Wisconsin Soccer Central

The Milwaukee Wave made a flurry of moves over the past few weeks as they finalized their roster ahead of tonight's Major Indoor Soccer League season opener at the Missouri Comets.

The Wave signed J.C. Banks (Milwaukee Riverside/UW-Green Bay), Tony Walls (Wauwatosa East/UW-Green Bay) and Philip Suprise (Milwaukee Pius), announced contract extensions for forwards Nick Perera and Hewerton Moreira and midfielder-forward Ian Bennett and bid a fond farewell to veteran defender Joe Hammes (Cedarburg).

"I'm very excited about this team," said Wave coach Keith Tozer, whose team also is on the road next weekend before its home opener at U.S. Cellular Arena on Dec. 7 against the Baltimore Blast.

Banks, 24, has played with the Rochester Rhinos in USL PRO the past two seasons, recording six goals and 10 assists. In 2012, he led the third-tier league with eight assists and was an All-USL PRO first-team selection.

"I think J.C. will bring so much to our midfield, he is a great technical player with all the physical dimensions and the speed," Tozer said in a news release. "He can shoot and create goal opportunities for us along with scoring on his own. He is a wonderful addition to our team, and I can see him being a big part of our midfield."

Banks also is part of the first father-son duo in team history – his father, former U.S. national teamer Jimmy, played for the Wave from 1987 to '93. "I am excited and honored to be playing on the same team my father played on back in the day," J.C. Banks said.

The younger Banks will be reunited with a former college teammate in Walls. They starred for UW-Green Bay, each winning Horizon League Player of the Year honors – Banks finished with 35 goals and 18 assists in 77 matches, while Walls had 18 goals and 12 assists in 74 games.

The 23-year-old Walls spent the 2012 season with the Chicago Fire after being selected in the third round of the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. He started in 10 of the team's 12 MLS Reserve League matches and in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match.

"Tony is the kind of defender we all love, he is strong, tough and doesn't shy away from contact and at the same time is a technical player who is very good with the ball. He also has a great shot when coming out of the back," Tozer said.

Suprise, 22, had a standout college career at Quinnipiac, with 26 goals and nine assists in 68 matches. He and Walls have been playing for Franklin-based amateur club Croatian Eagles over the past few months.

"I'm extremely excited about adding Philip to our roster," Tozer said. "He is very dynamic on both sides of the ball, can shoot with either foot, has tremendous pace and defends very well."

Banks and Walls signed two-year contracts with the team, the same length as the extensions for Perera and Moreira. Bennett, meanwhile, signed a four-year extension.

The 28-year old Bennett has 62 goals and 33 assists in 90 games with the Wave over the past four seasons and tied for the team lead with 25 goals last season. Hewerton, 34, and 27-year-old Perera, who starred for the U.S. team at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in September, tied for third in goals last season with 18 apiece.

Milwaukee also added defenders Victor Quiroz and Andy Hackbarth. Quiroz, 37, played for Mexico at the FIFA Futsal World Cup last year, and had 38 points and 28 blocked shots in 24 games for the Wichita Wings last season. The 23-year-old Hackbarth finished his career at Yale last fall.

It will be the first time in more than a decade that the Wave won't have Hammes patrolling the backline. The 34-year-old announced his retirement, departing after winning three league championships in his 10 years with Milwaukee.

"Joe will be missed on the playing side and the leadership side," Tozer said. "Over his 10-year career he has been instrumental in winning championships. He will be greatly missed on and off the field. We wish him nothing but the best."

Hammes scored a career-best 31 points last season and finished his career with 70 goals and 52 assists. Perhaps his biggest goal was the one he scored 46 seconds into overtime as the Wave beat the longtime rival Blast 12-10 at U.S. Cellular Arena to win the MISL Championship Series in March 2012.

"I would like to thank the Wave organization for giving me the opportunity to play for the last 10 years. I also want to thank all of the fans who continue to give so much support to the team, as it truly is an honor to play in front of the best fans in the league," said Hammes, who is the director of coaching for Cedarburg club North Shore United.

"I especially want to thank coach Tozer, the assistant coaches and all of my teammates throughout the 10 years, all of whom I consider close friends. I am very proud of all our accomplishments, highlighted by winning three MISL championships.

"I am going to miss going into battle with my teammates each and every game, but I know that I am leaving the team in very good hands, as Coach has again assembled a team that is capable of bringing home another championship to Milwaukee."

• The MISL announced that all 70 regular-season games and all playoff matches this season will be streamed live for free on YouTube.