Hawks forward Evan Forrest has committed to CUW in Wisconsin next season. (Submitted photo/Rhesa/Richard Petersen)

By Clark Stork

College Commitment

Forrest commits to college in Wisconsin; Hawks meet Mustangs in home-and-home

Dec 15, 2023 | 12:54 PM

The Nipawin Hawks have announced one of their 20-year-old forwards has committed to play college hockey in the United States next year.

Evan Forrest will suit up for Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) next season and join another former Hawk, Alex Ochitwa on the Falcons men’s hockey team roster.

“It’s super surreal to be able to have the opportunity to get to another level and play hockey for a few more years,” Forrest said of his commitment to the NCAA Div. 3 school in Mequon, Wis. “Sometimes you get the thoughts in your head it isn’t going to happen, so just grateful for this opportunity.”

Forrest was acquired by Nipawin ahead of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season from the Estevan Bruins. He is tied for the team lead with 12 goals and has added 16 assists, he sits second on the team in scoring. Forrest said he had talks with a few schools, but the provided academics and the hockey program at CUW impressed him.

“The combination of their academics and then the direction that Jim [Mosso, CUW Head Coach] wanted to go in with the program just really combined together well and I thought it would help me become a better person and hockey player,” Forrest said.

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He plans to take business in the classroom with sports management being a focus. Once school is over Forrest plans to venture more into kinesiology and other specifics of body management.

On the ice, Forrest and his Hawks teammates have a pair of games left before the Christmas break against their archrivals, the Melfort Mustangs beginning Friday at the Northern Lights Palace. Nipawin is currently tied for fifth in the SJHL standings 14 points behind the surging Mustangs. Forrest said the team can’t look forward to returning home until business is taken care of this weekend.

“Nothing is better than playing your rivals right before Christmas,” he said. “One game at their rink, one game at the ‘Cage,’ nothing better than that, we’ve had good practices. It’s going to be a good weekend.”

Faceoff Friday is 7:30 p.m. at the Palace. The pregame show of Duplex Furniture and Appliances Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio begins at 7:15 p.m.

Puck drop Is at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Nipawin.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @ClarkStork