Gavin Lawrie is one of three Fernie Ghostriders to commit to the University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines.

Lawrie will join fellow Yukoner Johnny Elias (see Star, July 31) and Dylan Defosse on the Wolverines, and said the opportunity to join Michigan-Dearborn is great as he continues his hockey career and his academic pursuits.

“I felt like this was the right program for me because even after the first call, I felt the coach was going to set me up for success in both school and hockey,” said Lawrie.

The Wolverines are coached by Chris Haltinner who will be entering his eighth season behind the bench. During his Michigan-Dearborn tenure, he has amassed a record of 163-78-12.

While at Michigan-Dearborn, Lawrie will study business, and by joining the Wolverines, he's joining a strong team that has been a perennial D1 contender.

The Wolverines finished the 2019-20 season with an overall record of 25-6-2 and their regular-season record led them to win their second consecutive Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Regular Season Championships.

In March, the team secured the WHAC Postseason Tournament championship by doubling up the Aquinas College Saints 4-2.

That win earned the Wolverines a berth in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 1 National Tournament, but those games were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was the fifth consecutive season the Wolverines have reached the ACHA Division 1 National Tournament.

Lawrie began his Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) career in North Okanagan in 2016-17. 

He also played in Summerland in 2017-18 and spent the last two seasons with the Ghostriders. He was their second-leading scorer with 18 goals and 55 points in 44 games.

He felt he had a good season, but the ending wasn’t what they were hoping for as they were swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Columbia Valley Rockies. 

“It was a good season for the team and lots of guys,” says Lawrie, who in 161 career regular season and playoff games had 36 goals and 103 points. “I think my confidence with the puck really improved with my time in Fernie. Getting lots of opportunities in all situations helped a lot.” 

Playing in the KIJHL helped Lawrie, who is listed at five-foot-nine and 150 pounds, get stronger on the puck and make fast decisions on the ice.

He loved playing in Fernie and the billet family he had. He said the Ghostriders organization is a top-end program and a great place to play. 

“The town is just a great place to be. Everyone treats you great and the crowd is one of if not the best crowd in the league,” said Lawrie.