Riley Nash is Soaking in the AHL

Charlotte Checkers forward Riley Nash has spent over a decade playing professional hockey. Despite having 872 games under his belt, the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic was his first appearance in an All-Star game in either the AHL or NHL. While in Laval, I caught up with Nash to discuss what it’s been like being back in Charlotte, what he hopes to take from the All-Star Classic, and the Columbus Blue Jackets sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019.

Full Press Coverage : What is it like to be reunited with Zac Dalpe and what seems like the whole 2010-11 team in Charlotte again? 

Riley Nash: It’s been great. Geordie (Kinnear), our head coach now, was our assistant coach back then too and our two assistant coaches are Bobby Sanguinetti and Jared Staal. I played with those guys back in the first time around. A lot of familiar faces around there and it’s been great. I’ve just really enjoyed being back with those guys and the new guys, the new blood in there. So, it’s been very enjoyable. 

FPC: What does it mean to you personally to be back in Charlotte with such a strong group of players and coaches ?

RN : It’s been kind of a growing thing, personally, being back in the American League and as a team guys that have played with us here are awesome. It seems like every week we take another step forward, which is great. So, it’s been a really fun experience in that regard.

It’s nice to be able to help younger guys out and hopefully have a positive impression on their careers and push them in the right direction as well. It’s been definitely a different year. Just because the last four, five years of my career have been kind of a grind trying to keep my own head above water. But now, it’s just about other people as well as myself.

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FPC: What are you hoping to take from this experience?

RN : I think just the camaraderie. A lot of these guys are obviously really talented players whether they are on the front end of their careers or the back end. It’s just a lot of skill and talent in this room, so picking up little things here and there and just enjoying it. I have two kids now. My oldest one is two, so he’ll be buzzing around this weekend and just enjoying it with them trying to soak it all in. Played pro for 12,13 years now and this is my first all-star game. So, I’m soaking it in and trying to enjoy as much of it as possible

FPC: Now, I’m from Ohio, so I have to ask. What was it like sweeping Tampa Bay and being part of that historical 2018-19 Columbus Blue Jackets team?

RN : Awesome. That’s definitely one of the highlights of my career. That whole season was building towards that. Obviously, it was historical in Columbus because it was their first playoff series win and to do it against arguably one of the best teams — regular season teams — was very, very special . You know, we were kind of written off in that series by a lot of people and Torts did an awesome job bringing us all together. It was us in that room versus everybody.  I had family and friends down for that series and it was one of the cooler moments of my career for sure.