Nathan Fitch finds good fit with Warriors

Nathan Fitch has been on a 12-year search for ice time.  His pursuit has taken him indoors and out, and has cycled the Onekama senior through all of hockey’s positions, ultimately landing him in net, but never on a varsity squad due to unavailability.

“I started off in an outdoor rink in Manistee,” Fitch said. “Then (West Shore Community Ice Arena) was built and I came out here and played house for a couple years, and then they started the traveling team and I played that too.”

However, just in time for his last eligible year, OHS joined the Northwest Warriors co-op high school hockey team for the 2010-11 season. Without missing  beat, Fitch was on board, and in goal right away for his team. "He's come in and taken the number one job right away and has been great for us," Warriors coach Charlie O'Hearn said. "He's quick, he's got good reflexes, and most of all he's a good kid." Those attributes helped Fitch develop into his position as a goaltender, which isn't a far cry from the cleats he fills for the Portagers in the spring.

I’m fairly comfortable back there,” he said of manning the net. “I think I like it because it’s a similar position to a catcher in baseball. And I play that, too.”

As one of just three seniors on Northwest’s 12-man roster, Fitch isn’t taking on the role of a first-year player in his rookie campaign. In fact, O’Hearn sees his starting goalie as a leader.

“There’s a lot of things that he’s brought to the team by being older and more mature,” O’Hearn said. “As a senior, he’s been quick to help teammates. He’s been teaching our back-up goalie (Buckley freshman Luke Somsel), too.”