CHICAGO, IL – The United States Hockey League today announced that Tri-City Storm forward Garrett Gamez has been named the 2013-14 recipient of the USHL Curt Hammer Award.
The Curt Hammer Award has been presented annually since the 1988-89 season and recognizes the USHL player who distinguishes himself both on and off the ice by demonstrating outstanding performance skills, leadership, pride, and determination. The award is given in memory of the late Curt Hammer, who served as President of the Des Moines Buccaneers for three seasons (1984-87) and also held the role of Secretary for the USHL.
Gamez, a 19-year-old Chino Hills, California native, played his second USHL season for the Tri-City Storm in 2013-14 and was the team’s second-leading scorer with 34 points (6g, 28a) over 57 games. After being held off the scoresheet over his first 16 games of the season, he put up 23 points (4g, 19a) over the next 21 contests to help his team earn 11 victories in that span. He recorded a career high four assists in the 6-3 victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on December 7th, 2013, which also equaled a USHL season high for assists in one game.
His 28 assists total ranked tied for 27th overall in the League, but some of his most impactful assists came off the ice. Even with the demands of the USHL schedule on weekends, he regularly attended church services at Grace Fellowship in Kearney, Nebraska and volunteered time to help in the church nursery. Gamez was also involved in the church’s Step Out & Serve Program, joining other youth in helping individuals in the community that were not physically able to maintain the upkeep of their homes. The program provided yard work, repairs, cleaning, and general maintenance for such houses in the community.
Gamez graduated from Kearney High School following last season and has used his role as a hockey player to help promote the game in his community, actively participating in the “Learn To Skate Program” at the Viaero Event Center, home of the Tri-City Storm. He also helped launch a reading program at a local elementary named “Reading Up a Storm” and then made regular appearances to promote the initiative and celebrate with students who met their reading goals.
Other community activities for Gamez during the USHL season included participation in a barn painting project that benefitted the Central Nebraska Make-A-Wish program, volunteering hours to ring the bell at local businesses in December for the Salvation Army, plus numerous visits to local schools to assist students and teachers.
Gamez also developed a special bond with his billet family that generated national stories for ESPN’s Grantland.com and USA Hockey Magazine. His billet mom, Deb Andersen, was deployed for military service just prior to the season, but despite her leaving for the year, Gamez remained committed to staying in the family home with his billet day, Tom Andersen, as he continued his hockey career with the Tri-City Storm.
Gamez becomes the second member of the Tri-City Storm to earn the prestigious Curt Hammer Award, joining Christian Hanson who captured the honor following the 2004-05 season.
Curt Hammer, a dedicated volunteer and supporter of hockey in the Des Moines community until succumbing to cancer in 1987, was one of the founders Hart-Hammer, Inc., a commercial heating and air conditioning ventilation equipment sales firm. The company still operates today providing extensive sales and engineering support in Iowa, Nebraska, and western Illinois. The annual USHL award was established to honor his commitment to the League and the perseverance he displayed in continuing his work through hockey while battling the illness.
Other USHL players nominated for the Curt Hammer Award this season included Dylan Steman of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Jake Bunz of the Chicago Steel, Christian Frey of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Michael Babcock of the Fargo Force, Mason Jobst of the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Cole Bruns of the Omaha Lancers, and Cal Petersen of the Waterloo Black Hawks.
The Storm will once again head to Las Vegas for tryout camp this summer, and will hold evaluations June 16-21 at the Las Vegas Ice Center.