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Toledo Walleye’s Brandon Hawkins hits the puck towards the goal while playing for team Leclair at the 3Ice tournament at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, July 2, 2022.
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Walleye forward Brandon Hawkins wins goal of the year award in summer league

BLADE/LIZZIE HEINTZ

Walleye forward Brandon Hawkins wins goal of the year award in summer league

Toledo Walleye forward Brandon Hawkins continued his wizardry with the puck this summer as the creative scorer earned the goal of the year award in the 3ICE Hockey League.

Hawkins scored the unbelievable goal during a game on July 2.

In a penalty shot opportunity, Hawkins lifted the puck on his stick blade and did a 360-degree spin before shooting the puck past the goalie.

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The creative goal earned the No. 1 spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays of the day that night. The 3ICE League then held an online poll this week to determine the goal of the year.

Hawkins was announced the winner on Thursday.

“It’s definitely cool having the goal of the year of the inaugural season of 3ICE,” Hawkins said. “I’ll be able to have that forever.”

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Hawkins paired up with Walleye teammate T.J. Hensick in the newly formed 3ICE Hockey League. Hensick and Hawkins played for Team LeClair in the speed and the skill-based 3-on-3 league that held tournaments in eight different cities this summer.

“It's extremely fast-paced,” Hawkins said. “They took the best part of hockey and put them all together. It was a lot of fun, honestly.”

Both Hawkins and Hensick finished among the top five scorers. Hawkins scored the third most goals with 21 and had the fourth-most assists (15). Hawkins finished with the second most points overall (36).

Hensick finished as the league's assist leader with 19 — most of the helpers going to his linemate Hawkins. Hensick also scored 13 goals and finished fifth in points with 32.

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The Walleye teammates helped lead Team LeClair into the championship round last weekend in Las Vegas. Team LeClair lost in the semifinals before losing their consolation match.

In its inaugural season, the 3ICE League followed a 3-on-3 format that the NHL utilizes for overtime games. The league had six teams with each club having six skaters and a goaltender.

Games consisted of two, eight-minute halves with a running clock.

The teams were named for hockey legends — Guy Carbonneau, Grant Fuhr, Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, Bryan Trottier, and John LeClair — who served as coaches.

The championship game was won by Team Trottier.

The total purse was $2.2 million. A performance-based payment structure ensured the players would have incentives to go all-out every weekend.

“It's the best summer job I've ever had,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins, who scored 35 goals during the 2021-22 ECHL regular season and 50 overall, played a key part in the Walleye's run to the Kelly Cup Finals. Hawkins has re-signed with the Walleye.

Hensick, who has contemplated retirement, has not officially announced whether he will be back for a fourth season with Toledo.

The Walleye will open the season at Wheeling on Oct. 22, and the team's home opener is set for Nov. 5 against Cincinnati.

First Published August 25, 2022, 9:01 p.m.

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Toledo Walleye’s Brandon Hawkins hits the puck towards the goal while playing for team Leclair at the 3Ice tournament at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, July 2, 2022.  (BLADE/LIZZIE HEINTZ)
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