At first glance, one can only wonder how such an average player managed to make it to the SMJHL. After all, Jauhnne Hawky did not stand out in any significant way, but to him, this was normal.

Jauhnne grew up in an average home in Detroit with average parents who worked at average jobs. Throughout school Jauhnne was an average student, straight Bs. Jauhnne worked an average part time job and had average friends. In nearly every facet of his life, Jauhnne was just average. There were two things that stood out about Jauhnne, his near constant chipper attitude, and his love of hockey. Jauhnne had started playing hockey as a young child with the other neighborhood kids, and it was clear even at that young age he had a natural talent for the sport, always playing just that much better than his peers. Hockey Town, also known as his hometown of Detroit nurtured his love of hockey. Spending time to go watch the Detroit Falcons live and even managing to see their cup win in S74 fueled Jauhnne’s love for the game. Despite a rather average training regimen, the chipper attitude Jauhnne had and his love for the game of hockey is what propelled him to heights that most other children couldn’t reach. Jauhnne continued playing hockey throughout his academic years, and he even received a full-ride scholarship due to his prowess. It was here that Jauhnne was scouted for the SMJHL, where he was finally amongst equally skilled players. But something was very different in the SMJHL. Jauhnne quickly discovered he was no longer the hockey star like he had been in his previous years. In the SMJHL Jauhnne was normal, unremarkable, average. Just like every other aspect of his life. Yet this did not discourage Jauhnne, on the contrary he was the happiest he had ever been. Jauhnne had made it to the big leagues doing his favorite thing in the world. Being “merely average” did not bother Jauhnne, he was always ready to play and be there for his team. Whether Jauhnne won or lost he was having the time of his life on the ice. Jauhnne is ready to show the league he has what it takes to be there.

After practicing as an unrostered draft free agent with the Québec City Citadelles, Jauhnne took off towards the SMJHL draft. There might have been a piece of him that hoped he’d go higher than average. He knew that there was a possibility that he’d go very much below average, however as Jauhnne’s name was called as the Kelowna Knights announced the 39th overall pick of this draft, Jauhnne’s smile couldn’t be bigger. He officially made it. It was real this time. An SMJHL team he’d finally play for and be able to show his love of the game to. Now all Jauhnne had to do was get on the ice and continue to be his consistently average self, just as how he had always been.


I did receive help from NaomiMannequeen, but she has requested not to be paid for this help.