By Warren Kozireski —
The Jamestown (NY) Rebels of the NAHL have been gone since the summer of 2022, but former Buffalo Jr. Sabres Jak Vaarwerk is helping keep their memory alive as he centers one of the top lines for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks.
Vaarwerk barely left home after spending four seasons with the Jr. Sabres capped by netting 82 points over 79 games his final two seasons.
Then it was an hour south to Jamestown where the 6’0”, 180 lb. 21-year-old sophomore scored 53 points in 56 regular season games and added 14 points in nine playoff games.
That got the attention of USHL scouts as he was the top pick in Phase II of their draft and was selected by Des Moines.
“I played pretty much until I was 18 in Buffalo…I really didn’t know what I was doing with hockey for my first 18 years to honest, so I didn’t know where it was going to take me,” Vaarwerk said while playing in the Adirondack Invitational in Lake Placid Thanksgiving weekend.
“To be able to get a chance at Jamestown and have success to where I am now, I’m grateful for. Covid happened and 18-U I was barely playing 30 games a year and didn’t really have any offers or looks, so I didn’t really know where hockey would take me at that point.
“Ever since then I’ve had the confidence to just keep building my game to where we are now.”
45 points in 61 games later and he walked onto the suburban Boston campus where he was named the River Hawks Rookie of the Year last season after his five goal-ten assist season.
Seeing ice time on both the power play and penalty killing units this year, Vaarwerk stands tied for fourth on the team with eight points in the first 15 games.
“I feel like we’re all connecting, last year (8-23-4) was a fluke so I feel like we learned from it and we’re just doing our thing as a team working hard every game…and finding ways to win.
“It’s a confidence thing; as much as you keep building your confidence the more you’re going to have success and that’s what I’ve been trying to do. Learning from last year, having a slower start and picking it up.
“It’s getting the coaches confidence. Everywhere I go you always start at the bottom of the line-up, and you need to grow and find your place and succeed at wherever they put you and from there you just keep growing.”
Though seemingly a late-bloomer, Vaarwerk has seen his stock rise rapidly over the past three years and that earned him an invite to the Buffalo Sabres Development camp last summer.
“I wanted to go to a development camp, but no team was reaching out. Finally, from playing with the Jr. Sabres until I was 18, they gave me a chance. I just wanted to learn from everyone that’s there.”
Next step is helping his River Hawks earn an NCAA playoff spot. And turning more heads in the process.
(Photos provided by UMass-Lowell Athletic Dept. and Men’s Ice Hockey Team)
