GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The Green Bay Gamblers’ 2024-25 season didn’t end the way they wanted; however, the team is still celebrating as forward Will Zellers earned an award for his performance.
The Gamblers congratulated Zellers after he was named the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Forward of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Zellers, a Minnesota native and University of North Dakota commit, is the first player in Gamblers’ history to receive the honor.
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The 19-year-old Zellers scored 44 goals, which led the league despite only playing 52 out of 62 games. Zeller’s 44 goals also broke the franchise record for single-season goals, surpassing a 28-year-old record of 41 set by Kevin Granato in 1996-1997.
The USHL’s official release said that he scored 10 of his goals on the power play. Zellers also led the league in shots with 214, with a shot percentage of roughly 20.6. Zellers is set to play for the University of North Dakota next season.
“We are excited to see Will earn the recognition as the league’s top forward,” Gamblers head coach and general manager Patrick McCadden said via a release. “As an organization, we are proud of Will’s accomplishments and thankful that we all got to be a part of it.”
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According to the Gamblers, Zellers also stood out during his time for Team USA, with five goals in five Hlinka-Gretzky Memorial Tournament games in August 2024. Zellers scored another two goals in the World Junior A Challenge in December, helping the United States win gold.
Zellers is currently a prospect with the Boston Bruins, who acquired him via a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on March 7, 2025.
