Northern Star: Ashton Dahms
10 goals in 9 games for Minnesota Wilderness
CLOQUET, Minn.- The Minnesota Wilderness have been nearly unstoppable in the last three weeks, and that has a lot to do with Ashton Dahms and his knack for getting to the net.
“I came in here knowing that I was going to have to produce, and I think I just stepped up to the plate and everything’s gone well so far,”
says Dahms. The former Lakeville South Forward played 10 games for the Wilderness last season (nine of which were in the playoffs), but he hadn’t planned on returning to Cloquet. However, his hockey career made an unexpected left turn when he was released by the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.
“It was devastating,” admitted Dahms. “I would say that it really hurt, but it just gave me more reason to do even better here to kind of prove them wrong.”
Head Coach Colten St. Clair says he’s had a bigger role with the Wilderness than he would’ve likely had in Green Bay. “When he started in the USHL, he played a little bit more of that bottom role. I think right now here, he’s coming in and we’re wanting him to be a top forward for us.”
In just nine games, Dahms has scored 10 goals and six assists with the Wilderness. “He’s hungry,” said St. Clair. “You know, it didn’t work out for him first at the USHL, and I think he’s on a little bit of a mission.”
“Right away, we struggled to put the puck in the net,” says Harper Searles, who’s assisted on many of Dahms’ goals this season. “Ashton’s just brought a lot of speed and obviously just produced for our team, helping me on my line as well.”
Off the ice, Dahms has found a group of teammates he’s proud to play alongside. “It’s kind of like a home away from home, everyone’s close, kind of like family members, so you know you’d do anything for one another, and I think that’s why we’re starting to get some success is we’re all playing for each other.”
Dahms’ teammates have even started to have a little bit of fun at his expense. “I’ve got an interesting last name, so a lot of guys have called me names like Dahmer, Dominator, all that stuff, so I think it’s kind of funny.”
No matter what you call him, Dahms is ready to dominate for the Wilderness all season long. “Honestly, I think we can really do anything. If we can keep up the pace that we’re going on right now, I think we’ve got a really good shot to push to the playoffs.”
The Wilderness currently sit in first place of the Midwest Division of the NAHL and are scheduled to face the Chippewa Steel this Friday.
