MAYORAL DUTY

After cups of coffee in the AHL, Brandon Hawkins is forging a legacy with ECHL Toledo. But he hopes to be remembered for more than just his scoring prowess

BY JACOB STOLLER

BRANDON HAWKINS’ LOVE of keeping goalies guessing is why he occasionally pulls out his trick shot – and to great effect. “Every once in a while,” Hawkins said, “I’ll throw a change-up shot.” In these instances, the Toledo Walleye right winger corrals the puck and makes it look like he’s about to unload a heavy shot. Instead of following through, Hawkins, a right-handed shooter, will let up midway into his release and freeze goalies by fluttering the puck into the top right corner – all in one deceptive motion. Hawkins likened it to how a baseball pitcher will try to slip a ‘moon ball’ pitch by a batter. Sure, it’s a silly move, one that probably wouldn’t fool NHL stoppers, but it’s a testament to the creativity of the ECHL’s most prolific…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Rookie Issue 2024

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