IOWA WILD ALUMNI Q&A: ZACH PALMQUIST
Nov 23, 2022On Friday, Nov. 18, the Iowa Wild took on the Milwaukee Admirals at Wells Fargo Arena with a special guest in attendance. Zach Palmquist, who played with Iowa from 2014-2018, was on hand to sign autographs and catch up with fans who had been attending Wild games since the team’s early seasons. The Iowa Wild caught up with the former defenseman, who now lives in Minnesota.
What have you been up to since you were here in Des Moines?
After I left Des Moines, I signed with the Philadelphia Flyers and was there for a year playing with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After that I played two seasons over in Europe, in Sweden before I decided to hang up the skates. I’m back home in Minnesota now with my wife and two kids and I’m coaching high school hockey up there.
What was your favorite on-ice moment on the ice while you played for the Wild?
That’s a great question. You know, I think for me, it’s scoring my first goal here on home ice. I don’t remember the exact date and I don’t remember the team it was against, but it was actually a shorthanded goal, and I was a defenseman obviously. I was pinching down through the slot. I knew I had an opening there, and I scored that way.
What were your favorite moments off the ice here in Des Moines?
Meeting a lot of great people and playing with great teammates that have become lifelong friends. Additionally, being able to be a part of this community for so many years and meeting so many people through that aspect of life too. I mean even just signing autographs out on the concourse this evening, I got to see a lot of people that I got to be close with and be around a lot for my time here.
Who were your favorite teammates while you were here and who do you still keep in touch with?
Honestly, there’s a lot of them. Lot of Minnesota guys. Nick Seeler, Hunter Warner is still one of my best friends. Gerald Mayhew, Sam Anas, Gustov Olofsson, Kurtis Gabriel, Zach Mitchell, the list goes on. You know it’s always cool to keep up with what those guys are doing.
Had you been back to Wells Fargo Arena between your playing time and now?
I did. I did one year in 2019, I came back for a playoff game down here. It was the year after I left and the Wild made it to the playoffs. My season at Lehigh ended and Hunter Warner and a couple other guys were still on the team, so I wanted to come down and support them.It was cool to see the atmosphere of a playoff game here because I never got to do that here in Des Moines, so being able to be around that aspect of it was really cool.
Iowa Wild hockey is presented by MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.iowawild.com. Fans can purchase single-game tickets through the team’s website at www.iowawild.com. Group tickets (10 or more), suites, Wild 365 memberships or premium tickets can be purchased by contacting the Iowa Wild Ticket Department at 515-564-8700 or tickets@iowawild.com. The 2022-23 season marks the 10th anniversary of Iowa Wild hockey. Fans can purchase season tickets for the 10th anniversary season at https://www.iowawild.com/wild-365.
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