Castlegar Rebels goalie Ethan Lawczynski has moved onto to play for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in USPORTS this fall.
As a 20-year-old, the Castlegar native recorded nine wins with a .910 save rate and a 3.35 goals against average. Over four seasons with his hometown Rebels, Lawczynski had 30 wins in 97 career regular season Kootenay International Junior Hockey League games, and added three playoff wins during the 2021-22 season. His career save rate was .904 with a 3.72 GAA.
“It’s pretty amazing I get the opportunity to play for a program with such an extensive legacy,” he says. “The Bears have won many national championships and are top contenders every year. Additionally, the University of Alberta offers an engineering program which is one of the best in Canada. I am looking forward to attending the U of A because I can create many career opportunities, while also playing hockey at the highest collegiate level in the country.”
Lawczynski is looking to pursue a career in the aviation industry.
In his final season with the Rebels, Lawczynski improved his play reading ability and speed.
“When I was able to read the play more effectively, I could move more efficiently, giving me more time to be set and reactionary,” he says. “This improvement meant that I could manage the game more easily and give me and my team the best chance to win.”
Lawczynski added that his time with the Rebels helped him develop as a person and leader.
“On and off the ice, over the past year or two, the Rebels have made it a pillar to be a hardworking team,” he says. “The Rebels have enabled me and the team to be able to improve every day. We also had the opportunity to improve our leadership skills by learning from a professional life coach the Rebels hired. On top of this, our team chaplain would have discussions on how we can be better men. I’m confident I’m able to succeed in taking the next step in hockey and in my life.”
