The Newfoundland native, who returned for a fifth season at Acadia this fall, has signed with the Missouri Mavericks of the East Coast Hockey League.
“Playing pro has definitely been a goal of mine the past couple of years, and I’m excited to get it started,” the St. John’s native said March 17 by email. Owens is already in Missouri.
Owens started the 2014-2015 season with the St. John’s Ice Caps of the American Hockey League and was looking forward to playing in his hometown.
“I had worked extremely hard over the summer,” he said, preparing for the opportunity to play professionally.
Unfortunately, he “ended up in a bad situation (in St. John’s) where I didn’t feel I would get to play.”
He was released and wound up with the Ontario (California) Reign of the ECHL.
“I expected bigger and better things in California, so I guess I was a little disappointed down there as well.”
In mid-October, he made the decision to return to Acadia for a fifth year. He had enrolled as a student in September as a potential back-up in case the pro option didn’t work out.
“I definitely don’t have any regrets about returning. Ultimately, it was my decision, and I felt I would regret not returning more down the road,” he said.
“I didn’t really know what to expect because there were a lot of new faces, and a lot of my good friends from years past had graduated and moved on.”
Acadia had moved on as well; the number 10 jersey Owens had worn for the previous four years had been given to first-year forward Zach Franko, who agreed to switch to the #3 that had formerly been worn by graduated defenceman Cullen Morin.
“All the new guys were awesome, and it was a really good and different experience for me,” Owens said.
“I was the oldest guy on the team, so it was a little bit different at first, but once I got settled in, I really enjoyed it, and found the younger guys a lot of fun to be around.”
Owens ended up with four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in the 25 regular season games he played, and he played an important role in Acadia’s second-place finish in the regular season.
The Axemen went on to defeat Saint Mary’s three games to two in the AUS semifinals, earning a berth in the CIS University Cup, but were swept in two straight games by UNB in the conference final.
Owens missed three playoff games, including both games of the conference final, due to injury. He was back to play against UQTR at the nationals, a game in which the Axemen had a trio of three-goal leads before ultimately losing 6-5 in overtime.
“Obviously, I would have liked for us to be a little more successful in the AUS finals and at the nationals, but the AUS/CIS is a tough league, and it’s extremely difficult to win,” he said.
He has no regrets about his decision to return to Acadia for the season.
“I am, and always will be, happy that I returned to play, because Acadia and Wolfville has been a big part my life, and the memories and experience I have gained by coming to Acadia are irreplaceable,” he said.
“Yes, I put my pro career on hold for six months, but at the end of the day, I feel like that is minimal compared to what I gained by coming back.”
Now he’s turning his focus towards the next stage of his career, which begins March 18.
“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. I’ll walk into a brand new dressing room tomorrow, with a lot of people I haven’t met before, but I’m just going to work hard and enjoy it,” he said.
“I don’t have any immediate plans. I just feel like working hard and playing my best is the only way to make the most out of this opportunity.”
The Newfoundland native, who returned for a fifth season at Acadia this fall, has signed with the Missouri Mavericks of the East Coast Hockey League.
“Playing pro has definitely been a goal of mine the past couple of years, and I’m excited to get it started,” the St. John’s native said March 17 by email. Owens is already in Missouri.
Owens started the 2014-2015 season with the St. John’s Ice Caps of the American Hockey League and was looking forward to playing in his hometown.
“I had worked extremely hard over the summer,” he said, preparing for the opportunity to play professionally.
Unfortunately, he “ended up in a bad situation (in St. John’s) where I didn’t feel I would get to play.”
He was released and wound up with the Ontario (California) Reign of the ECHL.
“I expected bigger and better things in California, so I guess I was a little disappointed down there as well.”
In mid-October, he made the decision to return to Acadia for a fifth year. He had enrolled as a student in September as a potential back-up in case the pro option didn’t work out.
“I definitely don’t have any regrets about returning. Ultimately, it was my decision, and I felt I would regret not returning more down the road,” he said.
“I didn’t really know what to expect because there were a lot of new faces, and a lot of my good friends from years past had graduated and moved on.”
Acadia had moved on as well; the number 10 jersey Owens had worn for the previous four years had been given to first-year forward Zach Franko, who agreed to switch to the #3 that had formerly been worn by graduated defenceman Cullen Morin.
“All the new guys were awesome, and it was a really good and different experience for me,” Owens said.
“I was the oldest guy on the team, so it was a little bit different at first, but once I got settled in, I really enjoyed it, and found the younger guys a lot of fun to be around.”
Owens ended up with four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in the 25 regular season games he played, and he played an important role in Acadia’s second-place finish in the regular season.
The Axemen went on to defeat Saint Mary’s three games to two in the AUS semifinals, earning a berth in the CIS University Cup, but were swept in two straight games by UNB in the conference final.
Owens missed three playoff games, including both games of the conference final, due to injury. He was back to play against UQTR at the nationals, a game in which the Axemen had a trio of three-goal leads before ultimately losing 6-5 in overtime.
“Obviously, I would have liked for us to be a little more successful in the AUS finals and at the nationals, but the AUS/CIS is a tough league, and it’s extremely difficult to win,” he said.
He has no regrets about his decision to return to Acadia for the season.
“I am, and always will be, happy that I returned to play, because Acadia and Wolfville has been a big part my life, and the memories and experience I have gained by coming to Acadia are irreplaceable,” he said.
“Yes, I put my pro career on hold for six months, but at the end of the day, I feel like that is minimal compared to what I gained by coming back.”
Now he’s turning his focus towards the next stage of his career, which begins March 18.
“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. I’ll walk into a brand new dressing room tomorrow, with a lot of people I haven’t met before, but I’m just going to work hard and enjoy it,” he said.
“I don’t have any immediate plans. I just feel like working hard and playing my best is the only way to make the most out of this opportunity.”
