Nelson's Coleton Dawson California dreaming
By Nelson Daily Sports
After spending three seasons in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, mostly with the Grand Forks Border Bruins, Nelson product Coleton Dawson has given up the cold winters of BC for warmer Californian climate after signing with the Ontario Avalanche of the Western States Hockey League.
“I acquired Coleton about three weeks ago,” said Avs head coach Chris Shaw, who also held a similar position with the Nelson Leafs of the KIJHL.
“He was a player that I really like when he was 15 years old when he played for us in Nelson as an affiliate player.”
The 6’2”, 200-pound Dawson has two assists in nine games for the fifth-place Ontario Avalanche Junior A hockey team.
“Coleton has a very solid skill set which I feel gets over looked (as) everyone seems to look at his penalty minutes,” Shaw explained.
“He is the kind of player I like to work with and mold . . . can’t teach a kid the will to compete and toughness.”
The 19-year-old Dawson, who played all his minor hockey in Nelson, got his start playing three games as an affiliate with Leafs.
The next season started with Beaver Valley Nitehawks before finishing the season in Grand Forks.
Last season with Grand Forks and Revelstoke Grizzlies Dawson played in 48 games, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists.
Ontario currently sits fifth in the Western Division of the WSHL, 20 points behind division leading Fresno Monsters.
Shaw said the Western States Hockey League is similar to the KIJHL as a young, developmental league.
“Our goal is the same, having moved over 15 players to the USHL, NAHL and NCAA Div. 3 programs, as well as Tier 2 programs up North in the last three years,” he said.
Shaw said the biggest difference between the WSHL and the KIJHL is the import rule, allowing up to 12 players from outside the USA.
“A lot of European players that give the games and each team a diverse look,” he said.