Jordan Nolan

Jordan Nolan, Forward, Los Angeles Kings, #71

Jordan Nolan was born on June 23^rd, 1989 in St.Catharines, Ontario. Nolan hails from Garden River, Ojibwe First Nation. His father, Ted Nolan, and his brother, Brandon Nolan, have both played in the NHL. Ted Nolan is currently coach of the Buffalo Sabres.  Jordan Nolan is also a First Nation Maliseet on his mother ‘s side, from Fredericton, NB.  Nolan started his career in the OHL with the Erie Otters in 2005.  He then went on to play with the Windsor Spitfires for 2 seasons before signing with the Greyhounds, back in the Soo.  In 2008-2009, Nolan led the offensively challenged Greyhounds with 43 points. He also led in penalty minutes with a total of 158.  Nolan acted as an enforcer on the team and was often involved in altercations including one with R.J. Mahalak that ultimately led to a 20 game suspension by the OHL.   Nevertheless, Nolan was selected by the Los Angeles Kings 186^th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  He spent two seasons with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. In his 2010-2011 season he served as a protector for the top players while still playing a successful energy game.  The Monarchs finished second in the Atlantic Division that year. On February 11, 2012, Nolan was called up to join the LA Kings.  He scored his first NHL goal the next day against the Dallas Stars.  Nolan scored his first NHL play off goal in May of that same year against the St-Louis Blues helping his team win the Western Conference Semifinals.  He ultimately went on to win the 2012 Stanley Cup with the LA Kings.  In a short time Nolan has established himself as a fixture in a lower line defensive forward role, providing effective forecheck and energy.  He is strong and dangerously muscular, and is known to efficiently work the puck deep in the zone.