ECHL: Hometown Kid Returns to the Norfolk Admirals

The Norfolk Admirals announced today they have re-signed Chesapeake, VA native Brandon Osmundson to a standard player contract for the 2024-25 ECHL season. Oz becomes the fourth player to be signed to the Admirals roster, as they have signed Josh McDougall, Brady Fleurent, and Pavel Padakin.

Osmundson completed his first full season of professional hockey during the 2023-24 season, and it was an outstanding one, to say the least. Oz started the season in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Huntsville Havoc, taking the same path as former Norfolk Admiral and Portsmouth, VA native Ryan Salkeld. It did not take long for Osmundson to get things rolling for himself as he registered his first goal and point in just his second game of the season against the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Prior to his call-up to the Admirals, Osmundson registered nine goals and four assists in 16 games with the Havoc. His nine goals led the team at that point in time.

On December 11th, just days after his birthday, Osmundson’s dream of being a Norfolk Admiral came true when he was called up to play for his hometown team and, a team his family is very close with having been season-ticket members when he was younger.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to play in my hometown, where I grew up inspiring to be a Norfolk Admiral,” said Osmundson. “It has always been a dream of mine to put on that blue/gold sweater and play at the Scope. I’m excited to step on the ice and get to work.”

Osmundson via the Norfolk Admirals press release for his call up.

Getting to work is exactly what he did. It did not come easy, but Osmundson recorded his first point in an Admirals uniform on December 23rd against the Reading Royals in front of the Norfolk faithful. Oz would receive the puck down low and show excellent patience, making the Royals’ defender choose how to play him. Oz banked one off the goaltenders’ pad which bounced to the middle of the ice for Darick Louis-Jean to bang home the rebound five hole.

The ball kept rolling for the now 25-year-old as he played 43 games in the ECHL, notching nine goals on 55 shots he took and 20 assists for 29 points. He was tied for first among all Admirals players for plus/minus, having a +20 goal differential. Oz played eight games during the Admirals 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff run and tallied two goals and two assists, adding to his stellar year point total. Osmundson is a threat to the opponents not only in the offensive zone but the defensive zone as well, whether it is 5-on-5, on the powerplay, or even on the penalty kill. Osmundson recorded two points on the powerplay (1g-1a) and a shorthanded goal this past season. His ability to read the play improved tremendously as the season went on. Having worked on skating summer after summer with a well-known skating instructor in the Hampton Roads community, Suzie Hewitt, I can say that his speed and edge work are something opposition defensemen should not take lightly, as he can cut and turn on a dime.

Having worked his way up the Hampton Roads Whalers organization, starting out in the learn-to-play hockey program, Osmundson showed a ton of potential year after year, more so when his junior hockey career started with the Hampton Roads Jr. Whalers United States Premier Hockey League empire team for the 2013-14 season. In his first season of juniors, Osmundson played 39 games, tallying five goals and 13 assists. All around, it was a difficult season for the whole team, having played on that same team with him. The following season, things took a complete 180. Oz would have a breakout season during the 2015-16 season as he played all 44 games in the USP3HL season, tallying an incredible 31 goals and 54 assists for 85 points. His 54 assists led the entire league while his 85 points placed him third behind linemate, John Moncovich. His dominant performance would continue throughout the playoffs and be a big part of that year’s team, going all the way to the USP3HL National Championship game in Marlborough, MA, but ultimately fell short of the title. In eight games, Osmundson notched six goals and 11 assists for 17 points.

Throughout his junior career with the Whalers, Oz played 204 games in the regular season, collecting 112 goals and 230 assists for 342 points in the regular season and 29 games in the playoffs, notching 24 goals and 34 assists for 58 points. Oz has a long list of milestones and achievements from his junior hockey days. For the 2016-17 season, he was named USPHL Elite Forward of the Year and USPHL Elite Most Valuable Player due to his 26 goals and 68 assists for 94 points. His assists and points were the most in the league. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, Oz captained the Whalers premier team to back-to-back USPHL Premier National championships. He again had the most assists (60) and points (93) for the 2018-19 season. His tremendous play at that level landed him two opportunities in the North American Hockey League with the Corpus Christi Icerays and the Odessa Jackalopes during the 2017-18 season. Between the two teams, Oz played 13 games, collecting five points (2g-3a).

Oz took his talents to Utica College, now Utica University, which is an NCAA DIII school that plays in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. In three seasons at Utica, Oz has helped the Pioneers win three NCAA III UCHC championships in 2019-20, 2021-22, and 2022-23. In his freshman year, Oz played 29 games, scoring 13 goals and collecting 29 assists for 42 points. He was named to the NCAA III (All-USCHO) Rookie First Team, NCAA III (UCHC) All-Rookie Team, NCAA III (UCHC) Second Team All-Conference, as well as named UCHC Rookie of the Year and USCHO Rookie of the Year. In his four years with the Pioneers, Oz played 97 games, collecting 37 goals and 81 assists for 118 points. At the end of his senior year, Oz had the opportunity to get a taste of professional hockey in the SPHL with the Knoxville Ice Bears. Oz skated in two games with the Ice Bears but did not register a point.

Having played a full season, I have no doubt Osmundson will be an even bigger factor to this team and have more responsibility in the center position. Listed at just 5-foot-9, Osmundson is unafraid to get into scrums and have his teammates back. Without having a letter on his chest, he still has the characteristics of a leader and he can show that in his second season in Norfolk. I know this is one signing many fans are excited for. Oz will continue to be a big factor on the penalty kill and could see some increased ice time on the powerplay to show more of what he has to offer.