The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce D-Cal Owens as the next 2017-2018 Arkansas commit. The 6’1” 195 lbs. left-shooting defenseman recently completed his junior league career playing for the Long Beach Bombers in the Western States Hockey League.
Owens is a versatile player with experience and skill playing as both a forward and a defenseman across his junior career. Owens joins the Razorbacks after playing part of the season as a forward for the Bombers. In his first season in Long Beach, 2015-16, the best season in Bombers’ history, Owens contributed 25 total points (14 goals and 11 assists) in 47 games. This past season, Owens scored 6 goals and accumulated 17 assists in 27 games.
Owens was the first Bombers captain to wear the “C” in back-to-back seasons. Said Head Coach Chris White, “Cal was a two-year captain for our squad. He arrived as a gritty, in-your-face type of player, that was a natural emotional leader. This past season, he really made a big step in terms of his maturity and leadership. When we experienced some injuries to the defensive core, he willingly stepped up to help the club. In doing so, we found some real value in his ability to play physical in our defensive zone, and quickly put pucks on the tape to transition our offense. He has a level of comfort and patience with the puck that is rarely seen among young defensemen. Cal also possesses a hard shot that led to double-digit goals from the blue line. He is going to give the staff, his teammates, and the University of Arkansas hockey fans his complete effort, every time the Razorbacks hit the ice. We are very proud of Captain Cal, and looking forward to tracking his progress in Fayetteville.”
Before his time with the Bombers, the Calgary, Alberta native played his rookie season for the Castlegar Rebels of the KIJHL. He earned Rookie of the Year Honors and scored 15 goals and added 12 assists in 45 games.
Owens says that he started playing hockey as early as possible. Owens is the oldest of three boys, all of whom followed in his footsteps. His love for hockey took him to the Edge School for Athletes, a preparatory school in Calgary where he played hockey and learned how to be successful as a student athlete.
Cal thanks his past coaches for his achievements, saying, “I believe most credit is due to my coaches Chris White, Jordan Yindiphol, and Brennan Fobel with the Long Beach Bombers. They really helped me develop as a boy into a man off the ice which translated into me being a good leader on the ice as well. They had a lot of faith in me and we won a lot of hockey games together.”
Regarding his commitment to the University of Arkansas, Owens said, “I fell in love with Arkansas the day I arrived on campus for my tour. Everyone I met during my stay was warm and welcoming, and the campus was beautiful. Not only does Arkansas provide a wide variety of excellent academic programs to further my education, but Coach Gallini and his fellow staff did an excellent job selling me on the rising Razorback Hockey program. I believe that with the recruiting class Coach Gallini has brought in, we have the assets necessary to bring a championship to Fayetteville. I am excited to join my former Bomber teammates, Konnor, Max and Sine, in August to further our educations and hockey careers.”
Owens becomes the twelfth in the 2017-18 recruiting class that features players from seven different states and two countries. Owens joins the following players:
F-Sine Chadi (Long Beach Bombers, WSHL)
F-Sam Weidenbaum (Decatur Blaze, USPHL)
F-Triston Wilson (Euless Stars, NA3HL)
F/D-Paiute Morrison (Southern Oregon Spartans, WSHL)
D-Corey Rees (Long Beach Sharks, NA3HL)
D-Kyle Dudley (Euless Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
D-Shaun Foster (SUNY-Canton, NCAA)
D-Kenatae Medure (Atlanta Capitals, NA3HL)
G-Max Barr (Long Beach Bombers, WSHL)
G-Brock Thompson (Connecticut Nighthawks, EHL)
G-Rio Virgoe (Jersey Shore Wildcats, NA3HL)
The University of Arkansas is the only SEC school to field two hockey teams. The Division I team has, since 2015, competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here). The Division III team will in 2017-18 begin its eleventh season competing in the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here). All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.
