Ochitwa commits to Concordia; Hawks begin three game southern swing

“Everything for school and what I wanted to pursue, it just seemed like the best fit and somewhere I could really see myself for four years and have the best experience I can,” he said.

The Hawks acquired Ochitwa’s rights from the Weyburn Red Wings ahead of this season. Nipawin general manager and head coach Tad Kozun said Ochitwa has done all that’s asked of him on and off the ice with the club helping him land the opportunity with the Falcons.

As an organization, we are extremely proud of Alex to be able to continue his playing career as well as going to school,” Kozun said. “He has been a great teammate as well as a person in the community of Nipawin this past year. His hard work and dedication on and off the ice have rewarded him with this opportunity.”

Ochitwa has played in all three western Canadian Junior ‘A’ leagues including starting his career in Merritt with the Centennials. He then moved on to the West Kelowna Warriors in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCHL) before moving east to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He eventually found a home with the Hawks and now Mosso said he’s looking forward to working with Ochitwa in his program.

“Alex has a ton of great qualities as a hockey player. He has a great compete mindset and has a high hockey IQ. Most importantly, we feel he does all the little things, and that he is the kind of player that makes all the guys around him better. We are exceptionally excited about Alex joining our team,” Mosso said.

In the classroom at the Mequin, WI.,school, Ochitwa said he will begin studying business with the goal of owning his own business one day.

Crucial Road trip starts Thursday

On the ice, the Hawks will embark on a critical three games in a three-day road trip that includes matchups with teams surrounding the club in the SJHL playoff race.

First on the slate is the ninth-place Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox.

On Friday Nipawin visits Weyburn. The Red Wings are in eighth place, just four points back of the Hawks with a game in hand.

Estevan awaits on Saturday. The Bruins are four points clear of Nipawin for sixth place as the Hawks have two fewer games played than Estevan.

With so much at stake, Ochitwa said it was nice to get his commitment looked after so he can focus and help the team down the stretch.

“It’s really nice to have that finished and be able to just focus on the rest of the regular season here and hopefully put ourselves in a good playoff spot and make a push,” Ochitwa said.

Nipawin has 15 games remaining and will play eight more in the month of February. Ochitwa said each game has a postseason feel including Saturday’s 4-3 loss in Flin Flon and the players are confident heading down south.

”It’s a work trip, we’re going there to get three wins and put us in a better spot,” he concluded.

All three games will be broadcasted on 750 Beach Radio beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes ahead of the face-off. Thursday’s game begins at 8 p.m. from the Duncan McNeil Arena.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

Ochitwa commits to Concordia; Hawks begin three game southern swing

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