Niedermayer adjusts to city

Jackson Niedermayer's upbringing was a little different than most kids in Southern California. And now a forward on the Penticton Vees, his path there was less common as well.

Niedermayer's father, Scott — an NHL Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion — played nearly 1,500 combined NHL games. His uncle, Rob, played more than 1,250 games himself in the league. Dad and uncle were teammates for four seasons with the Anaheim Ducks as well.

Growing up in NHL rinks, Niedermayer said, was a blessing.

"It was pretty cool after games when you were younger going into the room and seeing all the guys, and just them interacting with you. Playing mini sticks after a game or something like that," he said.

Niedermayer couldn't count the number of NHL games he's watched growing up, but when asked pointed to one game that stood out as a kid: watching the Ducks hoist the Stanley Cup on home ice in 2007.

"I remember that game vaguely," he said, noting he was six years old at the time. "The atmosphere in that building in Anaheim was pretty cool. And being young and having your dad be the captain of that team was pretty cool."

While life has revolved around hockey for Niedermayer, the same can't be said for most where he grew up, in Newport Beach. But he said the hockey scene in SoCal is growing.

"You think of beaches, the sun and all that stuff. The first thing that comes to mind isn't really hockey. But over the years, it definitely grew," he said. "It's not just football or basketball or soccer, hockey's kind of starting to jump in the mix. It's cool to see it start to develop."

Niedermayer spent the past two seasons playing on one of the top under-16 teams in the country, the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League which travels across the United States to play similar competition. 

Now after being picked up by the Vees, Niedermayer is living with his parents and two younger brothers who have moved to Penticton as well. Adjusting off the ice and on the ice — now five games into his BCHL career — has been smooth, he said.

"The first couple games you're gunna have growing pains, but I feel good. I feel like I'm skating well, playing well. It'll come... Still got a lot of growing to do and I'm looking forward to it."

Niedermayer said he's looking forward to the Vees home opener, Saturday night against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, and to finally experience the game atmosphere at the South Okanagan Events Centre.