The Pictou County Weeks Crushers have announced that forward Nick Mahar has committed to the Nipissing University Lakers for 2024-25.
The 21-year-old from Sydney, Nova Scotia was selected in the 8th Round, 115th overall, in the 2019 MHL Entry Draft by the South Shore Lumberjacks. Mahar spent the 2019-20 season with the Sydney RUSH and was traded to the Crushers in the leadup to the 2020 MHL Entry Draft. After another season in the Nova Scotia U18 Hockey League with Sydney, Mahar joined Pictou County for the 2021-22 season.
Mahar finished third in rookie scoring in 2021-22 with 30 points in 33 games. His fourteen goals were fourth-most among MHL rookies but he led all rookies with four game-winning goals. He also tied Campbellton’s Alexandre David with eight powerplay points among rookies. He was named Rookie of the Month in December and was selected to the Eastlink South Team of the Week twice.
He took a big step forward in 2022-23, finishing eighth in MHL scoring with 73 points in 52 games. Mahar was tied with Summerside’s Trentyn Crane for seventh-most goals at 33 to go with his 40 assists. He finished seventeen points clear of Lucas Parsons in team scoring with the most goals and assists for Pictou County. Mahar was selected to the Eastlink South All-Star Team and was on the division’s Team of the Week five times. In the Metalfab MHL Cup Playoffs, he had three goals and two assists in four games.
Mahar again led the Crushers in scoring in 2023-24 with 69 points in 51 games. He had the most assists on the team with 45, including an incredible sixteen on the powerplay, to go with his 24 goals. Mahar finished twelfth in overall MHL scoring, tied with Valley’s Lucas Byrne. He collected 23 points in a thirteen-game stretch from October 29th to December 15th, tied for the third-longest streak this season. Mahar was an Honourable Mention for Top Forward in September and was named to the Eastlink South Team of the Week three times. In the Metalfab MHL Cup Playoffs, he had a team-leading four goals as well as two assists in six games.
The MHL congratulates Mahar on his post-secondary commitment.