Home Hardware Midget AAA Legionnaires captain Owen Ozar will be continuing his hockey career at the Junior A level in BC. The Prince Albert product has signed on to play for the BCHL's Trail Smoke Eaters next season.
 
"Obviously I was super excited, it's definitely something coming out of midget that you work for - to sign with a Junior team. I'm glad that such a good team scouted me and I'm super pumped for next season," said Ozar. "I know it's a good league - the goal is to get a scholarship and there's no better place to do it than the BCHL. So, that will be the goal for the next few seasons in Trail." 

 It's what Ozar described as the perfect fit to continue his hockey career, and not just because the Smoke Eaters made it to the BCHL semi-finals this past season before losing in five games to the eventual league-champion Wenatchee Wild.
 
"They're a real offensive team - they like to have the puck on their stick, which is a big part of my game, so I think I can definitely contribute that way," he said. "They've got a really good fan base there, so I'm really excited for what I can bring to the table and hopefully make the playoffs and make a run again."
 
It was a career year for Ozar in his final Sask Midget AAA Hockey League season, as the 18-year-old forward racked up 55 points (22 G, 33 A) in 42 regular season games. He added two goals and four assists in seven playoff games as well.
 
Ozar trades in the navy, gold, and white of the Legionnaires for the orange, black, and white of the Smoke Eaters (picture by Eric James).
 
After scoring at a rate 3.5 times great than the 2016-17 season (16 points), the 5-foot-6, 143-pound says it's time to show growth off the ice.
 
"Definitely getting bigger and stronger," said Ozar of the off-season plan. "There's a big jump in size and strength - you're playing against 20-year-olds now in Junior so you've got to get bigger and stronger. It's just something I'll be looking to improve this summer."
 
With plenty of time to achieve those off-season goals, it's now a matter of ensuring he turns heads come training camp.
 
"It's real important for me to make good first impressions," Ozar explained. "I'll be the only Saskatchewan boy on that team, so no one has ever really seen me play, so it's important for me to go into camp in great shape and show everyone how I play."
 
Ozar wrapped his three-year SMAAAHL career with the Legionnaires having notched 72 points (28 G, 44 A) in 101 games. And, during that time in a city over four hours away from Prince Albert, found a home away from home.
 
"I'd like to give a shout out to Grandma Joy - she was my billet in Swift Current. I just want to thank her for giving me an awesome place to live the past three years. I couldn't have asked for better billets."