SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The latest Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League NCAA commitment won’t have far to travel to play collegiately next season.
The Soo Thunderbirds have announced that defenceman Owen Headrick has committed to attend Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and play for a Lakers program that competes out of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
The 17-year-old Garden River product had a solid first season in the NOJHL in 2013-14 finishing second on the club in scoring among blueliners notching eight goals and dishing out 23 assists for 31 points.
He followed that up with a strong postseason topping all D-men on the squad and finishing second overall among all Soo skaters in playoff scoring with 13 points helping the T-Birds advance all the way to the NOJHL finals.
For his efforts on both ends of the ice Headrick was named the league’s rookie of the year.
“This is a great opportunity for me to pursue my academic goals and my hockey future,” said Headrick at a media gathering announcing his scholarship.
“I’d really like to thank the Soo Thunderbirds organization, Mr. (Thunderbirds general manager Kevin) Cain and coach (Jordan) Smith for giving me the opportunity to come and play for them last year,” added Headrick.
For their part the Thunderbirds, who were ranked No. 1 overall for most of the second half of last season in the 128-team Canadian Junior Hockey League, know the LSSU Lakers have secured an impressive talent.
“Lake State is getting a quality person and a top-end defenceman,” stated Sault Ste. Marie general manager Kevin Cain when commenting on the commitment.
“Owen skates well, understands the game and has poise well beyond his young age,” added Cain.
“Owen has made a big contribution to the Soo Thunderbirds hockey family and we are all proud of him.”
Cain also knows the significance of a NOJHL club getting another player committed to a NCAA program.
“The scholarship is important to the Thunderbirds because it shows those with D-1 talent can get there with the Thunderbirds and the NOJHL.”
The Soo rearguard joins former Sudbury defenceman Bradley Bell and ex-Nickel Barons forward Brody Brunet as players who were in the NOJHL last season that have earned NCAA scholarships.
Headrick and the rest of the Soo Thunderbirds commence their 2014-15 NOJHL campaign Sunday evening as they host the Blind River Beavers in a 7:30 p.m. start at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
