By Alexis Demopoulos
A two-year veteran of the Ogden Mustangs, forward Tommy Jacques is happy to announce his NCAA Division III commitment to Johnson and Wales University for the 2025-26 season.
Jacques, a Louisville, Ky., native, signed with the Mustangs during the 2023-24 season and played in 48 games tallying seven points. He re-signed with the organization this season and in 44 regular season games played, he had 35 points (9G, 26A). With another three points from assists in four playoff games, he has been a huge key to the team’s success.
“My experience with the Ogden Mustangs has been wonderful,” said Jacques. “I signed with Coach Kenny and Ogden in January of 2023 when I was still playing AAA in Detroit for Honeybaked. He has been a coach who understood my game style and it allowed me to contribute to the team’s success, so we could become the best we could be as a team and go to the NCDC Championship Dineen Cup against the South Shore Kings in the 2023-24 season.”
“The coaches spoke to me when we got back from Boston last year and I really did not think about playing somewhere else for ’24-25,” said Jacques. “Playing in front of a thousand people for every home game is a life experience I will never forget. I am grateful for the Ogden Mustangs coaches, organization and team owner Sean Wilmert.”
Jacques spoke with Johnson and Wales head coach Eric Graham at the NCDC showcase back in October. Jacques said that the coaches liked his “competitiveness and play-making abilities.”
Jacques had a dream to continue his hockey career and after speaking with coach Graham, he knew he found the right place.
“I wanted to keep playing hockey and have a good relationship with any coach I play with like I do with coach Kenny,” said Jacques. “I focus on winning whether I need to be more defensive or offensive for our success and coach Graham recognized that about me. It was a bonus that Johnson and Wales is a great university and is located in a great city.”
Though he has not been able to visit the campus in person yet, Jacques has heard nothing but positive things and he is excited to see it soon.
“I did not get to visit the campus yet,” said Jacques. “I have a friend from Detroit who plays there now to give me information. Also, a Mustang teammate did visit and could not stop talking about how awesome it was.”
Over the past two years playing for the Mustangs, Jacques offense has increased quite a bit and he hopes to keep building on that to help make Johnson and Wales a championship team. After falling short in last year’s Dineen Cup championship, Jacques and the Mustangs have some unfinished business to attend to this year. They’ll play starting Monday in the Mountain Division Championship against the Idaho Falls Spud Kings.
“I intend to help the Ogden Mustangs win the Mountain Division Championship,” said Jacques. “We made it last year and we still have the core of that team here. As long as we stay healthy and focused, we can win the NCDC Dineen Cup this year.”
The NCDC congratulates Tommy Jacques, his family, the Ogden Mustangs and Johnson and
Wales University for his commitment.
