By Richard Dunne / Seattle Totems
“Pack your bags, son. You’re going to the bigs.” That’s a line every aspiring hockey player wants to hear. While Totems’ captain, Wilhelm Folkesson, is not going to the NHL, he is going to get a chance to showcase his talents to the next level up from the Totems. Folkesson was recalled earlier this month by the Rock Springs Grizzlies of the NCDC. He made his NCDC debut with the Grizzlies on Dec. 7.
Folkesson is just one of 95 Premier players who have also seen time up at the NCDC so far in 2024-25!
According to Rock Springs Head Coach, Brad Zangs, Folkesson was a terrific addition to their lineup for that weekend.
“When [Totems] Coach Mike Butters calls me about a player, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. He is a guy I trust when it comes to assessing players and every time he’s called, we’ve been happy with the player he recommended. When he called to say Folkesson has earned a chance to be called up, I immediately made plans to facilitate it with our hockey club,” said Zangs.
Zangs is in his first year with Rock Springs, where he signed on this summer as the Associate Coach. When then GM/Head Coach, Darren Naylor, made a move into upper management last month, Zangs took over the Head Coaching duties and got to work putting his touch on the lineup. “The pieces are here. Buttsy (Coach Butters) knows the type of players I like. He has sent me players for years. He’s a guy that will never hold a kid back. Some teams do. I am excited to see Wilhelm does in practice this week.”
Folkesson got off to a great start in Seattle, before a lower body injury sidelined him right before their trip in Vernal to play the Oilers. After rehabbing, Wilhelm immediately bounced back, earning USPHL PNW Division Player of the Week honors in two out of three weeks, making it a good time for Seattle to make the call.
Players, complete an NCDC Prospects Form or USPHL Premier Prospects Form today to begin to pave Your Pathway To College Hockey!
