“Brandon is a highly-skilled center that fits our plan for next year,” said IceRays head coach Brad Flynn. “He has been loyal to the organization, participating in three camps and flying down to practice with us during the season. ‘Oz’ had a terrific year leading the USPHL Elite in scoring, and we are looking to catch a little lightning in a bottle after tendering his line mate earlier this season. We are expecting ‘Oz’ to put on a little weight and strength over this summer, but we look at him being a two-year contributor with NCAA Division I potential.”

“The atmosphere [in Corpus Christi] is really fantastic, and I’m excited for that,” said Osmundson. “I’ve been part of winning seasons here, so I’m ready to bring a winning attitude to Corpus Christi. I’m just excited for it all: a great fan base, a fresh start with a new organization, new coaches, new players, just everything.”

The Hampton Roads Jr. Whalers are proud to announce that 1998 forward and born and breed Whalers local Brandon Osmundson has signed a NAHL tender with the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the 2017-18 season.

“After playing in Virginia my whole life, it’s something special to me when a team, especially from a higher league, notices how I’m playing, especially when it’s my favorite and go-to team,” said Osmundson. “So this is definitely something special.”

Osmundson, 18, burst on to the scene this season with the Whalers, earning 35 goals and 77 assists for 112 points with 45 penalty minutes, 8 power play goals and 2 shorthanded goals through 55 games. The Chesapeake, Va., native earned the USPHL Elite scoring title while also leading the league in assists and picking up 28 power play points. He’s also a two-time USPHL Elite Star of the Week on September 26 and January 9. Osmundson developed through the Whalers system, earning 42 goals and 78 assists for 120 points with 72 penalty minutes through 93 games with the USP3 team the last 2 season’s while also finishing the season leading the league in assists last season.

The 5-foot-8, 150-pound center is the second player to tender with the IceRays for next season and the fourth player to continue the relationship with the Hampton Roads Whalers, including alum Regen Cavanagh and current player Jayson DiMizio. Osmundson joins linemate John Moncovich on next year’s protected list, and the two go beyond just being teammates. The tandem have led the Whalers in scoring for their respective leagues over the last two seasons, and they’ve also been housemates. That chemistry is what the IceRays hope to garner, but the comfort will help both Osmundson and Moncovich make the transition to the NAHL.

“It’s going to be much easier, especially because we’ve both lived together for the past three years. We both pretty much follow each other. We click really well, so the chemistry is really high between us. It just makes for a smoother transition coming with someone you know.”

“Oz is a very special Hampton Roads Whaler which many in the hockey world realize per his incredible award-filled season and tender to the Corpus Christi Ice Rays”, stated GM Patrick Cavanagh. “What some may not realize is that Brandon represents the vision we had 12 years ago when the Whalers started our Junior Hockey planning with an emphasis on developing our local players directly from our Learn to Skate programming through House and Travel hockey initiatives. No one has worked and trained harder than Brandon Osmundson, he has become the marquee player that our younger Whaler players aspire to be. From an organization stand point, he is the result of a focused and aggressive training program that we have worked tirelessly on over the years to provide our players the same athletic/ scholastic opportunity that more traditional hockey regions offer committed players and families. This is an event to celebrate on so many levels as the Osmundson family is also among my closest friends over the years, so we all look forward to the next chapter”. 

Osmundson joins teammates Vaden McManus (Utica College), Liam Walsh (Stevenson University), Brendon Zack (Buffalo State), and John Moncovich (Corpus Christi NAHL) in announcing their commitments for the 2017-18 season. Additionally, two alumni have signed pro contracts, PJ Hefferin (Danbury FHL) and Brett Kilar (Norfolk Admirals ECHL).  The Whalers look forward to announcing many more commitments in the coming weeks.