Oak Hewer has got character

Oak Hewer has got character

(Note: I wrote this for the May 2001 issue of Just Hockey Magazine. Thought it might be of interest to a few Manatee fans.) By Dianna Richards PENSACOLA, FL - It's not a hockey night, and you're out on the town. Unexpectedly, you run into one of your players, a big, tough fellow with a big, tough sounding name of Oak Hewer. What would you expect him to be wearing? "I have a lot of Hawaiian shirts. "Five shirts, lei and all. Last year in Birmingham, a friend (and I) wore Hawaiian shirts over to a bar on a Wednesday night. Then the whole team came on a Wednesday wearing them. Then some locals started doing it." Hewer admits to wearing normal clothing as well, mostly Tommy Hilfiger. Although that didn't stop him from coming dressed in a polyester suit for 1970's theme night. Acquired by Pensacola from Charlotte midseason, Hewer likes the ice time he's gotten with the Pilots. "In Birmingham and Charlotte I was not playing that much. Here I have an opportunity to put up some numbers. It's up to me." Given his size (6'4", 215 pounds) and his unusual name, you might expect Hewer to be the team's enforcer. Hewer, however, does not see fighting as a priority for him. "I'm never one to hurt the team and take a bad penalty. (But) if anyone takes liberties with me or my teammates, I won't shy away." During his first 24 games with the Pilots this season, Hewer spent a modest 11 minutes in the penalty box giving weight to his words. He's also scored three goals and assisted on 11 others, which is fine, but certainly not good enough for Hewer. "I've got to work on getting stronger, my skating, becoming a more physical presence, a quicker shot. I've got to work on everything." He was born and raised in Ontario. The middle child of three (his sisters' names are Candle and Ginger), Hewer played junior major hockey with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds and the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League. While on North Bay, he met current Pilot teammate Shawn Degagne. Hewer is quite a character and perhaps that explains, not only his clothing, but his choice of an alternate career. "I think I'd be in the acting field somewhere. I'd like to be a funny guy." Perhaps not too great of challenge, as many of his teammates find him amusing to be around, often telling him he should have been a comedian. There's also a bit of a thespian background in his family: His grandfather's first cousin is actor George Peppard. Right now though, Hewer is just happy to be playing hockey in a great hockey town like Pensacola. "Everywhere I've been has been good. The booster clubs are great. They want to take care of you." "I love to get together with the guys, do things together. I think it makes us better as a team, a tight knit unit." While the fifth anniversary season may have proved less then satisfying for Pensacola fans, Hewer and his teammates have tried to maintain a positive attitude. A new horizon is dawning for the Pilots, and Hewer hopes to be part of the team.		Home News Booster Club Roster Schedule Photos Links Email: [email protected] 2-Minute Minor A Hockey Blog Hockey Autographs! This article is copyright 2003 by Animal Antix Designs. All Rights Reserved.

(Note: I wrote this for the May 2001 issue of Just Hockey Magazine. Thought it might be of interest to a few Manatee fans.)

By Dianna Richards

PENSACOLA, FL - It's not a hockey night, and you're out on the town.

Unexpectedly, you run into one of your players, a big, tough fellow with a big, tough sounding name of Oak Hewer. What would you expect him to be wearing?

"I have a lot of Hawaiian shirts.

"Five shirts, lei and all. Last year in Birmingham, a friend (and I) wore Hawaiian shirts over to a bar on a Wednesday night. Then the whole team came on a Wednesday wearing them. Then some locals started doing it."

Hewer admits to wearing normal clothing as well, mostly Tommy Hilfiger. Although that didn't stop him from coming dressed in a polyester suit for 1970's theme night.

Acquired by Pensacola from Charlotte midseason, Hewer likes the ice time he's gotten with the Pilots.

"In Birmingham and Charlotte I was not playing that much. Here I have an opportunity to put up some numbers. It's up to me." Given his size (6'4", 215 pounds) and his unusual name, you might expect Hewer to be the team's enforcer. Hewer, however, does not see fighting as a priority for him.

"I'm never one to hurt the team and take a bad penalty. (But) if anyone takes liberties with me or my teammates, I won't shy away."

During his first 24 games with the Pilots this season, Hewer spent a modest 11 minutes in the penalty box giving weight to his words.

He's also scored three goals and assisted on 11 others, which is fine, but certainly not good enough for Hewer.

"I've got to work on getting stronger, my skating, becoming a more physical presence, a quicker shot. I've got to work on everything."

He was born and raised in Ontario. The middle child of three (his sisters' names are Candle and Ginger), Hewer played junior major hockey with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds and the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League. While on North Bay, he met current Pilot teammate Shawn Degagne.

Hewer is quite a character and perhaps that explains, not only his clothing, but his choice of an alternate career.

"I think I'd be in the acting field somewhere. I'd like to be a funny guy."

Perhaps not too great of challenge, as many of his teammates find him amusing to be around, often telling him he should have been a comedian. There's also a bit of a thespian background in his family: His grandfather's first cousin is actor George Peppard.

Right now though, Hewer is just happy to be playing hockey in a great hockey town like Pensacola.

"Everywhere I've been has been good. The booster clubs are great. They want to take care of you."

"I love to get together with the guys, do things together. I think it makes us better as a team, a tight knit unit."

While the fifth anniversary season may have proved less then satisfying for Pensacola fans, Hewer and his teammates have tried to maintain a positive attitude.

A new horizon is dawning for the Pilots, and Hewer hopes to be part of the team.

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