Sami Jaworski has only been playing hockey for seven years, but that time has been spent dedicating herself to learning the finer points of the game and developing her goaltending skill set to be college hockey-ready.

Earlier this month, the Aspen product saw her hard work pay off with a commitment to play NCAA Division III hockey at Endicott College, a small school in Beverly, Mass., about 26 miles northeast of Boston.

“I found Endicott because I was looking for schools with D-III programs and I started talking with the coach (Andrew McPhee) and sending him videos,” said Jaworski. “He liked what he saw, and I went to visit there, he said that if I chose Endicott then I would have a spot on the team. It is definitely a dream come true to play hockey at the D-II level. I know it will be hard, but I will be able to play the sport I love at a highly competitive level.”

Aside from hockey, Endicott offers a challenging curriculum, something that appealed heavily to Jaworski.

“Endicott has one of the best graphic design programs in Massachusetts,” Jaworski said. “It is a requirement to do internships so I can get good experience in the field that I want to study that can lead to a job. They also have an amazing hockey program that works hard to achieve their status of the best team in their conference.”

Jaworski, a 2002 birth year, said she will be majoring in graphic design and may consider a minor in technical theater.

Back home, Jaworski played for Aspen Junior Hockey at the A and AA levels and also for Aspen High School on the boys team.

“Keith Howie was my AA coach that brought us to nationals a few times and he helped me realize that if I keep working hard, I can achieve my goals of playing in college,” said Jaworski. “As well, my coaches Coley Cassidy and Kirk Golden were huge inspirations to me. My favorite memory was in 2018 in the championship game for my 19U A girls team. We went to a shootout and ended up with the win. That game was an intense battle but winning it was one of the highest points in my life.

“I used to watch the NHL with my dad sometimes and I wanted to try hockey. I just had that feeling and I knew it was the sport for me.”

Jaworski added that she wouldn’t be in the position she is today if it wasn’t for her time in Aspen.

“Throughout my years of playing in Aspen, girls hockey has gotten more recognition for our hard work and accomplishments, like winning states and regionals and going to nationals several times,” Jaworski said. “I’m so excited to see what the next group of girls will achieve in these next years.”

As she heads to Massachusetts to start college, Jaworski has her eyes on the present, as well as on the future.

“My long-term goals are to work as hard as I can through college in both school and sports,” said Jaworski. “I’m not sure where hockey will take me after college, but I want to play as long as my knees can handle it. Right now, my dream job would probably be becoming a graphic designer for the NHL or some other sports organization.”

— Matt Mackinder

(Aug. 30, 2020)