Mike Posma: Emerging Forward for the Wheeling Nailers
For rookie forward Mike Posma, the jump to the professional game hasn’t been about flash. It’s been about details — the small habits that add up over a full 200-foot sheet of ice.
That foundation was built long before he ever touched the professional ice. Posma credits his developmental years for preparing him physically and mentally for the grind of pro hockey. “I think it was really valuable time. I think it just helped me get bigger and stronger and got ready for what it was going to be like in college and ultimately make the jump to pro.”
At Boston College, Posma was surrounded by elite talent, practicing daily with future pros and learning by example. Skating alongside players like Nikita Nesterenko and Aram Minnetian sharpened his understanding of what it takes to succeed at the next level. “Nikita and Aram are really special players. Both of them are so smart, really good skaters. I was definitely able to learn a lot from them, practicing with and against them every day and seeing what they could do in the games is really special.”
That exposure helped ease the transition when Posma got his first taste of professional hockey late last season. Though brief, the experience left a lasting impression. “I think it was definitely a good experience to get some games in after the college season last year, just to get a taste of what the pro hockey game and the schedule were going to look like. Ultimately, when I signed here in Wheeling, I think playing those four games, even though it wasn’t a lot, it was definitely valuable.”
Now settling into his rookie season, Posma has embraced a role built on responsibility and trust. With offensive depth throughout the lineup, he’s focused on the details that keep him on the ice in all situations. “I was able to really tune in on all the small details of playing a 200-foot game. Obviously, there’s a lot of good offensive talent on the team, so really focusing on those smaller details like faceoffs, the defensive zone, blocking shots, penalty kill — all that stuff — and trying to incorporate that into a full 200-foot game.”
Like many young forwards adjusting to the pro level, Posma has identified areas of his game that continue to evolve. “I would say the hardest part is probably skating backwards, and I’ll say the easiest part is breaking the puck out.”
Chemistry, he says, comes from repetition — something he values during daily practices. “It’s definitely really important. I think in practice, it’s important to make those tape-to-tape passes and build the chemistry so when you get out there in the game, you know where each other are going to be. You don’t really have to think about where you’re going to get the puck.”
That commitment to a complete game mirrors the players Posma admired growing up. While at school in Boston, one Bruins legend stood out. “I really liked watching Patrice Bergeron when I was at school. I wouldn’t necessarily say I modeled my game after him, but watching those Bruins games, he was really important to watch in my eyes — playing a 200-foot game, being a center, winning those faceoffs. I thought all of those were really valuable.”
Long before systems, faceoffs, or pro schedules, Posma’s love for hockey started — on outdoor ice, with family. “Growing up, my parents would take me to this place in Canada called the Rideau Canal. I was maybe three or four years old, but I think that’s where I really learned to fall in love with skating and being outdoors with the family. We’d probably go once a winter, and those moments were really special and really helped me fall in love with the game.”
As his rookie season continues, Posma’s approach remains steady: focus on the details, earn trust, and keep building — shift by shift. Posma has dressed in 26 games and has notched six goals and 10 assists so far this season with the Nailers.
- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/ Olde City Sports Network
