Courtesy of Wayway Wolverines:
Another member of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 2018-19 graduating class has committed to play hockey at the next level.
A two-year veteran with the Wolverines, 20-year-old Forward, Brandon Lawson has committed to play for the NAIT Ooks in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference next season.
In 71 regular season games in a Wolverines uniform, the Jasper, Alberta native scored 15 goals and 25 assists before helping the Wolverines to a playoff spot in his final season where he scored three goals in four playoff games.
“There were sometimes this year where I thought it wasn’t going to happen,” Lawson said of his uncertainty on whether or not he would be able to make the next level. “I thought I might be going to work next year but I was really really hoping that I could play at the next level whether it be down in the states or here in Canada.”
Lawson’s hard work certainly paid off. With a number of factors going into his final decision of where he wanted to continue his hockey career, the chance to play closer to home while competing at a high level ultimately helped Brandon make his decision.
“I wasn’t sure about leaving too far away from home, I think I got the best of both worlds going to NAIT with super competitive hockey and the courses I want to take.”
“It’s going to be great, Edmonton is going to be a very different place to live than rural Manitoba so it will be an adjustment. I have lots of friends and family around the Edmonton area and they’re all super supportive.”
According to Lawson, nothing is set in stone in regards to what classes he is going to take and how next hockey season will shake out on the ice, but the former Wolverine is more than ready for this next challenge in life.
“I’m super excited to make the jump and play another step up against older and better players to see what I can do. I’m going in there expecting to work for my ice time just like I did in my junior career and I’ll go from there.”
“I’m not dead set on one thing, I have a couple of things in mind but I’m going to talk to an academic advisor and see what I can get into,” Lawson concluded.
Lawson will get to line up against a familiar face next year when his NAIT Ooks take on former teammate Karstin McDonald, and the Portage College Voyageurs.
