BISMARCK, N.D.–The Bismarck Bobcats, proud member of the North American Hockey League, have signed forward Willem Kerr to a tender agreement for the 2023-24 season.
Kerr, who turned 17 in February, is one of the youngest players in either the NAHL or the NA3HL. He competed with the Minnesota Loons in Tier 3 this season and recorded 25 points in 42 games. Kerr took part in the league’s Top Prospects tournament as mamb
“Will is a good skater who is relentless on the puck,” Niko Kapetanovic, Bobcats head scout, said. “There are not many 2006-born players in junior hockey and we are lucky to get him to Bismarck. To put it in perspective, if he had played Minnesota high school hockey this season, he would have been very successful.”
The Toronto native has already grown to 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds. He is not afraid to compete with older players, too. Kerr racked up 144 penalty minutes for the Loons. While not in the penalty box, he also saw power play opportunities and scored three goals on the man advantage this past season.
“I truly believe his best hockey is yet to come and we could not be more excited to see that happen in Bismarck,” Kapetanovic said.
A tender agreement is a contract giving a North American Hockey League team the rights to a player for the upcoming season. If a tendered player decides to join the NAHL, he would join the Bobcats. Tendered players who are current rookies on this year’s team include Julian Beaumont, Ian Engel, Nick Baer, and Kade Kohanski.