The Aberdeen Wings fell in the first round of playoffs to the Austin Bruins, but the play of one forward did not go unnoticed. Wings forward #17 Will Hammer (F-St. Cloud, MN) was impressive with 4 goals in 3 games, including a hat-trick in game one of the NAHL Central Divisional Series.
Hammer, a tendered player from last season scored only 2 goals all season in 52 games while adding 13 assists. But when it came to the playoffs, the player unleashed a scoring frenzy. In game one against the Austin Bruins, Hammer scored a hat-trick (three goals) in a contest that saw 13 goals scored combined in the 8-5 lost by the Wings.
Nicknamed “Hammertime” for his physical play in the corners and along the boards, he’s a player that excited the Wings staff coming out of St. Cloud Cathedral and from Team Great Plains of the Upper Midwest Elite Hockey League. Hammer scored 22 goals and 25 assists for St. Cloud Cathedral in 2012-2013.
“He competes in all three zones and is at his best below the hash marks,” said Wings head coach Francis Anzalone during the signing of Hammer last season.
The Aberdeen Wings players have returned home to start the off-season. In May, the Wings will be hosting their Pre-Draft Evaluation Camp, an open-tryout camp that gives potential junior hockey players the opportunity to showcase talents in front of the Wings coaching staff and the scouting department.