Nolan twins hoped to play together on NAU’s new ice rink which is still under construction
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (BVM) — Having played by his twin brother’s side for over 15 years, Jordan Nolan, current captain of Northern Arizona University’s IceJacks, is ready to graduate and hang up the skates with brother Josh Nolan still next to him. Both Nolan brothers have fond memories throughout their life of playing defense on the ice together.
“My very first memory of playing hockey with Jordan was when we were about 5,” Josh said. “We were on a mite team down at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe, Ariz.”
Since then, they have played on various teams together, even advancing to the junior league with the Arizona Coyotes and Arizona Bobcats. It was always the plan to play side by side for as long as they could, but after their season with the Arizona Bobcats, the Nolan brothers parted ways.
“When we graduated high school in 2015, [Josh] decided not to take the junior hockey route with me and took a year off,” Jordan said. “The next year, he started playing hockey at NAU, but at that time, I was playing for the Jersey Shore Wildcats.”
Jordan Nolan quickly ended his time in New Jersey as a Wildcat. After one season, he decided to move to Flagstaff and begin playing hockey with his brother again. Though during their year apart, things were different. The dynamic duo didn’t have the sync of each other that they were used to.
“That year without Jordan was a little weird at first,” Josh said. “I was so used to having [Jordan] on defense in front of me.”
Things quickly picked up for the twins and the team when Jordan made the move.
“When [Jordan] came back and joined the team my second year, it felt like we hadn’t been apart at all,” Josh said.
With the Nolan brothers sharing the rink together again, everything was smooth-sailing for their final seasons together before Josh’s graduation. In the 2018-2019 season, Josh ended his competitive hockey career with 480 minutes played and 211 saves as goaltender.
“The last game was emotional for me because I knew it was my last one, but having Jordan there made things a lot nicer,” Josh said. “If [Jordan] wasn’t there, it would’ve felt off.”
Josh graduated from NAU in the spring of 2019 with a degree in exercise science. He accepted an offer for AT Still University’s dental program and began July 2020. Still unsure if he will join a men’s league down the road, Josh is now playing hockey for leisure with his father.
As rumors flew around for years on NAU’s campus, no progress had been made towards the new, easily-accessible rink that would be conveniently located on central campus.
“My freshman year, there was a mini orientation for new and returning players and we met in the fieldhouse,” Jordan said. “I remember hearing that it would be ready for us that season.”
Jordan wasn’t the only one hearing empty promises. His brother also thought he would have the opportunity to play on fresh ice.
“Having a rink would’ve meant a lot to me because I would’ve seen it as a great first step towards the university supporting the program,” Josh said.
After some empty promises and high-hopes that got let down multiple times, the construction is finally underway on campus. With plans to finish in mid-fall of 2020, the school is on its way to having its very own ice rink located in the NAU Fieldhouse. The newly-designed ice rink will include locker rooms, bathrooms, seating for the audience, storage spaces, and concession stands.
NAU is currently working out details with pricing, as it will cost over $4 million to install and complete the construction process. The university is currently asking NAU hockey to fundraise over $100,000 to help implement the new rink.
The IceJacks are currently partnered with the Coyotes alumni and play annual games in which the ticket proceeds go to NAU’s hockey program. The Coyotes alumni also donate a generous $10,000 yearly at these games, which helps pitch towards the new sheet of ice that will be located on central campus.
Keeping a positive attitude, Jordan is hoping the rink will be completed just in time for him to be able to skate on it before his graduation.
“I’m thinking about not graduating in December as planned,” Jordan said. “I might just take one credit in the spring, that way I can keep playing hockey for another semester.”
Jordan is currently studying for the Dental Admission Test, searching for an entry into a dental program after graduation. Just like his twin brother, Jordan is also unsure if he will be playing competitively in the future.
“I’d say this could possibly be my last season playing competitive hockey,” Jordan said. “I’ll still play the rest of my life in various men’s leagues, but this might be the last of the intense play.”
Whether or not Jordan gets to play on NAU’s new rink, he is thrilled to see the progress of the construction and to see what it will do for the IceJacks down the road.
“I think it would be huge,” Jordan said. “We already get quite a bit of fans at our games at a location off campus, so I can imagine having a rink on the center of campus will bring even more people in. That will give a good atmosphere to play hockey in and could help build our team and program.”
He and the rest of the IceJacks squad hope to skate into the new 2020-2021 season with a fresh start, a new setting, a loud NAU crowd, and the satisfaction of their very own rink.
