Jagger makes move to Michigan Tech
Jan 28, 2015
Once he watched snowmobilers happily zipping around nearby Portage Lake, Jagger Williamson was hooked on Michigan Tech University.
The 16-year-old Vernon Viper rookie visited the Houghton campus on a weekend flydown and quickly committed to an NCAA scholarship with the Division 1 Huskies.
Houghton has a population of 7,700 and has been listed in the “100 Best Small Towns in the U.S.” It has an enrolment of 7,000 with the school sitting on the bluffs overlooking Portage Lake.
“It was amazing,” said Williamson, who was accompanied by his parents, Brian and Tracy. “I wanted to go to a safe and small school. Being from Lumby, I didn’t want a really big school. The people are awesome and the coaches are great. The dorms are second to none; they’re like apartments. Everyone knows you and it feels amazing to have a scholarship there.”
Williamson, sidelined by a foot injury since the Christmas break, has four goals and 21 points in 35 games with the B.C. Hockey League Vipers. The 5-foot-7 buzzsaw was drafted by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft two years ago.
“We didn’t set a timeline. They said, ‘We’ll support whatever you decide. We need some speed and quickness and we’ll have room for you.’”
Williamson was on the Huskie bench for their warm-up before a game against Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks – the other school who pitched him an offer – with head coach Bill Muckalt.
“He showed me around the dressing room and the players lounge. Fans were there an hour and a half before the game and bands were playing; it was insane.”
Michigan Tech has won three NCAA national championships and is second in the WCHA Conference, at 13-4-1, just back of the Minnesota Gophers. Viper grad Mason Blacklock earned a scholarship to Michigan Tech last year, but is on injured reseve. Vernon’s Alex Gillies (Salmon Arm Silverbacks) has 3-3-6 in his freshman year.
Vernon head coach/GM Mark Ferner expects Williamson to be an impact college player.
“He’s such a competitive kid. His character is off the charts. He’s a guy who loves to be at the rink. He’s a very popular player within our group even though he’s only 16 years old. He’s always got a smile on his face, he wants to be a better player and he’s always working on things.
“We as an organization are just thrilled for him. It’s a well deserved scholarship; it’s a good school. I know they’ve been after him for a while and rightly so. Michigan Tech has a real good character and skilled player that will make a difference for them.”
The Vipers, meanwhile, brushed off the host Merritt Centennials 5-1 before 640 fans Saturday night. The same two teams meet tonight at Kal Tire Place (7:00).
“Again, I thought Merritt, in the first period, played at a higher pace than we did,” said Ferner. “They were hungrier around pucks and our kids heard about it in between periods and in the second and third, I thought we were a lot better.”
New Yorker John Schiavo gave Merritt the lead midway through the opening period with his 21st of the season. Colton McCarthy equalized three minutes later with his sixth, a shorthanded tally.
“On the shorthanded goal, their guy (McCarthy) stayed down the far end and they managed to spring him,” said Cents’ head coach Luke Pierce. “Our guys have to be aware. I think they thought he was hurt or something and wasn’t a factor in the play.”
D-man Kenny Citron fooled Cents’ starter Jonah Imoo with 20 seconds left in the first on a shot from near centre.
Liam Coughlin (18th) and blueliner Brandon Egli (first) connected two minutes apart midway through the second, making it 4-1 Vernon. The Snakes outshot the Cents 14-4 in the frame.
“That second period might have been one of the worst periods we’ve played in a long, long time,” said Pierce.
“Our second period was extremely soft. There was a bit more inspiration in the third, but obviously not enough. (Vernon’s) game is consistent. They do the same things over and over and do them really well. Nobody really strays from their plan.
“They do a really good job of defending. We spent a lot of the third period down in their end but weren’t able to materialize very much. From a physical standpoint, (Vernon) definitely owned that part of the game which is unacceptable, especially in our own rink.”
Liam Finlay rang up his 22nd, on a powerplay, from Luke Shiplo and TJ Dumonxeaux, with four minutes left in the third.
As for tonight’s tilt, Pierce said: “In their rink especially, you have to be that much more diligent in terms of your puck choices because they can transition really well. They get up the ice quickly.”
SNAKE BITES: Egli missed Friday night’s game in Coquitlam to stay home and study for his SAT exam. Dumonceaux is close to signing a scholarship...F Mitch Friesen (Kamloops Storm) was summoned by the Vipers from the KIJHL…The Silverbacks visit the Vipers Friday night with the same two teams battling Saturday night at the Shaw Centre.
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