Sicamous Eagles rookie Owen Dewitt is the first Young Guns selection of the 2023-24 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season.
Dewitt, a Sicamous product, scored a natural hat-trick in the first period to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead, en route to a 6-2 victory over the 100 Mile House Wranglers on Sept. 24. Dewitt scored his first goal at 11:33, then his second at 14:52 and third goal eight seconds later at 15:00. His third goal was the game winner.
“It was two shifts,” laughed Eagles head coach Nick Deschenes. “Owen and Hayden Evans play really well together. They’re younger players, but they definitely have a pretty high IQ and are very opportunistic.”
Dewitt also picked up an assist on Everett Boutcher’s insurance goal to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead in an eventual 5-2 win over Kelowna.
Deschenes added that Dewitt, 16, is a complete player with size (6-2, 175-pounds), speed and skill. Dewitt played as an affiliate player for the Eagles in a game last season, collecting two points.