By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
Jack Hewitt will never forget lifting the Dineen Cup last April for the first time in the history of the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders organization. In his personal playlist of hockey memories, this is one he’s excited to be able to hit “repeat” on.
“We have a great team this year and I am fortunate to have the chance to compete for another Dineen Cup,” said the ‘03 defenseman from Toronto. “We have a very tight-knit group in our locker room and everyone is willing to do what it takes for each other in order to win. With that said, we aren’t looking too far ahead. We are taking it one game at a time and just focusing on playing our game.”
His individual game has been a big reason for the team success, and it is a game that Brown University is ready to add to their own Bears team beginning this fall in Providence, R.I. Hewitt made his commitment to Brown official earlier this week, following the team’s appearance at the South Shore Kings Presidents Day Showcase.
“Brown expressed their interest in me in January, but they have been my top choice of school for a long time before that,” said Hewitt. “They watched me at the NCDC All-Star game this year and liked how I played. The coaches liked that I am a reliable, steady, two-way defenseman who can play a lot of minutes.
“Brown is a great NCAA Division I hockey program in the ECAC,” added Hewitt. “They have a great coaching staff and a lot of young talent, so I trust I will continue to develop there and help the team become even stronger. On the academic side, Brown is a prestigious Ivy League school offering second to none education as well as many connections for life after hockey.”
That life after hockey is delightfully open to Hewitt’s personal search for what interests him most during his time in Providence.
“Brown also has an open curriculum that will allow me to explore a wide variety of subjects which I am very excited about,” he added. “I am not certain what I plan on studying, but I am interested in applied math, economics, engineering and neuroscience. Fortunately, the open curriculum should allow me to explore a wide variety of subjects.”
He has been able to bring to P.A.L. a game that is open to his coaches’ and teammates’ needs, whether it’s playing a shutdown style or jumping into the offense. A little hindered by injuries earlier this year, he still has been able to rack up three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 23 games. For his career, he has 62 points in 73 games, plus the nine points he posted in seven playoff games last year en route to the Dineen Cup championship.
This year, he averages 23:52 of ice time, which is second on the team. His 246 takeaways average out to a team-leading 11 per game.
“Coming to play for the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders was one of the best decisions I have made in my hockey career. In retrospect, I wish that I had come to the NCDC from Canada earlier. The Islanders organization has been extremely supportive of me, including my coaches, teammates, trainers, billets, rink staff and everyone else who has helped me the past two years,” added Hewitt. “Although I may have been able to move to a different league, I re-signed with P.A.L. because I knew that I would have the opportunity here to show that I am a Division I player, and that my coaches were doing everything possible to help me achieve that goal.”
Hewitt is excited to show what not only a P.A.L. Jr. Islander can do at the next level but also how an NCDC alumni can take it to the next level in the NCAA Division I realm.
“I think that the NCDC is a great league to be recruited from because of its proximity to many NCAA schools, which is especially evident at the showcases where there are many scouts watching,” Hewitt said. “Additionally, my coaches at P.A.L. played Division I and III hockey, so they understand the process very well and have been very helpful with my development and recruitment. They understand that team success brings individual success and want to help move players to the next level.”
Part of that is the dedication to the game and personal fitness during the “off-season” months. Hewitt knows those are very important to becoming the player Brown is looking to bring in for the 2024-25 season.
“I take pride in playing the right way at both ends of the ice, so I hope to continue to develop a well rounded game. Division I hockey is very strong and fast-paced so I am always working to improve my physical strength and speed,” said Hewitt. “Finally, I really value the importance of being a smart player so I spend a lot of time watching hockey to try to improve my understanding of the game.”
The NCDC congratulates Jack Hewitt, his family, the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders and Brown University for his commitment.
