Jason Hewitt enjoying fresh perspective after Hull Seahawks switch
HAVING forged a long, successful career as a forward, you could argue Jason Hewitt has left it late to gain a ‘fresh’ perspective on hockey.
But, having been moved back to defence by Hull Seahawks’ head coach Matty Davies in last weekend, the 42-year-old - a wily, veteran centre by trade - has enjoyed the change of perspective it brings.
Davies joked following Sunday’s 6-4 win over Solway Sharks that were the move to become a full-time one, it could add years to the former GB internationals career span.
Such decisions will no doubt come this summer as Davies makes the necessary adjustments to a roster that has enjoyed a Jekyll and Hyde 2025-26 NIHL National campaign.
Up until mid-January, the Seahawks had been dogged by inconsistency, the kind that had them languishing in mid-table and any dreams of the regular season crown gone.
But a closing run of 15 wins in their last 16 regular season games saw them finish second overall and go into the play-offs among the favourites to succeed.
The Seahawks will be hoping their season ends on a triumphant note in Coventry at the FInal Four Weekend and Hewitt is happy to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
“It’s obviously a new thing for me playing on D, but it’s fun,” said the 42-year-old.
“It’s about the buy-in and whatever this team needs me to do, I’m here to do it and if it’s back there, then that’s where it is and I’m comfortable with it.
“I’ve loved it to be honest. Every time I’ve gone back there, it has been small doses but it’s fun to see everything from a different perspective.
“For me, I’m obviously still a young guy but the legs aren’t what they used to be but being able to see everything up the ice is huge and I can just get it to the guys that need the puck.”
Davies, whose team start their Group B play-off campaign at home to Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday before facing Leeds Knights and Telford Tigers on subsequent weekends, added: “The thing with Hewey, is you get the full package - the leadership, the been there, done it, the calmness and I want to find the right spot for him.
“For the team that we are now and for the team that we want to be, probably next year going forward I think he’s got a lot more to offer in that position for us.
“He still skates really well and I think he’ll actually get more points from back there, with the way he can move on the blue line and get shots through.
“And I think he did brilliant at the weekend - he’s just so smart.
“We’ve seen it time and again over the years, centres, smart players who have moved back on D and I told him ‘you never know, it might add three, four, five years to your career’ and he was buzzing about that!”