 tenders, which became active on November 1, and which they can either use on a prospect or trade to another NAHL club.

Bink (6-0/170) is a ’99 forward currently playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s 18U AAA team, which was accepted as a new member of the North American Prospects Hockey League’s (NAPHL) 18U Division in March.

“Shattuck puts out great hockey players,” said Jets assistant coach Kyle Forte, himself a Shattuck alumnus. “We know he’s been taught the right way.”

“Shattuck has done a great job preparing us,” said Bink, who has played in the program each of the last three seasons. “We skate every day and we have a good schedule. The competition in practice is great. Every practice is very high-pace.”

Bink, a native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 32 games this season, including six points in 11 games of the NAPHL schedule. In his last game, a 5-1 win over the Arizona Bobcats, he found the back of the net once and assisted on the game winner.

“Nick is a big, skilled power forward that can bring a gritty side to any team he’s on,” said Forte. “His hockey IQ and his work ethic are what stood out to me the most, and his head coach has talked very highly of his character and how he is in the locker room. He fits the character of our organization and what we look for in a player.”

Bink’s head coach is Pat Cullen, who headed the NAHL’s Southern Minnesota/Owatonna Express from 2005 through 2010 before joining St. Olaf’s College as an assistant for five seasons.

Asked what role he sees himself playing in Janesville, Bink showed the Jets’ trademark team-first mentality.

“I can do a little bit of everything,” he said. “So it’s really whatever is needed. I can set people up, score goals, grind in the corner…I can do it all if the coaches need me to.”

Bink said he chose the Jets because of its carefully crafted culture of advancement.

“I heard about the Division I commitments and the focus on developing young kids,” he said. “I figured I’d fit right in. My goal is to play Division I hockey.”

After a weekend trip to Springfield, the Jets return to the Janesville Ice Arena next Friday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. for a series versus the Minnesota Magicians. Ticket packages and group rates are still available by contacting the Jets ticket office at (608) 752-JETS. Stay connected to the Jets through Facebook (/janesvillehockey) and Twitter (@JanesvilleJets1).

— JANESVILLE JETS —