New Richmond native signs contract with Wild’s top farm team
Sam Lofquist’s family holds Minnesota Wild season tickets.
There is now a chance they will get to see him play for the Wild.
Lofquist has signed a pro hockey contract with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.
The Aeros are the primary farm club for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League. Lofquist’s contract is a 25-game amateur tryout contract (ATO).
Lofquist made his debut with the Aeros on April 10, notching one assist. The Aeros defeated the Oklahoma City Blades 6-3 in that game, the Aeros’ regular season finale.
The Aeros are now in the AHL playoffs, in a series against the Peoria Rivermen.
Lofquist, a Somerset native, said two teams approached his agent about signing an ATO, the Wild and the New York Islanders. It wasn’t a hard choice for Lofquist.
“It would be a dream come true. Being with my hometown team would be awesome,” Lofquist said.
While he was signed to a 25-game contract, Lofquist said he doesn’t expect to see any more game time this season. The Wild sent five defensemen down to the Aeros for the playoffs, bumping Lofquist down the depth chart.
In a conversation last week, Lofquist didn’t seem to mind that he wouldn’t get into any more games. He’s experiencing the AHL playoffs and getting to practice with many players who’ve skated in the NHL, or will in the future.
