Okotoks, AB ? The Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are proud to announce that 2001 born centerman Jack Works (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) has committed to the University of Denver Pioneers.
Located in Denver, Colorado, the Pioneers play in the NCAA?s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) under second year Head Coach David Carle. The Pioneers have won 25 Conference Championships, participated in 30 NCAA Tournaments, 17 berths in the Frozen Four, and are eight time NCAA Champions, including their most recent win in 2017.
Works, 18, in his sophomore season with the Oilers currently leads the team in scoring with 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 35 games. In his rookie season with the Oilers in the 2018-19 AJHL Regular Season he had 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 56 games. He followed this up with 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 13 Inter Pipeline Cup Playoff games.
Oilers Head Coach / General Manager / Director of Hockey Development Tyler Deis says the progression in Works? game from his rookie year to the present day shows exponential growth, leading to his commitment with the Pioneers.
?Jack has an incredible work ethic and drive to want to get better every day, and it is showing both on and off the ice,? he says. ?From his role of learning the ropes at the beginning of last season, to coming on strong late in the year, to now being a strong force and a skater that we can rely on. Having a strong 17 year old year, Jack had the confidence heading into this season allowing him to become one of the top tier players in the AJHL.?
Works was also recently invited to Team Canada West?s selection camp for this year?s edition of the World Junior ?A? Challenge.
The Yellowknife native is looking forward to the work ahead with the Oilers and his future home with the Pioneers.
?As soon as I saw what the Pioneers program had to offer, I knew Denver was the right place to continue playing hockey, while getting an education, when my time in junior is complete,? he says.
?I can?t wait for the day when I can begin my NCAA career. But I wouldn?t be where I am without the support of my family, coaches, teammates, and the Oilers Organization helping me to reach this next step.?
The Oilers would like to congratulate Jack and his family on his achievement and for their dedication to our program and the local community, both on and off the ice.
Jack is the fifth Oiler on the 2019-20 roster committed to an NCAA Division I Institution along with:
Carson Dyck (Penn State University)
Dylan James (University of North Dakota)
Brett Moravec (University of Wisconsin)
Eric Parker (Bowling Green University)
