by Tommy Young
Nepean, ON – The Nepean Raiders have completed a trade with the Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL, acquiring 2005-born defenceman Nick Larkin in exchange for a Player Development Fee.
Larkin is a born-and-raised Nepean native, rising the ranks first in the Ottawa Myers Auto system and then in the Raiders U18 program after being selected 19th overall in the 2020 CCHL Bantam Draft. Despite losing a season in 2020-21 to the Covid pandemic, Larkin came out of the gates hot in 2021-22, racking up an amazing 49 points in 31 games from the blueline – ranking 8th out of all skaters in HEO U18, and a full 19 positions ahead of the next best defenceman. He earned HEO U18 Top Defenceman honours that season, which coupled nicely with a 7-point playoffs and an HEO U18 AAA Championship with the Raiders.
Graduating to the Jr. A Raiders the following season along with five of his fellow Raiders teammates (including current Raiders captain Luka Benoit), Larkin expanded upon his 12-game stint the previous season by putting up 29 points in 47 games, leading all CCHL rookie defencemen in points and placing 5th overall in rookie scoring. Over his time with the Raiders, Larkin would see a total of 59 games, scoring 11 times and adding 20 assists for 30 points – over half a point-per-game as a defenceman.
Larkin would split the 2023-24 season between the Spruce Grove Saints and the Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL, playing 52 total games between the two and adding 17 points – plus a further 4 in the Kodiaks’ 9 playoff games. Last season, he spent the entire year in Camrose, returning to form with 26 points in 52 games (again at a 0.5ppg pace), good enough to lead the team in defenceman scoring. Camrose once again made the playoffs, but got bounced in the first round, and Larkin scored a goal and an assist in the 5-game series.
Nick returns home for his overage season, looking to prove himself on and off the ice and search for a Bogart Cup with his hometown team. We are more than excited to welcome Nick back to the Black and Red!
Welcome home, Nick!
