grew up in a small rural community in northern new BrunswickBrothers Josh and Bradley Nado quickly developed an unbridled passion for the game of hockey.
Josh, 19, and Bradley, 17, join penticton water of BC Hockey League (BCHL) last season, and, despite huge upheavals in his young life, quickly carved a niche for himself here.
The pair, who played a key role in Viss winning the Fred Page Cup in 2021-22, have quickly set an explosive pace in the first half of this season.
‘That’s Canada, baby!’
UK ‘royal insiders’ refute claims made by Prince Harry in new book
After 31 games, Nadius was ranked one and two in the league’s scoring statistics, behind Bradley’s 63 points (27 goals and 36 assists) and Josh’s 62 points (21–41).
As a result of their dynamic offense, the duo also dominated the BCHL’s Weekly Three-Star selections in their sophomore seasons.
Josh has topped the rankings on three occasions, most recently after registering seven points in two games last week, including his first hat-trick of the season.
He has also been selected as the third star twice.
Bradley has one first-star and three second-star performances, including an eight-point performance last week that included a season-high six points in a game.
The two wingers are the only Weiss to be named to the BCHL International Conference team and will play in the league’s rescheduled 60th anniversary All-Star game later this month in Penticton.
Although they have played together for fun most of their lives—both having learned to skate on an outdoor rink shortly after taking their first steps—this is their first time on the same team in competitive hockey.
“Playing together, it’s just fun because we think a lot alike on the ice,” younger brother Bradley said after practice this week before leaving for Prince George. “He’s (Josh) a good player, I’ll give it to him, he makes it easy for me on the ice.”
Josh added, “It’s good to play together and we think like each other and we can easily find each other on the ice.”
Both players have committed to the University of Maine Black Bears in the future and are expected to go in the early rounds of the National Hockey League draft.
While they were both selected in the top 10 of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League while playing in Atlantic Canada, the brothers and their parents decided that Weiss would be the best fit.
When he reached Penticton he was not disappointed.
“We didn’t really know what to expect, but when we got here and saw the rink (South Okanagan Events Centre) and the way the organization treated us it was really special,” said Bradley, right. Plays on the left wing opposite his brother side and center Dover Tinling.
Weiss head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson couldn’t be happier to have the pair on the roster each game night.
IIHF president Luc Tardif optimistic about Hockey Canada’s future with new board
Global crime gangs ‘targeting’ Canada as auto thefts rise, officials say
“We’ve had some special players over the years and they rightfully belong on the elite list,” he added. “They are program changers and were a massive addition to us last year helping us win the championship and they are clearly taking the league by storm this year.
“They come to the rink every day with a good attitude and an infectious work ethic and when you have that type of talent with that attitude it’s going to do wonders.”
He credits that attitude to the players’ parents, John Nado and Manon Oakes.
“Their father and mother have done a really good job of instilling the right morals in these kids,” Harbinson said.
Both brothers agree on one thing.
Josh said, “They (the parents) have done a lot for us, maybe too much.” “All the travel, all the money, that’s all they did for us. Making it in the NHL is paying him back.
Parents’ efforts are about more than just letting their kids play sports, but doing whatever they can to help them excel at it.
This included his father converting a barn on the family farm in Saint-François-de-Madavasca into a covered outdoor rink with its own Zamboni.
John wore number 20 for several years while playing for the Haut-Madawaska Pantheres in the New Brunswick Regional Hockey League Senior Men’s League before retiring last year.
Growing up the boys worshiped their father and both wore their numbers in their respective leagues, which led to a bit of a conflict when they started playing on the same team last season.
Josh said, “I’m the oldest so (Bradley) gave it to me.”
As to why he chose the number 82, his brother shrugged and said, “It was one of the only ones left.”
One of the toughest things for both the players is to do it from home.
“It’s the hardest thing,” Josh said.
He said having each other here helps, though Bradley scowled at his brother, saying, “Do we get along? Well, it depends. At the rink, we get along. But at home But, that’s a different story.
But having my brother in the (dressing) room and billet feels like home.
Neither player is large in stature, especially Josh at 5-foot-8 and 158 pounds, a stigma that followed him for most of his playing years.
Josh said, “My whole career everyone’s been saying I’m not big enough, I won’t make it to the next level, but I think I’ve proved a lot of people wrong.” “It just motivates me to try harder.”
Harbinson has no worries in that regard either.
“They’re determined young men. ‘You want to run at me? I’m going to run back at you or I’m going to run through you,'” he said. “I think teams have already tried (physical threats) to no avail.”
If he continues his two-point-a-game pace, he is projected to put up numbers in the three-digit range.
The Weiss visit Prince George for back-to-back games against the Spruce Kings this weekend, then hit the trail on January 13 and return to the SOEC the following night for a game against the Cochin Valley Capitals.