OWNERSHIP GROUP
BRUCE BOUDREAU
FOUNDER
Currently serving as a consultant to the OHL Jr A’ Team – Niagara Ice Dogs and works weekly on NHL broadcasts. Bruce previously served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. As a player, Boudreau played professionally for 20 seasons, logging 141 games in the NHL and 30 games in the World Hockey Association (WHA). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL and the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA. Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award for the NHL’s most outstanding head coach in the 2007–08 NHL season during his tenure with the Capitals.
Bruce and Crystal Boudreau were instrumental in starting the Blue Ox organization in 2017 with Jay Witta and Terri Miller. Since that time the Boudreau’s have relocated to Hershey, PA and are enjoying their 3rd season owning/operating the Hershey Cubs USPHL Premier Jr A Hockey Club.
Bruce has also owned and operated a youth camp in St. Catherines, Ontario called The Golden Horseshoe Hockey School. Started by Bruce and his family, sons Ben, Andy and Brady, they set out with the intention to make learning the game fun and give kids a great summer hockey experience. 35 years later, their primary focus is still the same. Their professional coaching staff, along side their motivated support staff, provide an opportunity to learn the game of hockey and develop in a pressure-free environment.
Bruce currently resides in Hershey, Pennyslvainia with his wife Crystal and their New Foundland Dog, Dixie.
CRYSTAL BOUDREAU
FOUNDER
Obviously, an avid hockey fan and Mom. Crystal brought a wealth of hockey operations, administrative and marketing skills to the Blue Ox Executive team our first 5 seasons. She has been a very active addition in the Boudreau family summer hockey camp in St. Catherine’s, Ontario for the last 30 years, as well as served on the MN Wild Foundation committee. Crystal currently resides in Hershey, Pennyslvainia with Bruce and their New Foundland Dog, Dixie and operate the Hershey Cubs USPHL Premier team.
NICK ZAWACKI
OWNER / MAJORITY PARTNER / CEO
Nick became part of the Blue Ox organization in 2025 when he and his wife, Megan, purchased a majority stake in the team. A lifelong enthusiast of sports, Nick took a brief hiatus from high-level athletics to focus on starting a family. After connecting with Jay and Gary, the timing was perfect for him to jump back into the world of competitive sport.
Originally from Howell, Michigan—a small town just outside Detroit—Nick grew up during the heyday of Red Wings hockey. Winters were spent on frozen ponds, stick in hand, and summers on the baseball field. A standout athlete, Nick earned a scholarship to play NCAA Division II baseball at the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
After his collegiate playing career, Nick transitioned into coaching, spending eight seasons as an assistant coach at the college level. His pitching staffs consistently produced All-Conference players and broke numerous school records. Still, Nick measures success by the number of wedding invitations and baby announcements he receives from former players.
In parallel with his coaching career, Nick has also excelled in the business world, holding executive leadership roles across industries ranging from retail to fintech. Known for building high-performing TEAMs, he draws heavily from his athletic background and is a dedicated student of leadership, strongly aligned with the principles of Extreme Ownership.
Beyond the rink and the boardroom, Nick is an avid ultra-marathoner with a deep interest in health and fitness. He’s also a passionate hunter who enjoys time in the woods with his bow. Nick is married to his college sweetheart, Megan, and is a proud, hands-on dad to their two daughters, Zoey and Myla.
MEGAN ZAWACKI
OWNER / MAJORITY PARTNER / COO
When Nick brought the opportunity to join the Blue Ox to Megan, it didn’t take much convincing—she was all in from the start. A native of Owatonna, Minnesota, Megan practically grew up on skates, and the chance to raise her daughters immersed in the hockey lifestyle was a dream realized.
Megan spent her childhood attending Owatonna Express NAHL games and built a fierce reputation on the ice playing youth hockey. She went on to play five seasons of Varsity hockey for the Owatonna Huskies, captaining the team during her final two years. Known for her gritty, physical style, Megan set records for goals, points—and unsurprisingly—penalty minutes. Her high school success earned her a spot on the NCAA Division III team at Hamline University.
She later transferred to the University of Minnesota–Crookston to pursue her other lifelong passion: equestrian sports. Riding in the western discipline, Megan helped her team earn several IHSA Regional appearances. After college, she continued to feed her competitive spirit by playing in adult hockey leagues across the Midwest and training and showing horses at a high level.
Professionally, Megan has thrived in customer-facing roles, leading operational transformations for some of the top animal science companies in the country. She brings a relentless work ethic and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, grounded in the principles of Extreme Ownership and disciplined execution.
Outside of the rink and her professional career, Megan can usually be found at the barn working with her horse, Brooks—named in honor of legendary coach Herb Brooks. Her greatest passion, though, is raising her two daughters, Zoey and Myla, and passing down the same toughness, grit, and love for life that have always defined her.
JAY WITTA
FOUNDER / OWNER / GM / HEAD COACH / USA Hockey Level 4 Certified Coaching Certification
Coach Witta is in his 9th year of Junior A’ hockey and 7th year with the Blue Ox. Jay’s career junior A’ coaching record is 302-114-14 and he has helped guide the Blue Ox to three National Tournament appearances in the first six years. Witta has also helped promote over 20 players to the TIER 2 LEVEL as well as 40+ players onto NCAA/ACHA college hockey.
Prior to purchasing the Blue Ox, Witta had been the head coach of the NA3HL’s Junior A’ hockey team the New Ulm Steel. Witta completed a 67-33-10 two year record with a National Tourney semifinal appearance 2015/16 and a Western Division playoff final loss to the eventual National Champion, Granite City 2016/17. Jay worked daily with the Steel ownership in all aspects of the business – budgets, league communications, recruiting, trades, facilities, core value accountability, parent communication and player advancement.
Jay is a Minnetonka, Minnesota native, played three years for the Minnetonka Skippers from 1985-87 where he was named captain his Senior season and helped guide the Skippers to their first ever Lake Conference Championship and was honored with an All-Conference Team selection. Witta was recruited by Herb Brooks at St. Cloud State University in 1987 to play on the inaugural SCSU Division 1 squad. After entertaining offers from various Division 1 & 3 programs across the country, Witta chose to stay close to home and attend St. Cloud State University as a walk on defenseman.
Witta also played Junior A’ hockey in Humboldt, Saask. for the Broncos (SJHL) before an undetected heart issue caused him to retire and return back to Minnesota. Witta has been coaching youth for the past 25 seasons and served on the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Board for 2 years. Witta resides in Minnetonka with his wife Sara and their four boys. Bennett, Brody, Brooks and Griffin.
GARY HEGENES
OWNER / PARTNER
Gary joined the Blue Ox team by aquiring a percentage of the Boudreau’s ownership shares in February of 2021. Jay and Gary have known each other through business and youth sports circles for the last 10 years, and when the opportunity arose for Gary to become part of the Blue Ox organization, well the timing could not have been better. He is a lifelong hockey player and hockey fan!
Gary is also a Founder/Owner in Breakaway Hockey Academy in Edina, Minnesota which specializes in furthering education for school kids with a passion for hockey excellence. Breakaway Academy has helped develop NHL drafted players such as Bobby Brink, MIke Koster, Drew Helleson, Jackson Lacombe, Rhett Pitlick and many more high end college and international players. www.BreakawayAcademy.net
Gary also has a passion for real estate development as well as giving back to many local youth charities. Organizations include: The Boys and Girls Club (clubs for inner city youth), CCTP (helping felons reenter the work force), Student Venture (developing student leaders), and Big Brothers Big Sisters (pairing youths with adult mentors – 40 years of involvement).
