Judah Makway of the Beaver Valley Nitehawks has signed to play for the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL.
Makway, 17, played one season in the KIJHL with the Nitehawks and recorded 13 goals and 20 assists in 33 games, which placed him third on the team in points. His play earned him a call up to the Smoke Eaters as an affiliate player seeing action in three games, including a playoff game collecting a point.
“It means a lot to me to be able to sign here, to be able to represent my hometown and the team I grew up watching,” said Makway on the Smoke Eaters website. “I’m excited to play for this organization and I look forward to carrying on the winning tradition in Trail.”
“Judah is a player that brings a high compete level on a daily basis. He has strong potential of being a power forward in the BCHL for years to come as he demonstrated in his games with us this past season,” says Smoke Eaters GM/Head Coach Tim Fragle.
Makway said the games he played in helped him see that the program would be a good fit for him.
“It was an awesome experience last year to get up there for a couple games. It definitely helped me coming into camp this year and I love the pace and speed of it,” he said. “It was awesome.”
The experience gave him the belief he can play in the BCHL.
After adjusting to the physicality of the KIJHL, Makway said his transition into the league happened pretty quick. The Nitehawks coaching staff gave him a lot of minutes and the 6-0, 165-pound forward felt he played pretty well the entire season. He used his speed and passing ability to create plays and his longest stretch without collecting a point was four games.
Makway improved his play in tight areas as well as hockey sense, which helped him make quick decisions.
“I had a great experience in that league and I love the organization,” he said.