Men’s hockey forward Jordan Mirwaldt had a natural hat trick in the Gaels 5-2 victory against the Nipissing Lakers on Friday night at the Kingston Memorial Centre. The team stands at 11-10-1 and have moved into third place in the OUA East division.
The six-foot-one first-year from Winnipeg said the response from the stands after his hat trick showed the team is increasing in fan-.
“Definitely a good reaction,” he said. “We’re starting to get more and more fans every game.”
The forward’s 13 goals this season makes him the top-scoring rookie in the OUA and eighth overall. He said the individual standing is a team achievement.
“It’s just a team,” he said. “Contributing to the team is definitely a bonus.”
Mirwarldt said his first year with the Gaels hasn’t been what he expected.
“It’s definitely a good surprise that we’re in a pretty good spot right now,” he said. “We’ve got a good chance of finishing out the season strong and heading out to the playoffs.”
Mirwaldt came to Queen’s after spending a season playing with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Mirwaldt had attended the University of Manitoba for two years while playing in Winnepeg before being traded to the Oil Barons.
He said his time away from home in Alberta living with a billet family helped him with his transition this year.
“Being away from my own parents and relying on myself out there has helped me become accustomed to life out here.”
Mirwaldt lives with fellow men’s hockey rookie forwards Joey Derochie and Payton Liske off campus. Together the house has combined for 37 goals this season.
Mirwaldt said the arrangement’s working out well.
“We’ve gone through everything together,” he said. “You rely on your teammates because their the only people you’ve got out here.”
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