Nate Guenin was born on December 10, 1982, in the small town of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Growing up in the States, Guenin always found his young life playing hockey all the way through high school in the suburb of Pittsburgh. He then played for two years from 2000-2002 in the USHL in Green Bay with the Gamblers. In two years, he played 110 games with only six goals and 22 assists, earning USHL All-Rookie team honors in 2001.
After his 2002 season, Guenin would be drafted 127th overall by the New York Rangers in the fourth round.