The Janesville Jets, members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are proud to announce that forward Nick Sajevic has announced his commitment to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the United States Air Force Academy. Committing to play at the Division 1 level is a dream of most hockey players, but the reality is less than five percent of players get that opportunity. The opportunity to not only further your education and continue the sport you love, but to also serve your country is something that very select people get to have.
“It means a lot, being able to play Division 1 hockey has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember,” stated Nick. “To be able to commit to such a good school like the Air Force Academy is a dream come true. There are a lot of people I would like to thank, my family for helping and supporting me throughout this whole journey. I’d also like to thank my friends and teammates for pushing me to become a better hockey player and person every single day. And also I’d like to thank my coaches and trainers, for all, they’ve done to help me become a better player and a better person.”
The Air Force Academy is nestled in the beautiful mountain range of Colorado, just north of Colorado Springs. The academy prides itself on three things: Integrity, Service, and Excellence. Unlike other Division 1 programs, the athletes are cadets first. With the mission to develop men and women to become officers of character and serve our nation. The academy is a state-of-the-art university with cutting-edge learning centers, historic sites, and incredible student-athlete facilities.
“When I stepped foot on campus for the first time during my visit, I just felt like I could see myself going here and enjoying it. There is so much about it that I liked, the campus was awesome, the facilities were great, and the coaching staff was great as well. I felt like I was at a place where I could become my best self,” added Nick.
There is also some family history at the Air Force Academy. Nick’s uncle, Bob Sajevic, played four years of NCAA hockey for the Falcons. Bob appeared in 113 games for the Falcons and ranks second in career points with 228 points. He remains a member of the Air Force Hockey Wall of Fame as he is one of the only two players in school history to record 100+ goals, 100+ assists, and 200+ points. Bob Sajevic still holds the record for most assists in one series with nine assists versus Hamline in 1977. He is tied for the most hat tricks in a series with two against New Hampshire in 1977. He is also tied for the most goals in a period with four against Winnipeg in 1980. It is no surprise that offensive production runs in the Sajevic family.
The Air Force Academy officially introduced men’s hockey in 1966 as a club team. However, the start dates to 1958, when a group of cadets formed an intramural hockey team in the courtyard of Vandenberg Hall. In 1999, the Falcons made the jump to join the newly formed College Hockey American conference. The CHA was formed by seven independent teams. The Falcons struggled to find success in the CHA and decided to join Atlantic Hockey in 2006. This decision brought the Falcons to their first conference tournament championship and their first NCAA tournament appearance. The program is led by head coach Frank Serratore who is in his 27th season with the program. He posts a .511 overall record with 438-417-98.
Nick Sajevic fell in love with the sport of hockey on the frozen lakes of Minnesota. Spending most of his winters as a kid skating around with friends. Growing up he played for the Mounds View Hockey Association until sixth grade. In high school, he attended Gentry Academy located in St. Paul Minnesota. Nick started his junior career playing for the Chippewa Steel in the North American Hockey League. During the 2021-22 season, he played in 60 games recording 18 goals and 25 assists. The following season he decided to go north and join the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. Playing in 26 games, Nick recorded 4 goals and 5 assists.
The Jets are extremely happy to have Nick a part of the team this season. He has been a crucial part of the Jets’ offense with 40 points in 33 games. Nick is a highly skilled player, and the Falcons are lucky to have him!
The Jets’ season is starting to wind down with only twenty games remaining in the season. The Jets currently sit in second place in the Midwest, just four points behind the Wisconsin Windigo. When asked about the rest of the season Nick added, “I look forward to enjoying my last year of junior hockey with all the boys, and hopefully bringing home a Robertson cup.”