His former coach pushed him every day to be a better hockey player and a better person.
Armstrong's Grayson Williamson has fulfilled the promise.
Williamson of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's Sicamous Eagles will continue his career in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League in 2025-26 as a member of the Okanagan Lakers.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited to get the opportunity to continue playing hockey at the college level,鈥� said Williamson, 21, a six-foot-one, 205-pound left-handed-shooting defenceman. He made his KIJHL debut in 2021-22, playing eight regular season games for the now-defunct North Okanagan Knights (relocated to Quesnel for 2024-25 as the Quesnel River Rush).
Williamson played 40 games for the Eagles in 2024-25 and collected three points. He played the year with improved quickness and more physicality.
Williamson played in 124 regular season games for the Knights and Eagles, collecting three goals and eight assists for 11 points. He added four points in 24 KIJHL Teck Cup playoff games.
鈥淢y time in the (Knights) organization helped me earn this opportunity with (former Eagles) head coach Liam McOnie bringing me over after coaching me on the Knights from 2021-2024,鈥� said Williamson. 鈥淟iam pushed me every day to be a better player and person.鈥�
McOnie, now an assistant coach with the Western Hockey League's 麻豆精选 Rockets, is excited for his former player.
鈥淗e has always found ways to contribute on and off the ice," said McOnie. "I鈥檓 sure he will continue to bring a positive, team-first attitude and leadership as he continues his hockey career with the Lakers.鈥�
Williamson joined the Knights from the OMAHA North Zone U18 AA program.
The Lakers finished fourth in the five-team BCIHL in 24-25 with a record of 6-11-0-3. Okanagan won its play-in game to the four-team, Page Playoff-style post-season, but were eliminated in the third-vs-fourth game by the Logan Lake Miners.
The Victoria Vikes won their fifth BCIHL championship, blanking the regular-season champion Vancouver Island Mariners of Nanaimo 3-0 in the championship game. The Mariners had defeated Victoria in all four regular-season contests, plus the one-vs-two playoff game that gave VIU a bye into the final.
The Simon Fraser University Red Leafs from Burnaby round out the five-team loop.
