Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Nickerson ya taka leda a Texas Tornado na Arewacin Amurka Hockey League a lokacin 2001 <unk> 02 da 2002 <unk> 03 kakar. A lokacin kakar wasa ta karshe tare da kungiyar ne Nickerson ya jawo hankalin masu binciken NHL, kuma a cikin NHL na 2003
Dallas Stars sun zaba Nickerson a zagaye na uku tare da 99th overall. Nickerson ya shafe kakar wasa ta gaba a Jami'ar Clarkson, inda ya tara mintuna 179 a cikin wasanni 38. Nickerson ya sanya hannu kan kwangilar shiga shekaru uku kafin ya taka leda a Victoriaville. Saboda kulle-kulle na NHL, an tura shi zuwa Victoriaville Tigres na Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, kuma a ƙarshe ya zama pro a cikin Finnish SM-liiga, yana wasa tare da Ässät.