ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Rochester Grizzlies have a rare weekend off coming up for the final weekend of October. As a result, six players are practicing with North American Hockey League teams for parts of this week.
Defensemen Clayton Shultz is practicing with the Minnesota Wilderness; forward Devin Hays is with the Corpus Christi IceRays; defensemen Logan Olson and Michael Heitkamp along with forwards Peyton Hart and Joey Fodstad are down route 90 with the Austin Bruins.
Shultz, 18, is in his first season with the Rochester Grizzlies. The Eden Prairie, MN native has seven points (two goals, five assists) and has appeared in all 12 of the Grizzlies games. He is also a plus-10 on the season.
Hays, 19, is also in his first season with the Grizzlies. He was the team’s first round pick in the 2019 North American 3 Hockey League draft. Hays played two games with the Chippewa Steel this season, as well. The Erie, CO native has been hot since joining the team with five points (three goals, two assists) in eight games with the Grizzlies.
Olson, 20, started the season with the Bruins and is now in his second season with the Grizzlies. The Rochester, MN native played in three games with the Bruins before being sent to the Grizzlies. Since coming back to Rochester, Olson has found a home on the top-pair defense unit with Heitkamp. Olson has six points (one goal, five assists) in eight games.
Heitkamp, 19, is the highest scoring defenseman on the Grizzlies so far in his first season. He has amassed nine points (five goals, four assists) in 11 games. Heitkamp scored the first hat trick by a Grizzlies defenseman in the Sep 20th game against Wausau.
Hart, 18, was the first Grizzlies player to sign an NAHL tender when he did so last season with the Janesville Jets. The native of Delafield, WI is in his second season with the team and has been a big part of a potent offense for the Grizzlies. Hart has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 12 games this season and has found a home on the top line with Garrett Smith and Matt DeRosa.
Fodstad, 19, is also in his second season and is the Grizzlies’ leading goal scorer. Fodstad, hailing from Rogers, MN, has 12 goals on the season. That’s seven more than the next closest players on the team (Hart, Heitkamp and Lucas Newman). He also has eight assists, good for a team-leading 20 points. Fodstad is already more than halfway to his goal total from last season of 20.
With the upcoming weekend off from games, the Grizzlies will be back in action Friday, Nov 1 and Saturday, Nov 2 for two home games. Friday sees the Peoria Mustangs come to the Rochester Rec Center for the first time and Saturday also sees a new opponent at the Rec Center in the Milwaukee Power. Both games are set for 7pm with doors opening at 6pm.