Gillette Wild Forward Trent Dillinger has been selected 209th overall by the expansion Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Trent marks the first player ever drafted by an NAHL team in the Wild's short two year history. Dillinger, of Gillette, WY, played 2 full seasons for the Wild putting up a stat line of 72PTS (41 Goals, 31 Assists), 121PIMS in 101 Games.
The NAHL is 37 year old Tier II Junior Hockey League spanning 13 states, a step above Tier III which the AWHL participates, and boasts a NHL Alumni list with such stars as Ryan Miller and Kevin Shattenkirk. Rio Grande Valley will play in the South Division of the NAHL, which has won 7 of the last 10 league titles.
Coach Winkler knows that Trent will represent our league well while closing in on his goals of playing at the highest level he can. "Trent has earned a tremendous opportunity with the Killer Bees. He plays with a tenacity and passion on the ice that is hard to teach…We are very proud of a hometown guy representing our communtiy at the next level," added Winkler.