Aberdeen Wings

Aberdeen Wings
City	Aberdeen, South Dakota
League	NAHL
Division	Central
Founded	2010
Home arena	Odde Ice Center
Colors	Red, Black,and White
Owner(s)	Greg Odde
General manager	Greg Odde
Head coach	Francis Anzalone (2014–15)
Franchise history
2010–present	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 will be 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 last 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.

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 coaching staff

• Head Coach: Francis Anzalone
• Assistant Coach: Mike Grattan

Roster

Updated January 7, 2014.

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

Goaltenders
#		Player	Pos.	Catches	Height	Weight	Place of Birth
1		Chad Catt	G		5' 10"	185 lbs.	Williamstown, Michigan, USA
30		Henry Dill	G		6' 2"	205 lbs.	Columbus, Ohio, USA

External links

• North American Hockey League Official Website
• Aberdeen Wings Official Website
• Aberdeen Wings Fan Page