Aberdeen Wings
The Aberdeen Wings are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based out of Aberdeen, South Dakota that began play for 2010–11. A member of the North American Hockey League in the Central Division, the Wings play their home games in the Odde Ice Center.
History
Since the team's inaugural season in 2010–11, the Wings have held the highest attendance numbers in their NAHL division, boasting crowds over 1,700. In their first four seasons, the Aberdeen Wings have made the NAHL playoffs twice. The goal of any junior hockey team is to help develop players for the next level. In four seasons, the Wings have had 22 players Division-I college commitments, three players sign professional contracts overseas, and two players drafted in the NHL. During the 2014 NHL Draft, two Aberdeen Wings players were selected. Both taken in the 4th round, goaltender Zach Nagelvoort was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and defenseman Steven Johnson was selected by the Los Angeles Kings. Wings forward Lennart Palausch signed a professional contract during the 2014 off-season with Heilbronner Falken of the DEL2 in Germany. In the 2013–14 season, the Aberdeen Wings had two players selected to play in the 2014 World Junior Championships for their home countries, including forward Lennart Palausch (Germany) and forward Bjorn Sigurdarson (Iceland).
The 2014–15 was the first season under new head coach Francis Anzalone. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Anzalone served as the associate head coach and director of player personnel during the previous season under Wings head coach Travis Winter. During the 2014 off-season, Winter accepted the assistant coach position at his alma mater, Bemidji State University, where he led the Beavers hockey team as captain to the Frozen Four in 2009. Anzalone comes from a very strong hockey family including his father, Frank Anzalone who was a National Championship college hockey coach, minor league head coach, and scout for the Calgary Flames. Anzalone was fired as head coach at the end of the 2015–16 season after two losing seasons and missing the playoffs.[1]
Two days after releasing Anzalone, the Wings announced it had hired long time NAHL coach Scott Langer as head coach. Langer had coached the previous 12 seasons with the Santa Fe/Topeka RoadRunners organization before being released during the 2015–16 season.[2]
Season-by-season records
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
2010–11 | 58 | 20 | 34 | 4 | 44 | 166 | 219 | 829 | 6th, Central | Did not qualify |
2011–12 | 60 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 65 | 187 | 177 | 738 | 4th, Central | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats |
2012–13 | 60 | 23 | 30 | 7 | 53 | 157 | 224 | 849 | 5th, Central | Did not qualify |
2013–14 | 60 | 38 | 18 | 4 | 80 | 183 | 140 | 691 | 2nd, Central 6th of 24, NAHL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats |
2014–15 | 60 | 27 | 31 | 2 | 56 | 142 | 165 | 788 | 4th, Central 18th of 24, NAHL | Lost Round 1 series, 0-3 vs. Austin Bruins |
2015–16 | 60 | 22 | 27 | 11 | 55 | 131 | 171 | 879 | 6th, Central 19th of 22, NAHL | Did not qualify |
Roster
Updated January 7, 2014.[3]
Forwards |
# |
|
Player |
Pos. |
Shoots |
Height |
Weight |
Place of Birth |
8 |
|
Drew Doyon |
F |
R |
5' 11" |
190 lbs. |
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
9 |
|
Patrick Steinhauser |
F |
R |
5' 8" |
165 lbs. |
Plymouth, Minnesota, USA |
11 |
|
TJ Roo |
F |
R |
5' 11" |
175 lbs. |
Coon Rapids, Minnesota, USA |
12 |
|
Austin Heakins |
F |
R |
6' 3" |
185 lbs |
Mars, Pennsylvania, USA |
14 |
|
Erik Gollenbeck |
F |
R |
5' 9" |
165 lbs. |
Mannheim, Germany |
15 |
|
Jordan Heller |
F |
R |
6' 0" |
180 lbs. |
Bemidji, Minnesota, USA |
16 |
|
Kyle Haak |
F |
L |
6' 0" |
175 lbs. |
Okemos, Michigan, USA |
17 |
|
Davis DeKorte |
F |
L |
6' 1" |
185 lbs. |
Dewitt, Michigan, USA |
18 |
|
Austin Swingle |
F |
R |
6' 2" |
205 lbs. |
Sartell, Minnesota, USA |
19 |
|
Colin O'Neill |
F |
L |
5' 11" |
185 lbs. |
Odenton, Maryland, USA |
21 |
|
Bjorn Sigurdarson |
F |
L |
5' 11" |
175 lbs. |
Reykjavík, Iceland |
22 |
|
Zach Doerring |
F |
L |
6' 4" |
190 lbs. |
Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA |
24 |
|
Jonathan Grebosky |
F |
R |
5' 11" |
185 lbs. |
Oakdale, Pennsylvania, USA |
25 |
|
Lennart Palausch |
F |
L |
6' 0" |
200 lbs. |
Mannheim, Germany |
27 |
|
Erik Baskin |
F |
R |
6' 3" |
220 lbs. |
Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA |
Defensemen |
# |
|
Player |
Pos. |
Shoots |
Height |
Weight |
Place of Birth |
2 |
|
Ryan Cook |
D |
R |
6' 3" |
200 lbs. |
Buffalo, New York, USA |
3 |
|
Daniel Billett |
D |
R |
6' 1" |
185 lbs. |
Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA |
4 |
|
Jake Horton |
D |
R |
5' 11" |
190 lbs. |
Plymouth, Minnesota, USA |
7 |
|
Matt Brettingen |
D |
R |
6' 1" |
195 lbs. |
St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA |
10 |
|
Tanner Okeson |
D |
L |
6' 2" |
190 lbs. |
Roseau, Minnesota, USA |
20 |
|
Dillon Eichstadt |
D |
L |
6' 0" |
170 lbs. |
Bemidji, Minnesota, USA |
23 |
|
Derek Famula |
D |
L |
6' 1" |
180 lbs. |
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA |
References
External links
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| Central Division | |
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| Midwest Division | |
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| East Division | |
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| South Division | |
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