During the 2013 off-season, then-head-coach Travis Winter of the Aberdeen Wings was looking for a defenseman. But not just any D-man. One with a little experience in the NAHL; maybe someone the Wings’ players already knew a little. That player was Dillon Eichstadt.
Already having played 35 games in the NAHL, scoring 2 goals and 8 assists, Eichstadt was the perfect fit for Aberdeen. Matched up on the blue-line with 2013-2014 team captain Jake Horton, the two of them would account for 81 points on the season. Nearly 17% of total team scoring. Eichstadt alone had a very solid season scoring 4 goals and 31 assists. Mid-season, he also received a call up to the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers in which he had an assist in his first game. He would return to Aberdeen after the brief call-up, and be just as strong. The crafty defenseman would also be selected to represent the NAHL Central at the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. Everything about this defenseman was catching the attention of NCAA and USHL scouts, including the fact that he was the 6th highest scoring defenseman in the entire league.
On May 10th, 2014, the Aberdeen Wings defenseman made an NCAA Division-I commitment to Bemidji State University to join the Beavers hockey club.
Also in May of 2014, Eichstadt was selected in the 1st Round, 13th Overall in the USHL Draft by the Sioux Falls Stampede.
This season, Eichstadt led all Stampede defensemen in scoring with 7 goals and 19 assists. His 26 points were good enough for 15th highest scoring defenseman in the entire USHL. The Sioux Falls Stampede began the 2015 USHL Playoffs with a 5-1 win over the Sioux City Musketeers, Eichstadt had an assist.
Sioux Falls would lose their next game against the top ranked Musketeers, but would win Game 3 with Eichstadt adding another assist. Sioux City would tie up the best-of-five series in Game 4 with a thrilling 2-1 victory. In Game 5, the Sioux Falls Stampede would capitalize on two power play goals to start the second period and roll to a 6-1 win. The series victory for the Stampede now move them into the Western Conference Championship series against the Tri-City Storm. The Eastern Conference Championship will feature the Muskegon Lumberjacks and the Dubuque Fighting Saints.
For those Wings fans who wish to continue following former Wings defenseman Dillon Eichstadt through the playoffs, you can watch the games live on FASTHockey.com.
REFERENCES:
www.USHL.com
www.NAHL.com
March 17th, 2014 – Aberdeen Wings Coach’s Show
www.hockeydb.com
www.AberdeenWings.com
Photo Courtesy of the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) ©