Fernie Ghostriders Gavin Lawrie of Whitehorse is joining the University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolverine. Fernie Ghostriders/Free Press image
Gavin Lawrie is one of three Fernie Ghostriders committed to the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
It’s an opportunity the Whitehorse native says is great as he continues his hockey career while getting a good education. He joins fellow Whitehorse native Johnny Elias and Dylan Defosse.
“I felt like this was the right program for me because even after the first call, I felt the coach was going to set me up for success in both school and hockey,” says Lawrie, who began his Kootenay International Junior Hockey League career in North Okanagan in 2016-17.
Lawrie, who also played in Summerland in 2017-18, spent the last two seasons with the Ghostriders. He was their second-leading scorer with 18 goals and 55 points in 44 games. He felt he had a good season, but the ending wasn’t what they were hoping for as they were swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Columbia Valley Rockies.
“It was a good season for the team and lots of guys,” says Lawrie, who in 161 career regular season and playoff games had 36 goals and 103 points. “I think my confidence with the puck really improved with my time in Fernie. Getting lots of opportunities in all situations helped a lot.”
Playing in the KIJHL helped Lawrie, who is listed at five-foot-nine and 150 pounds, get stronger on the puck and make fast decisions on the ice. He loved playing in Fernie and the billet family he had. He says the Ghostriders organization is a top-end program and a great place to play.
“The town is just a great place to be. Everyone treats you great and the crowd is one of if not the best crowd in the league,” says Lawrie, who will study business.
