Jordon Woytas of the Kelowna Chiefs is excited about the next chapter in his hockey voyage, which is taking him to Southfield, Michigan, where he will play for the Lawrence Tech University Blue Devils.
Woytas says that Lawrence Tech University is a good fit for him because the school has a very high reputation for education. Being able to hockey for the Blue Devils, a Division 1 program in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, while doing that is an added bonus.
“Lawrence Tech also has a very upscale campus that I’m excited to call home next year,” says Woytas, who is eager to see what American university hockey is like.
The West Kelowna product likes that the Blue Devils run their program like it is a professional team and all of their staff do everything possible to make sure the players have success.
During the pandemic-challenged season in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Chiefs worked a lot on helping the players with individual skill work, which Woytas says helped him improve and without the travel, he was able to focus more on working in the gym and improve his fitness levels.
Woytas debuted in the KIJHL at 17 and says the league play was a lot faster and grittier than he was used to in midget.
“I’m now able to compete in a more high-pace and physical caliber of hockey which will make the jump to university hockey easier,” he says. “In midget hockey, I got the chance to play a few tournaments in the U.S. and it was a very different style of hockey, which I’m excited to play and do my best to excel in. Every hockey player grows up wanting to play university hockey in the U.S. and I’m fortunate to be able to live out my dream.”
In 81 games with Kelowna and Summerland, Woytas had 17 goals and 38 points. In 15 playoff games, he added three goals and three assists.
