Andrew Cumming won’t need any time getting used to his new team’s rink after signing a tender for the St. Cloud Norsemen this week. The forward will continue to play his home games at the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex as he just finished up his high school career for the St. Cloud Crush.
A tender in the NAHL is similar to a player signing a contract with an organization that has mutual interest in them. Each NAHL team begins each season with ten tenders available to them and it allows a player to find a team that they feel is the right fit for them without having to go through the draft process. While fans may assume geography may have been the biggest factor for the St. Cloud native, Cumming notes that comfort and fit were better with the Norsemen than anywhere else. “I’ve just always felt comfortable with them. I went to other Main Camps and I just never really felt the same as when I went to the Norsemen’s,” Cumming confides. “Every time I’ve been here I’ve always felt welcome and wanted.”
Cumming explains the process of how the relationship came together for himself and the NAHL organization from his hometown. “I have known a lot of people on the team over the years so I have always watched the Norsemen and liked them. I came into Main Camp last year, played pretty well and I caught the eye of Coach Millen,” explains Cumming. “He started talking to me a little bit more, I was able to go to training camp since it was here and local and I think I held my own for just being a senior.”
The St. Cloud Tech student put up strong numbers this season as his 19-20-39 in 25 games played led the Crush in both goals and assists. He achieved that accomplishment his junior year as well and in his high school career he scored 49 goals and 96 points in 65 games.
Despite his offensive prowess, Cumming’s first thoughts about his favorite parts of hockey have nothing to do with getting on the scoresheet. “I like to get physical, I like to hit some people,” chuckles Cumming when asked about his game. “I just love playing defense. I think defense is what I like to do the most.”
Cumming, who wore #11 for the Crush but will be in the #26 jersey for the Norsemen, is looking forward to putting on that Norsemen sweater for the first time. He knows his family and friends are anxious for that moment as well. “I’ve always come to the games and watched the pace and wanted to be out here and be up to par in the pace of play,” Cumming admits. “I think it’ll be very cool and very fun for my family to come and watch too. I’ll be very excited.”
Cumming and the Norsemen travel to Mason City, IA to take on the North Iowa Bulls Friday. The game gets underway at 7:10 and can be viewed at hockeytv.com. Both teams will head north to battle again Saturday night in St. Cloud at 7:00 and then cap off the three game series at the MAC Sunday afternoon at 3:00. You’ve got an opportunity to skate with Cumming and the rest of the Norsemen after the game Sunday in a post game skate; get your tickets online at tickets.stcloudnorsemen.com.
Andrew Cumming celebrates a goal for the St. Cloud Crush