Last season, YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Jack Works was on top of the U.S. college hockey world, part of the Denver University menSA国际影视传媒檚 squad which captured the NCAA Division I MenSA国际影视传媒檚 Hockey Championship.
This season, the 21-year-old forward was back in the hunt with a new school, but there would be no repeat.
Works and his Michigan Tech Huskies were in Allentown, Pennsylvania for their regional qualifier in the 2023 edition of the national championship tournament earlier this month. Their first contest was against Penn State on March 24 and that would be as far as they would go this season as the Nittany Lions soundly defeated the Huskies, 8-0.
Works said nothing went right at all in that game for his side.
SA国际影视传媒淪eemed like every time we had a chance, their goalie would shut the door,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not the way you want to go out. We were playing in Penn StateSA国际影视传媒檚 home rink and they had it full, so we were up against that, too.SA国际影视传媒�
It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 like it was last year for Works when Denver hosted its regional and won to advance to the Frozen Four tournament in Boston, where they went on to win the whole thing.
The Huskies were selected for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 tournament based on their national ranking SA国际影视传媒� 10th among Division I squads SA国际影视传媒� as they finished the regular season with an overall record of 24 wins, 11 losses and four ties. When it came to their conference record in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), the Huskies finished second with 15 wins, seven losses and four ties.
In their conference playoffs, the Huskies beat St. Thomas University out of Minnesota to move into the semifinals, but were beaten out there by Northern Michigan on March 11.
SA国际影视传媒淟osing in the conference playoffs didnSA国际影视传媒檛 affect our spot,SA国际影视传媒� said Works. SA国际影视传媒淚t may have moved us up the rankings a little bit (if they won), but it didnSA国际影视传媒檛 make any difference.SA国际影视传媒�
This past season was WorksSA国际影视传媒� sophomore campaign and, as mentioned, the first with his new school. He made the decision to transfer to Michigan Tech after the school made some overtures to him during the off-season.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey came to me and asked if ISA国际影视传媒檇 be interested in making the move,SA国际影视传媒� he said back in September 2022. SA国际影视传媒淚t was down to me and I made the decision to go there. It was hard to leave Denver, but ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited to be here and hopefully get a chance to show what I can do. It was a chance to get some more ice time and a good opportunity.SA国际影视传媒�
Works got a good look at Michigan Tech during the PioneersSA国际影视传媒� playoff run last season as both teams were part of the West regional tournament that determined who would move on to the national championship.
He said their style of play was a big drawing point.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey play an aggressive style and theySA国际影视传媒檙e a good fore-checking club,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 how I like to play and I think I fit into their system well.SA国际影视传媒�
Works certainly saw more ice time with the Huskies as he played in 39 games overall and notching eight goals to go along with nine assists for 17 points.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was great to get out there and play more,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 got a chance to show what I can do and my goal is to improve over the off-season and get better.SA国际影视传媒�
Like any school team, there will be players graduating and moving on, but Works will be back for his junior season and he plans on making more of an impact.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got a real good group of guys coming back for next season,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping weSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to get back and go further and get a shot at the national championship.SA国际影视传媒�
