A Lukey break
Dawson Lukey managed to turn a negative into a positive.
The 16-year-old St. Catharines native was passed over in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League draft, but instead of feeling sorry for himself, went back to work and found another path to keep his dream alive.
The son of Welland Junior Canadians coach Chris Lukey recently committed to Gilmour Academy Hockey, a prep school located in the suburbs of Cleveland.
“Obviously the draft didn’t work out for me this year,” Lukey said. “I was slotted between the fifth and seventh round and even leading up to the day of the draft I was talking to teams. I really don’t know what happened but it just didn’t work out.
“It’s every kid’s dream (to get drafted) but it didn’t work out and I plan on moving forward.”
Lukey said he received some important advice in the hours following the draft.
“Right after the draft, a couple of people who were really close to me — a couple of highly touted people —contacted me and told me to take a day to regain my confidence and pout and then get right back at it in the gym training,” he said. “I’ve been hitting the gym hard all summer.”
Lukey said soon after the draft he was approached by a couple of prep teams in the States and Canada. Working with his adviser, Lukey settled on Gilmore.
“They offered a pretty big scholarship for me and they really believe in me as a player and a person,” Lukey said. “That’s all I’ve been looking or my whole career, someone who believes in me.
“They made it pretty easy to choose them.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lukey was unable to visit the school, but came away impressed following a video presentation.
“It was a 45-minute video of the school and facilities and it was incredible,” he said.
Lukey, a speedy centre who collected 12 goals and 28 points in 26 games for the Souther Tier Admirals last season, is confident he can make the jump.
“When I was younger, I played with older guys and I always excelled when I played with older guys,” he said. “It kind of brought out the best in me. I think I will be prepared when it comes to playing and taking that next step.”
Lukey feels his skill set will translate to the Midwest Prep League.
“I have a lot of speed and can use that speed to my advantage. I can put up some good numbers. I have always been a been a point-per-game guy and I think I can contribute offensively and defensively,” he said. “I want to be their guy and want to be responsible and reliable.”
Lukey will leave for Ohio Aug. 16. He will be dropped off at the border by his parents where a bus with a couple of other Ontario players going to Gilmour will pick him up.
“For sure, a lot of emotions are going through my head,” he said. “I’m definitely really excited. It will be a new set of eyes for me and I’m also really anxious and nervous because you are leaving everything behind — all my friends, everything.
“It’s going to be a little crazy at first but I’ll settle in.”
Lukey plans on at least one season at Gilmour and then hopes to make the jump to the Unites States Hockey League the following year.
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