The Adirondack Thunder have brought in a lot of new young talent as the last four signings they have made have all been rookies, and I recently spoke to one of those rookies in Lucas Herrmann, who spent last year at Utica College, where he put up 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 29 games before joining the Pensacola Ice Flyers at the end of the year. The Lancaster Native is excited for the opportunity to begin his professional career in his home state, “Ya, it’s really exciting; I really enjoyed my time in Utica, being closer to home; it was great for parents to come out for some more games and have some family come out, and I’ve been around the area and I really like it,” Said Hermaan he mentioned that he loves the area and has been to Lake George and Saratoga but had yet to visit Glens Falls.
The 6’2 forward mentioned that it was his family who got him into hockey, “My dad grew up playing, I have a brother who’s six years older than me, my dad got him into it, and it’s been in my family ever since I remember, we were always playing mini sticks in the living room as kids” said Herrmann. His brother Zac spent last season in England playing for the Manchester Storm and will be playing in Germany. However, Zac did see six games of ECHL action during the 2021-22 season with the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he had an assist in 12 games and played in four Kelly Cup Playoff games.
Heading into the 2023-24 season, Herrmann will have some familiar faces in the Thunder locker room as he played with Patrick Grasso for three years at the University of New Hampshire and a year with Ryan Orgel; he also spent three seasons with Mike Robinson who ended up going overseas this Summer, after nine games for the Thunder last season. “It brings a sense of comfortability; it’s always tough showing up to a new team and not knowing many of the guys. It’s a little quiet at first, but everyone I talked to has been really welcoming, and obviously, having Patty (Patrick Grasso) there is gonna be awesome, and it just makes for a smoother transition for me, I think. Herrmann won’t be the only player from the Thunder from Lancaster, NY, as Ryan Wheeler is also a Lancaster native, and he signed with the team earlier this Summer, “Ya, it’s another one of those comfortability things. We actually grew up in the same hometown, and he’s my brother’s age, so those two played together, and I skate with Ryan in the Summer, and we’re good buddies,” said Herrmann when talking about Wheeler.
When asked what he’s most excited about for the upcoming season, Herrmann said, “Playing in Cool Insuring Arena, I’ve heard nothing but great things about the town and about the fans, and I heard they’re very passionate, and it’s really appreciative when you have fans who show up to your games and want you to succeed.”
