Tim Hewko, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound center from Ann Arbor, Michigan, committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for the Lake Forest College Foresters, the NAHL announced Monday, July 13. The 20-year-old left-handed shot spent two seasons with the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the NAHL, a Tier II junior league, logging 95 regular-season games before making the jump to college hockey.

Hewko's numbers tell the story of a physical forward who found his groove as a passer early. In 2024-25, he posted 3 goals and 15 assists for 18 points in 52 games. His production dipped in 2025-26: 2 goals and 4 assists in 43 games as the Ice Wolves finished second in the NAHL South Division at 35-19-4-1.

He is the latest in a wave of offseason additions for head coach Sean O'Malley. According to EliteProspects, the Foresters have also added forwards Kristian Halbych (McCall Smokejumpers), Alec Alfieri (West Chester Wolves), Reece Allman (West Chester Wolves), and defenseman Joey Ziska (Grand Junction River Hawks) since March.

The roster overhaul follows back-to-back rough seasons. Lake Forest went 6-19-2 in 2025-26, falling to Adrian in the NCHA Harris Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, February 21. The year before, the Foresters posted a 9-15-1 mark. The program has historically been a postseason fixture, appearing in the playoffs 19 of the past 26 seasons and reaching the NCAA tournament quarterfinals in 1991.

Five new commits in five months signals O'Malley is rebuilding aggressively. Lake Forest typically opens its season in late October.