Mike Willemsen watches his shot on net in the first period. The puck went in, giving the rookie his first professional goal. He finished the night with three goals in the Americans 4-2 win. (Photo credit: John O'Neill)
Before the Allen Americans called to offer him a contract on Thursday afternoon, Mike Willemsen was sitting on his couch, trying to figure out where his hockey career would take him next. Later that evening, in an Americans uniform, Willemsen scored the first three goals of his professional career – a hat trick – and helped lead Allen to a 4-1 win over the visiting Arizona Sundogs.
“I got a call from the coach around 2 o’clock today,” Willemsen explained. “I was playing for the (Texas) Brahmas before this, so I was in North Richland Hills, just sitting on the couch kinda waiting for a phone call. He called me and said they wanted to bring me here. I basically just threw a bag together, grabbed my gear and drove over to Dallas.”
The Americans were in need of another forward because of an injury to team captain Jared Lukin. Head coach Dwight Mullins said Lukin needed to be placed on the injured reserve list, and the team was looking for a player to fill his spot.
Willemsen endeared himself to his new teammates quickly, providing quick offense in the game. He scored his first goal of the night just 1:20 into the game, as Justin Bowers set him up on the right hand side of the goal.
About mid-way through the first period, Willemsen added another goal on a breakaway opportunity. Evading a diving Sundogs defenseman who was out of position, Willemsen drove straight in on the goalie and with a quick wrist shot to the top right corner, gave the Americans a 2-0 lead.
The Sundogs scored a power play goal with about five minutes left in the first period to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Allen regained their two-goal lead early in the second period. Nathan O’Nabigon scored his third of the year, putting the puck behind Sundogs goaltender Kyle McNulty.
Mike Willemsen’s third goal of the evening came on a bit of a broken play. The original shot on goal was stopped by McNulty, and there was a scramble for the rebound in front.
“I guess I just have the golden touch today,” Willemsen said about the play. “I feel like the puck was going in anyways. But, I was just coming back behind the net and saw it there, so I brought my stick over and gave it a little tap.”
“I’ll catch a little bit of hell in the locker room for stealing a goal, maybe,” Willemsen smiled, “but I got the hat trick.”
Arizona potted another goal in the third period to close within two, but never got closer than that. It was a good win for the Americans, who were trying to get some momentum before their quick trip to Corpus Christi for a road game on Friday. They return home to play those same Corpus Christi Ice Rays on Saturday night in Allen.
Photos by: John O’Neill
