Joe Nolan was drafted by the Minnesota Magicians in the 8th Round (#145 Overall) of the 2015 North American Hockey League (NAHL) Draft. A defenseman from Illinois, Nolan has played for Team Illinois of the High Performance Hockey League (HPHL) during his midget career. Last season with Team Illinois, he played in 23 games and contributed 7 points while patrolling the blue line.
Magicians Head Coach Tom Upton said of Nolan, "We are very excited to draft Joe. He is a big strong defenseman who understands the defensive side of the game and moves the puck up the ice efficiently. He competes and plays extremely hard in his own end. The Team Illinois AAA program does a great job with young players and preparing them for Junior Hockey, not just on the ice but off the ice as well, and I expect Joe will be prepared to have an impact on our team from day one."
Nolan was drafted in the 2014 NAHL Draft as well by the Lone Star Brahams, however, he spent the ensuing season with Team Illinois. He will compete for a spot on the Magicians 2015-2016 opening day roster at the team's upcoming Main Camp in late July at Richfield Ice Arena.