Jack Works was always going to join the men's hockey team at the University of Denver in Colorado. After all, he committed to the program in December 2019.

He was going to head to the Mile High State following the completion of the current Alberta Junior Hockey League season but those plans have been bumped up a few months.

The 19-year-old Yellowknifer officially joined the Pioneers' roster on Dec. 23, taking advantage of the new provision put in place for all collegiate athletes in the U.S. which gives them an extra year of eligibility due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It all came about while Works was at home with his family in Calgary.

SA国际影视传媒淚 got the call from the team and they wanted to bring me in early,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey had room for me and with the AJHL season up in the air, I decided to make the move.SA国际影视传媒�

Works was entering his third season with the AJHL's Okotoks Oilers and had four goals in three regular-season games with the team before the league shut things down in November once Covid-19 version 2.0 began to run amok in the province.

Works was able to avoid the 14-day quarantine period upon his arrival in Denver thanks to him self-quarantining before flying down.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey did a few tests when I got there to make sure I was negative and all was good,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Works hasn't made an appearance with the Pioneers yet but he has had the chance to take part in a few practices.

When he will get the chance to suit up is still up in the air, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 got to watch some games (this past weekend) but I have no idea when I'll get in the line-up,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

There are two things Works has noticed during his short time in Denver, the first being the style of hockey.

SA国际影视传媒淭he guys here are bigger and stronger and the pace is fast so that's been tough to adjust to,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 didn't know anyone when I got here but the guys were really good and made it really easy to fit it.SA国际影视传媒�

The second thing? The altitude.

Denver sits more than 5,000 ft. above sea level and the air is rather thin at that height, something Works found out about the hard way.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's not horrible because I expected it but you really feel it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou can feel it when you walk around and if you're doing something high-intensity, that's when it really hits you.SA国际影视传媒�

Works leaves the Oilers holding two franchise records: most goals in one regular season (43) and most points in a regular season (92). Both of those marks were set last season.

Tyler Deis, Okotoks' head coach, said in a statement that the team will miss Works immensely on and off the ice.

SA国际影视传媒淗is drive, passion to make teammates better, and just the way he could take over a game will be missed in our locker room,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗opefully, his attitude will rub off on others and encourage them to also take that next step, like Jack did. We could not be more excited to see him start his college hockey career, even though it is a bit earlier than expected.SA国际影视传媒�

Leaving the team wasn't easy, said Works, but it was the right time to do so.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a great team there and I loved being part of it but this was a chance I couldn't pass up,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e only played three games and who knows what's going to happen to the rest of the (AJHL) season so this was the best decision for me to be able to keep playing hockey.SA国际影视传媒�