Hard-Working Hawery Stood Out With Jr. Colts
Strength, speed, balance, flexibility and dexterity
are key components of success on the ice and Logan Hawery credits his
development in those areas for his exponential growth this season.
The
U16 AAA Barrie Jr. Colts forward incorporated plyometric work in to his regimen
last off-season, exercises in which muscles exert maximum force over short
intervals of time, with the goal of increasing speed-strength. This type of
training is mainly used by athletes including martial artists, high jumpers,
and sprinters.
“I've
noticed that has made a big difference in my game,” said Hawery, whose
off-season focuses included jumping drills, crack spreads, hops, as well as
quick-starts.
After
scoring 17 goals and 40 points in his first season with the Jr.
Colts, Hawery has taken a big step forward, finishing this campaign with
27 goals and 55 points to help his team finish 33-2-0.
His
explosiveness not only leads to him excelling on the attack, but it also helps
him play a more complete game.
“I'm
really a hard worker which is great for retrieving pucks,” Hawery said. “I try
not to focus on points too much, I try to do all the little things right. And
if you do that, the points will come.”
Last
season Hawery caught the eye of Jr. Colts assistant coach Josh Cooper while
watching him play a year up in the OHL Cup.
“He
was already a very dynamic player. I think since we started coaching with him,
I've noticed a good improvement on his play underneath the puck playing
defensively,” Cooper said. “He does a really good job supporting through the
middle of the ice as a centre-man while really honing in his 200-foot game.”
It
should come as no surprise as Hawery has been playing close attention to
another Logan as Logan Stankoven is one of the many players who Hawery models
his game after.
As
a call-up for the Dallas Stars this season, Stankoven has impressed so far in
his limited game-time, scoring five times in his first nine games in the
NHL.
Stankoven
has been described as a feisty, undersized forward with one of the best shots
in his draft class, with his high-motor game being able to burn teams with his
offensive skill.
“The
best way I can describe Logan's game in one word is intensity,” Cooper said. “I
think he plays with an extremely high level of intensity on and off the
puck.”
Hawery
leads by example as the captain of the team, just as Stankoven did with the
Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, as his play on the ice instills
a lot of faith from his coaches.
“He's
a high-level competitor,” Cooper said of Hawery. “I know he takes a lot of
pride in that letter on his jersey and he shows that basically every single
shift with his play on the ice.”
Said
Hawery: “I focus on each practice and each game while not trying to focus on
the pressure too much.”
Pushing
himself to take his game to the next level comes with its own set of challenges
that Hawery has overcome to make himself a standout for the upcoming 2024 OHL
draft, which is set for April 12-13.
About the author: David Leo is a student in the Sport Journalism post-grad program at Centennial College.