Utah-Born NHL Hopeful Comes Back From Hip Surgery With Big Dreams

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Draper’s Nick Halloran has had one goal for as long as he can remember, to play in the NHL.

Halloran has done all the right things to get there.

He had a great junior career in Canada, committed to a major NCAA program, and by the end of his sophomore year he was one of the leading scorers in the country and was nominated for the NCAA’s highest hockey honor, the Hobey Baker Award.

🗣️ We're Halloran that there are only 1⃣3⃣ days left until #NCHCHockey is back!@CC_Hockey1 assistant captain Nick Halloran saw his season cut short by injury last year after earning All-America honors as a sophomore#CCTigers🐯 | #IsItOctoberYet pic.twitter.com/DvZPRoHpoG

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) September 22, 2019

During the first few games of his junior year at Colorado College, one of the most prestigious programs in the country, he knew he was injured. Twenty games into the season, he had to have surgery to repair a damaged hip.

Now as his senior season is about to begin, Halloran’s goals have not changed.

“My hip needed repair and it’s good to go.” Halloran said. “My goals have not changed on playing in the NHL. A lot factors into that happening, but the opportunity is still there, only making me hungrier.”

Nick looks back on his time in Colorado and hopes he has helped the program along the way. He helped underclassmen figure out how to become student-athletes.

“I’ll see underclassmen get frustrated or focus on the wrong things and try to help them focus on what they can control,” said Halloran.

Our countdown to the beginning of the 2019-20 season continues with senior forward Nick Halloran, who collected 13 points (4g,9a) in 20 games last season. He was a second-team All-America selection following his sophomore campaign. pic.twitter.com/VwOGmtnCLU

— CC Hockey (@CC_Hockey1) September 22, 2019

Halloran’s senior season begins October 5^th against Trinity and then they host Minnesota the following weekend.

If  Halloran can get back to the form he had before his injury, we could see him sign an NHL entry contract in March.

Listen to Utah Puck Report’s full interview with Nick Halloran below.

Utah Puck Report is hosted by hockey insider and former pro goalie, Jay Stevens. From interviews with NHL hall of famers to updates on Utahns in the NFL – you’ll find it all on this podcast. Subscribe wherever you find podcasts for on kslsports.com.