Press Release
The Texas Tornado, proud members of the 24-team North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announced that forward Brandon Hawkins has
made a commitment to play NCAA Division-I hockey at Bowling Green State
University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bowling Green has told Hawkins, who
is a 1994 birth year, that they aren’t yet sure when they want him on
the squad. Being just 18 years old, Hawkins still has two years of
junior hockey eligibility following the 2012-13 season.
“I liked the idea of Bowling Green more than I did a lot of other
schools,” Hawkins said. “It’s a small-town school and I’m really
comfortable with that type of feel.”
Hawkins joins CJ Reuschlein, who will play his college hockey at
Army, as the two Tornado players who have made NCAA Division-I
commitments this season. Forward Brett Heikkila committed to Northern
Michigan University before ever playing a game in a Tornado uniform.
“There were dozens of schools who expressed interest in Brandon,”
Tornado head coach and general manager Tony Curtale said. “But in the
end, he felt the most comfortable at Bowling Green and we couldn’t be
happier for him.”
Hawkins has taken the North American Hockey League by storm in his
rookie season in 2012-2013. He is currently the league’s leading
goal-scorer, with 29 goals on the season, and is tied for third in the
league with 43 points.
“He’s one of the purest goal-scorers I’ve ever coached,” Curtale
said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him, including working on his
conditioning, since he signed a tender with us last year.”
Hawkins came to the Tornado from the storied Little Caesar’s youth
hockey program in Michigan. He’d played both forward and defense in
Midgets, but has flourished on the wing in his first season with Texas.
“With Tony, I’ve gotten into much better shape than I’ve ever been
in,” Hawkins said. He’s gotten on me about that and it’s really helped
me.”
“We really play that nitty-gritty hockey, where you go into a corner
and come out with the puck,” he added. “We want people to think twice
about getting into battles with us. That’s the great thing about the
hockey we play here, you’re creating that sense of urgency while also
trying to put the puck in the net.”
Hawkins has done plenty of the latter, including a stretch at the
beginning of the season where he scored 13 goals in eight consecutive
games, lighting the lamp at least once in every contest. He’s had three
hat tricks this season, including a four-goal performance against Odessa
on November 13th. Through it all, though, Hawkins still sees the big
picture.
“Bowling Green told me I could come in and play as a freshman,”
Hawkins said. “If that happens, it would be amazing. If it doesn’t work
out that way, I’ll play the next year. But it’s all about getting the
education. It’s been my dream to get a free education; it’s a real
burden off my mom and dad’s back.”
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
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