From BP Sports Niagara
By Bill Potrecz
Liam Wicks came of age with the Pelham Panthers in the final weeks of his junior career.
The 21-year-old native of Cheektowaga, N.Y., turned up his game a notch at the end of last season when he was acquired by the Pelham Panthers from the Port Colborne Sailors as part of a multi-player swap.
The hard-working forward produced five goals and 12 points in 16 games for the Panthers and was outstanding in the playoffs adding four more goals in just five games.
Wicks parlayed that strong finish into a commitment to Canisius College, where he will continue to play hockey while majoring in sports management.
Wicks gave credit to Pelham coach Zac Rinaldo for his turnaround.
“Playing for Zac was probably one of the highlights of my junior career,” Wicks said. “He was such a great coach and the whole coaching staff was just amazing and so helpful with everything. The guys in the locker room were great, it was just an amazing time to be playing and I really enjoyed my playing time there.
“I was able to come into my own.”
Wicks said Rinaldo, a former National Hockey League forward, told him to simplify his game.
“We had a lot of discussions at the beginning and he told me after a few games I just needed to worry about continuing to enjoy playing and I was playing a really good game,” Wicks said. “He instilled confidence in me to not worry about things on a shift to shift basis and just worry about being effective and that I am making the right plays and that I am playing well.”
Rinaldo gave credit to Wicks for his willingness to adapt.
“He’s very coachable and pays attention to the small details and realistically, when you get to 20, you need to buy into all those small details because they make such a big difference,” Rinaldo said. “If you chip away at five, six small details and opposed to one big detail, you’re going to elevate your game.
“He seized the opportunity he was given. He took it and ran with it.”
Wicks was hoping to continue his playing career post-junior and was in discussions for a time with State University of New York at Cortland before finding a home at Canisius.
“I reached out to Canisius and started talking to them and they were great to talk to,” Wicks said. “I did some deliberating with my parents and made the choice.”
Wicks is thrilled to be a Golden Griffin.
“It’s really exiting to continue to play and be a part of a great organization. They’ve been to two championships in a row and I’m going to be playing with some friends,” Wicks said.
One of those friends is former Thorold Blackhawk and St. Catharines Falcon Jagger North, who had a solid freshman season with 14 goals and 35 points in 29 games for Canisius last year.
Wicks is confident in his abilities to make the jump to Canisius, which plays in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
“I think it will be a seamless transition, hopefully. They told me to come in and be prepared. I think with what I bring to the table, it may take a game or two or it won’t, we’ll see how it goes. I’ve done a lot of off-season work as well so I think I’ll be prepared and ready to go,” Wicks said.
(Originally published at https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/wicks-commits-to-canisius-college/)
