NICK BOKA'S TOP THREE MOMENTS OF THE 2021-22 SEASON
Jun 11, 2022By Suzie Cool
With the injuries and call-ups that the Rochester Americans faced in the 2021-22 campaign, the lineup at times was depleted. However, with players constantly shuffling in and out of the lineup, that meant that new opportunities were on the horizon for others, especially for players like Amerks defenseman Nick Boka.
Here’s a closer look at his top three moments from this past season.
FINDING CONSISTENCY IN THE LINEUP
Aside from one game with the Ontario Reign in the 2021 Calder Cup Playoffs, Boka hadn’t appeared in a regular season matchup in the American Hockey League until this season with the Amerks. Being on a team that started off the year with a lot of tenured players managing the blueline, it was somewhat difficult for Boka to find where he fit in.
So, Boka would start the season with the Cincinnati Cyclones. Which was disappointing, but all the motivation he needed to get right back to Rochester.
“I just kind of went down there with the right attitude to continue to grow my game, work with ‘Payner’ (Cyclones head coach Jason Payne) and kind of fine tune walking that line of playing on the edge. Ultimately, I knew when I had my opportunity to come back to Rochester, I knew I had to do something to stick around. For me that was bringing a positive, hard-working, good energy every single day to the rink.”
By the middle of the season, Boka found the ingredients that helped him stick around the Flower City. Appearing in 24 games with the Amerks, Boka went on to tally three goals and one assist for four points along with a team-high 63 penalty minutes.
WATCH: NICK BOKA YEAR-END INTERVIEW
LET'S GET LOUD
Every player on Rochester’s 2021-22 roster had a particular role. Whether it was scoring goals, learning a new position or being one of the loudest players on the bench, everyone had a role and they knew how to play into it.
While Boka had multiple roles to lean on, his most evident was the way he carried himself in the locker room and on the ice. Loud and not afraid to show it.
Now this role wasn’t something that was new to Boka entering this past season, however, it was one that he knew he had to play into if he wanted to continue to stick around Rochester for the long run.
“It was finding a way to stick around the team for me and that was bringing really good energy to practice, being loud and very vocal. I think, on the ice for me, it kind of calms me down a bit.” Boka then went on to add, “Whether it’s yelling at the other team or just kind of being loud, it’s always kind of helped my game.”
We saw just how effective Boka’s demeanor could be in his first playoff appearance of the season. Prior to Game 5 against the Utica Comets on May 19, Boka had words with Comets forward AJ Greer during warm-ups, setting the tone and ultimately helping propel the Amerks to a 4-2 win to advance to the North Division Finals.
FROM DEFENSE TO OFFENSE, REAL QUICK
That infectious, competitive personality is exactly what kept Boka in the lineup and something that Amerks head coach Seth Appert admired. No matter what Appert asked of Boka throughout the season, he knew the young defenseman would be up for the challenge.
Even if that meant switching from defense to offense a time or two, a task that Boka had never been asked of since reaching the pro ranks.
“I think it was just a way for me to get in the lineup,” stated Boka when asked how playing forward helped his offensive skillset in the long run. “It gave me confidence to step in and just play in those games, play at that faster pace. Whether playing forward or playing D, just being in the lineup and getting minutes and understanding the pace and being on the bench with guys. That for me, more than anything, helped me grow my confidence.”