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Oilers freshman commits to North Dakota

Doc is set to be a Hawk.
Okotoks Oilers rookie defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker is headed to the NCAA as a commit to the Division I stronghold University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Okotoks Oilers rookie defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker is headed to the NCAA as a commit to the Division I stronghold University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Doc is set to be a Hawk.

Earning an offer he couldn’t refuse from the defending national champions, Okotoks Oilers freshman sensation Jacob Bernard-Docker signed off on his post-secondary future and committed to NCAA Division I powerhouse University of North Dakota last week.

“It’s extremely humbling to get that kind of offer,” said Bernard-Docker, a 2000 born blueliner from Canmore. “I don’t think I would be anywhere near there if I didn’t have people along the way help me such as my family, past coaches, my friends. I would be nowhere near where I am now.

“I can’t thank the people in my life enough for that.”

Bernard-Docker commits to a Fighting Hawks team that has established itself as perhaps the premier program in college hockey as the defending national champions and eight-time titleholders.

The strength of the individuals behind the program struck a particular note with the defenceman on his campus visit to Grand Forks earlier this month.

“I really felt a connection with the people down there and how they run their program,” he said. “Everyone talks about how the facilities are great, and absolutely they are, but I think the people down there are even more special.

“All the coaches there are extremely humble men and they do a great job developing players.”

When he steps on the ice for the Fighting Hawks he will be the fifth Oilers alumnus to do so.

Rhett Gardner is in his second season with UND after winning the national title and being drafted by the Dallas Stars in June. The other three Okotoks graduates who played in Grand Forks – Bradley Eidsness, Derek Rodwell and Corban Knight – were all drafted into the NHL.

Bernard-Docker’s ascension is no overnight success story.

“He’s grown tremendously throughout the year with his composure,” said Oilers head coach Tyler Deis. “One thing that he is, is dedicated. Everything he does, he does as a professional.

“He works on his craft as a hockey player, he’s dedicated to his academics.

“It’s a huge thing for him, a huge thing for our program.”

Scholarships for 16-year-olds are seldom seen in the league, let alone to such a premier program.

There were a plethora of options on the table for the promising student-athlete.

“He’s definitely a young guy that has a real mature point about himself,” the coach added. “I’ve coached him for a lot of years and he’s had that dedication and professionalism.

“He’s had numerous offers all year. I think he was just waiting for the one that would suit him the most. When North Dakota came, he thought with that coaching staff and the way they develop their players to be not just great college players, but pro hockey players. He thought that was the best fit for himself.”

After being watched earlier in the season by the Hawks coaching staff, bench boss Brad Berry visited Pason Centennial Arena to see the blueliner in person in the Feb. 5 tilt versus Grande Prairie.

“He wanted to see him with his own eyes,” Deis said. “And Jacob had a strong game.”

The articulate rearguard credited the entire coaching staff from Deis to assistants Kyle Schussler and Ryan Barrett for giving his development a major boost in his first season in Big Rock Country.

The 16-year-old leads Okotoks freshmen with 49 games played and is second on the team in points among first-year players while logging major minutes in all situations on the back-end.

“They’ve been incredible,” the defenceman said. “Tyler, Kyle and Barrett are all great guys. On the ice they try to help you develop as a player and off the ice as a person.

“I don’t think I could have found a better fit.”

The Grade 11 student is eligible to play at the college level in the 2018-19 season.

When he makes the jump remains a question mark.

“My parents have always preached education for me and that’s just the route I chose to go,” said Bernard-Docker, who plans to study in the sciences at university. “Me and my parents keep talking about how I’m in no rush to move onto the next level. I want to try and succeed at every level I can and move on when I’m ready.”


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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