St. Cloud State’s Nick Perbix excited to play for USA hockey in Beijing
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (BVM) – Receiving the biggest news ever in his hockey career, Nick Perbix couldn’t even immediately celebrate it. Sitting with his teammates while out at dinner, Perbix got a call from his head coach at St. Cloud State, Brett Larson.
Larson was named an assistant coach for the USA’s Olympic hockey team in early January and he was letting his senior defenseman know that Perbix would be joining him in Beijing.
“He called me, I was out to eat with my teammates but he told me I couldn’t tell them right away because of some logistical stuff I guess,” Perbix said. “I had to finish eating that dinner without telling them and completely just blowing up out of excitement.”
However, this wasn’t the first time Perbix had received life changing news in an interesting way. In 2017, Perbix was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lighting in the sixth round of the NHL Draft.
“I actually happened to be home,” Perbix said. “I wasn’t even watching the draft when I got the call that I was drafted. So my mom, she was actually just leaving so she was driving in the neighborhood when I called her. She turned around quickly and started freaking out with me.”
“Just realizing I got drafted was a very surreal moment.”
Both moments were well deserved for the Elk River, Minn. native. A hockey player since he first got into athletics, Perbix decided to just focus on hockey and golf going into high school. Perbix was a Minnesota Mr. Hockey finalist and it was during this time that he realized he could take his hockey career beyond high school.
“Things kind of started happening about halfway through my junior year,” Perbix said. “I started getting in contact with some college coaches and that’s when I kind of realized like, ‘OK there’s actually a chance I can do something with the sport.’”
The main component to his success was his love for the sport. It kept him out on the ice, training and constantly working to improve his abilities.
“I just love hockey… I realize it’s gonna end one day but the longer I can make my career, the more successful I can be,” Perbix said. “I just want to keep playing hockey for as long as I can.”
His family was also a huge help. His younger brother, Jack, was out on the ice with him. They pushed each other to be the best hockey players they could be. Jack is currently playing at the University of Minnesota for the Gophers.
“I truly don’t believe I’m here playing hockey without him… I credit a lot of my success to him,” Nick said.
From high school, Nick was drafted, played a season with the Omaha Lancers in the USHL and then began his collegiate career with the Huskies.
As a freshman, he was named to the 2019 All-NCHC Rookie Team. Then this past season, he helped St. Cloud finish as national runners-up. For his part in getting the Huskies to the national championship, he was named to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team. Nick also was a Second Team All-NCHC honoree and runner-up for NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the year.
All of it led up to him being named to the Beijing Winter Olympics roster as one of 15 college athletes that will be competing for Team USA on the rink.
“I think it’s going to be a really fast, skilled team,” Nick said. “I think we’re going to try and play with as much pace as possible… Looking at the roster we definitely have the ability to play that way.”
There are also some familiar faces on the roster. Along with Larson, his teammate Sam Hentges will also be joining him in Beijing meaning the Huskies will be well represented on Team USA.
“It’ll be a super fun experience and they’ll only make it better that’s for sure and it’ll be fun when we get to sit back and realize what we just did with each other,” Nick said.
What they will have done was compete for the United States in the Olympics, a dream come true for Nick. As someone who grew up watching Team USA compete in the Olympics, the realization of what Nick is doing hasn’t fully hit him yet.
“I’ve thought about it but I don’t think I’ll understand the complete magnitude until it actually happens,” Nick said. “Wearing the red, white and blue and competing for your country, representing your country is an honor like no other.”
“It’s indescribable to me.”
Nick may be in awe of the stage in which he gets to compete but he knows that once he’s out on the ice, it will be just like it has always been for him.
“The hockey aspect won’t change much over there, it’s still hockey,” Nick said.
That understanding along with his ability on the ice will help Team USA go after its goal of winning the gold. Nick prides himself on being a versatile defenseman. He can play and is prepared to be out on the ice in any situation and does have an offensive upside, but defense is still his primary focus.
“I’m excited about being somebody you can throw out there in any situation,” Nick said. “I have an offensive upside but I like to think I’m a defender first…Be a person you can rely on in all situations.”
It’ll be just what Team USA needs to make it to the podium for the first time since 2010 in Vancouver when it took home the silver.
