NATE CLURMAN NOT SKIPPING STEPS ON PATH TO NHL WITH AVS
Nate Clurman is training in Chicago this summer with former college hockey teammates on his push to make the Colorado Avalanche roster.
His heart is back home in Boulder.
“It’s a good squad to be with,” Clurman told The Denver Gazette in a phone interview, “but I do miss Colorado a little bit in the summers.”
Clurman, 25, is on the cusp of a dream that began in his youth hockey days playing Bantam for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders. The Avs signed him to a one-year extension last week. Clurman said: “My goal was to get that second contract. It’s always a good thing when a team wants to qualify your restricted deal and get you back to have another chance to crack the active roster.”
“But he was never trying to skip steps. If it was going to happen for him, it’s because he stayed committed to his process. Ultimately, that’s what happened with getting drafted and signing an NHL deal,” Lawson said. “For me, there are two steps left for him. No. 1 would be playing in an NHL game. The final step would be becoming an NHL regular.”
Getting this far was not a guarantee for Clurman.
Colorado selected Clurman, a teenager in the USHL, in the sixth-round of the 2016 draft. He played three seasons at Notre Dame, rising to captain in his final year. Colorado signed him to an entry-level contract in April 2021. But it wasn’t until last season that Clurman earned a regular roster spot with the AHL's Colorado Eagles.
The physical defenseman (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) appeared in 57 games with three goals and 12 assists.His former youth coach, Chris Lawson, is hardly surprised.“It was just the opportunity that was presented,” Clurman said. “A couple of guys left. I was able to step into a bigger role, keep it and earn more minutes throughout the season. … I’m a talented defenseman in my 'D' zone and use my skating, first and foremost. I can push the play up with more of a two-way game as well. I’m just trying to round out my game in the best way possible.”
Clurman brings quiet confidence to his NHL pursuit. He said: “Patience is key. Everyone wants to rush to be at their end goal, right? But at an early age I saw that I wasn’t the top prospect that wasn’t going to get all the opportunity early. I think that helped push my work ethic to the point where it is now and has been for a long time.”
Clurman is thankful to play AHL games in Loveland with friends and family regularly in attendance inside the Budweiser Events Center.
His next venue of choice: Ball Arena. The whole state will be cheering for Clurman.
“Colorado definitely feels like home for me, especially because I left so young and went to boarding school and Notre Dame,” Clurman said. “I just love being there.”
COURTESY: DENVER GAZETTE - KYLE FREDRICKSON