Following Clemson club ice hockey’s standout season, The Tiger sat down with Jack Owen-Turner, team captain, to discuss his love for the sport and his road to Clemson.
Kelly Kaelblein (KK): Where are you from, and how did you start playing hockey?
Jack Owen-Turner (JOT): I was actually born in Edmonton, Canada. I grew up mostly in Toronto until the age of 10. So I started skating when I was two years old — I mean, ever since I remember. Growing up in Canada, there wasn’t really another option; that’s what most people there do. So I kind of grew up there, and I played hockey in the Timbits program, which was a little baby program in Canada. And then I just kind of went from there and ended up moving to Michigan. And it’s where I ended up playing high school prep hockey. And then I came here.
KK: What’s your earliest memory of playing hockey?
JOT: I was still pretty young, maybe six, and my brother is two years older than me. And my parents wanted both of us to play hockey. And I always remember that he refused to skate, and they would get us lessons on the ice together. He would end up just throwing a tantrum and getting off the ice, so I ended up being the only one skating.
But it’s funny because nowadays, he always jokes around like he wishes he played hockey because he loves to watch it and he loves the sport. I just always remember that young age of my brother refusing to skate. I guess that’s my first real memory.
KK: Outside of hockey, what is something you want people to know about you?
JOT: I mean, it’s basic, but I guess I like golfing a lot. That’s my only other personality. I like golfing a lot. And it’s what I do in my free time mostly.
KK: Why did you decide to come to Clemson?
JOT: Being from Michigan, a lot of kids from high school went to Michigan State, and my brother went to Indiana, so I kind of just wanted to do something different and go somewhere new. I was the first person from my high school to go to Clemson… I just wanted to go do my own thing and have a new experience, so I decided to go down south, and it worked out well, I’d say.
KK: How did you find out Clemson had a hockey team?
JOT: When I got knocked out of high school during my senior year, I kind of thought that was my last competitive game, and I didn’t bring my gear to Clemson. I had my mind set on not playing just because I was over it, and high school was a big time commitment. I didn’t know really anything about the programs, so I didn’t want to have to commit to that in college.
I went to Tiger Prowl, and I started talking to a few guys and just figured out I didn’t not want to play hockey anymore. I was going to make it work, so I called my dad, and I was like, ‘Hey, Dad, you’re gonna have to ship my equipment down.’ He wasn’t very happy with me. He was like, ‘I told you to bring it just in case.’
He ended up FedExing my equipment down two days before tryouts. So I tried out, and they took me, so it’s history after that.
KK: What are you most proud of during your time at Clemson?
JOT: I guess my biggest accomplishment this year was being president and the whole trip to nationals. From a team perspective, qualifying for that and watching where the program went from my freshman year to this year — to see the progress firsthand was pretty cool. And then more from a personal perspective, being involved in a lot of the planning, fundraising and efforts to get us there. To actually see it come together and turn out really well was pretty cool.
KK: What are you hoping to do once you leave Clemson?
JOT: I have a job at a bank in Detroit, so I’m heading back to Michigan. So my short-term future goal is just to do well there. I want a good life for myself and to enjoy the nice things in life. Join a nice country club where I can play golf all the time. Find a good beer league hockey team to be on. Win a championship there. Keep on the legacy.
KK: What is your favorite memory from your time at Clemson?
JOT: I’ll say Charleston. I remember the Saturday night we won our game, and then we all did dinner together on the water in Charleston and then proceeded to go to downtown Charleston from there and had a good time with (Thomas) Papa there.
KK: How are you going to remember Clemson?
JOT: I’ll remember the people and the relationships I made. Whether that’s the hockey team or just friends outside of hockey, the relationships and friends I’ve made throughout the four years are kind of what I want to remember the most.
Interview responses were edited for length and clarity.
