Oklahoma forward Lawson-Body makes NCAA DI commitment

The Robertson Cup Champion Oklahoma Warriors of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) captain and Top Prospects forward William Lawson-Body announced his commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

“Fairbanks has a great program that Coach Largen has built over the last three years, and I think it’s in a really good place right now,” said Lawson-Body. “There is an opportunity to be really successful and that is something I want to be a part of.”

Lawson-Body, 21, spent the last three seasons in the NAHL as a Warrior, and his junior hockey experience ended on the highest note it could have as his last game in a Warriors sweater ended with him and his teammates hoisting the Robertson Cup.

The 5’10/170 lbs. native of Grand Forks, ND, recorded 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 52 games during the 2022-23 regular season. During the Robertson Cup Playoffs, he led the Warriors in scoring with 13 points in nine games and was named to the 2023 Robertson Cup All-Tournament Team.

He also was selected to and played in the 2023 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for Team South, recording three points in two games. For his three-year NAHL career, Lawson-Body played in 161 career NAHL games and recorded 131 points.

“My junior career was a special one and unique in its own way,” said Lawson-Body. “From joining an expansion organization at the beginning and helping build toward the way it ended, with a championship, It’s almost like the saying, ‘“started from the bottom now we’re here.’”

The Warriors 2022-23 captain is looking forward to jumping into another program that will give him the opportunity to thrive both on and off the ice.

“I think their style of play is a system that I will be a good fit in,” said Lawson-Body. “They play similar to our team in Oklahoma, which is something I realized through conversations with Coach Largen. I’m pretty excited to jump on board.”

Lawson-Body reflected on the past three years of his life before expressing his eagerness to start a new chapter in his hockey career.

“Throughout the three years it has been a really rewarding and engaging experience, being a Warrior,” Lawson-Body said. I can’t thank Coach Roth, Coach Kelly, Coach Couet, Coach Berge and Mary Anne, or my teammates or anyone else enough. It’s been a great effort over the last three years and we’ve been rewarded.”

Off the ice, Lawson-Body will study accounting at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and although he hasn’t seen it in person yet, virtual tours have shown him the facilities and surroundings he’ll call home in the near future.

“I’m excited for the experience; It’s a beautiful place,” said Lawson-Body. “What I’m looking forward to the most is getting to work right away with my teammates, meeting all of them and trying to form a really good group this season and be a part of it.”

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list