DAUPHIN, MB - The Dauphin Kings are very proud and excited to announce that defenceman Brayden Pawluk has committed to the Minot State Beavers (ACHA DIV I) hockey club for the 2020-21 season.
The Teulon, Manitoba product was one of the leaders for the Dauphin Kings in the 2019-20 season both on and off the ice. In his 20 year old season with the Kings Pawluk scored six goals and 31 assists in 54 contests. He was second on the team in D-man scoring.
Pawluk, who spent a handful of seasons in the MJHL with Virden and then Dauphin, joins former Kings blueliner Wayde Johannesson. Johannesson was added to Minot's lineup last year.
"It feels great to finally have made a decision and to have definitive plans for this fall" says Pawluk. "The decision process was a long one over the past four months with many institutions trying to recruit me."
The final decision to choose Minot State came down to a few things, but to sum it up would be to say that it was the best fit. Minot has a wide variety of courses. Their campus is amazing and just around four hours from home so my family could still watch me play. The hockey program is very successful in a lot of aspects so I hope to contribute to that and look to defend their national title next season. The head coach and I had several phone calls before my final decision and he and I are on the same page. He believes that I can bring a lot to the organization and knowing that he has high expectations for me motivates me to work harder than ever this off-season" added Pawluk.
The 6'1, 200 pound D-man will always cherish his time spent in the Sunshine City.
"I will definitely miss the city of Dauphin and the community support for the team. I’m going to miss the guys in the locker room and the road trips together. I’m thankful for all the friendships I made there. I’m going to miss the mentorship from the coaches as well. Coach Hedley and Coach Topinka believed in me from day one and were really important in my development in the past season and a half as a King. The Kings organization as a whole is world class and has to be one the best places to play junior hockey. Playing in Dauphin brings more than just on ice development it teaches character in all aspects. I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had as a Dauphin King."
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