Like many 16-year-olds, Layton Ahac tapped into social media to make a big announcement of a life-changing event.
The rookie Prince George Spruce Kings defenceman has signed an NCAA scholarship agreement with Ohio State University.
"Very excited to announce my commitment to The Ohio State University. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way #buckeyes," said Ahac, in his Twitter post.
Ahac, a native of North Vancouver, joined the Spruce Kings this season after serving as captain of the West Vancouver Academy Warrors Elite 15s in 2016-17. In 28 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League he totaled eight goals and 21 points and is well on his way to surpassing his goal and point totals in his first season of junior A hockey.
Though 27 games with the Kings (not including their game Friday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against Coquitlam) Ahac has five goals and 12 assists for 17 points.
"As an organization we are excited for Layton," said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes, in a team release.
"He is a terrific young man with a special talent for the game of hockey. He is also a driven and motivated young man who will continue to work very hard on his development for the next couple of seasons before joining a great program at Ohio State University."
In July, Ahac attended Canada's under-17 camp in Calgary and came close to making the cut to play in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which wrapped up two weeks ago in Dawson Creek/Fort St. John.
"We are excited and proud of Layton's commitment to play NCAA Division 1 hockey at Ohio State," said Spruce Kings head coach Adam Maglio. "We believe Layton is one of the best 16-year-olds in the league. We are fortunate to work daily with Layton, who possesses elite skill and maturity and dedication on and off the ice."
Based in Columbus, Ohio, the Buckeyes are part of the Big 10 Conference. Ahac's first season in the NCAA will be 2020-21.
Ahac becomes the seventh college-committed player on the Spruce Kings roster. The other NCAA-bound Kings are forwards Ethan de Jong (Quinnipiac, 2018), Patrick Cozzi (Colorado College, 2018), Kyle Johnson (Yale, 2018), Dustin Manz (Lake Superior State, 2019), defenceman Liam Watson-Brawn (Colgate, 2019) and forward Blake Hayward (Union College, 2018).
