Hamilton Nationals rookie goaltender Dillon Ward has been exceptional between the pipes, and we caught up with him before this week;s games.“It’s been a lot of fun.” Ward says of playing pro. “Playing pro is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I started playing. The level of play is incredible, and the guys on Hamilton are awesome. Queener has been awesome to play with. He is so good, and being able to learn the ropes from him has been really enjoyable.”
Ward had his best performance to date last week with 17 saves, and he said everything was just clicking for him.
“I just felt comfortable in cage last weekend. The defense was awesome in front of me giving up shots I should be saving. I was able to get into a groove and see the ball well, and that’s all because my defense was so strong. I’d have to say though, the best part of the 17 saves was we won the game, and came that much closer to clinching a playoff spot
“Look at the roster we have, it is loaded with amazing players top to bottom. The veteran players, Brett Queener, Brodie Merrill and Joel Walters and others are awesome leaders, and make sure everyone is on the same page. This team is set to make a push for the championship, and I’m excited to go back to work with these guys this weekend.”
This week the Nationals face the Boston Cannons with a chance to clinch a playoff seed. “We need to put together a full 60 minutes. This is a team looking for a playoff spot, just like us, so I’m sure it’ll have a playoff feel. Coach Huntley and the rest of the coaches will put together a game plan for us. We need to execute and make sure we play for a full 60 minutes”
