Lukey lands on left coast
Dawson Lukey is taking his game on the road again.
The 18-year-old St. Catharines native, who is in his second season with Gilmour Academy in Ohio, has committed to the Cowichan Capitals of the British Columbia Hockey League for the 2022/23 season.
“I’m super-excited,” Lukey said. “I had a chat with the coach and I had an offer from them originally and I just decided let’s do it, let’s make it happen.
“Obviously I’m over the moon, super-amped, super-jacked about it. I can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome.”
Lukey feels the BCHL is the next logical step in his progression up the hockey ladder.
“The BCHL is an unreal league,” he said. “ The amount of Division I players that come out of that league is incredible. I have this to use as a stepping stone now and then I can use that as springboard into a Division I school and further develop at school and academics and then hopefully use school to springboard to the next level which is NHL and pro hockey.”
Lukey feels he will fit in with the Capitals.
“I think with my skill set — very fast — and with my tenacity and hard work and the coaches there are going to develop me away from the puck and in the D zone and O zone, I think I’ll have no problem fitting in.
“You’re playing against and with really good hockey players every night so I only think I’m going to keep climbing the ladder and excelling.”
This season in 38 games played in the United States High School Prep League, Lukey has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. Last season, he was far the leading scorer of Gilmour’s U16 team recording 32 goals and 61 points in 54 games. His 32 goals were most on the team and he had 18 more points than the team’s second leading scorer.
Lukey said the decision to attend Gilmour, which is located is a suburb of Cleveland, was life-changing.
“We can’t believe how happy we were to have made that decision,” he said. “Coming back this year, it’s not new to me. The decision we made was probably the best decision we’ve ever made.
“I think the two years away from home is already preparing me for all the travel.”
Lukey was selected in the 15th and final round of the 2021 Ontario Hockey League draft by the Niagara IceDogs. He attended camp last fall for 48 hours, the maximum permitted in order to keep his NCAA eligibility.
“I think my mindset shifted the last couple of years,” Lukey said. “Looking at the different aspects of each option, I just feel the amount of development at the NCAA route and the time you get to spend playing is more valuable than the OHL. You only get a certain amount of years before you age-out in the OHL but you can play NCAA until you’re 25 if you want.
“If I can play hockey and get school paid for and continue on an academic path as well, I just think it’s the total package.”
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