Willmar WarHawks

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Willmar WarHawks
Willmar WarHawks logo.png
City Willmar, Minnesota
League NA3HL
DivisionWest
Founded2007
Home arenaWillmar Civic Center
ColorsRed, black, gray, and white
    
Owner(s)Blizzard Hockey, LLC.
General managerPayton Ruter
Head coachPayton Ruter [1]
Franchise history
2007–2016Minnesota Flying Aces
2016–presentWillmar WarHawks

The Willmar WarHawks are a Tier III junior ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays their home games at the Willmar Civic Center located in Willmar, Minnesota.

Contents

NA3HL teams play a 47-game regular season schedule, and additional post-season games (if qualifying for playoffs). The Warhawks compete in the West Division of the NA3HL along with the Alexandria Blizzard, Granite City Lumberjacks, Mason City Toros, Minnesota Moose, and Minnesota Wilderness. [2]

History

Flying Aces' logo MN FlyingAces Logo.png
Flying Aces' logo

Established as the Minnesota Flying Aces, the franchise's first season was in 2007–08 as members of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). The Flying Aces were based out Little Falls, Minnesota, and played their home games at Exchange Arena.

Following the 2010–11 season, the franchise moved to the North American 3 Hockey League along with in-state rival, the Granite City Lumberjacks.

On May 24, 2016, Flying Aces owners John and Debbie Holthaus sold the franchise to Blizzard Hockey, LLC. Blizzard Hockey also owns the North American Hockey League's St. Cloud Norsemen and the NA3HL's Alexandria Blizzard. The new owners then relocated the franchise to Willmar, Minnesota. It was at this time the team was renamed the Willmar WarHawks. [3] [4]

Season-by-Season Team Records

Regular season records, as of 03-10-25

SeasonTeam NameLeagueGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
2007–08Minnesota Flying AcesMnJHL48143112311602147th of 9, MnJHLWon 1st Round, 2–0 vs Wisconsin Mustangs [5]
Lost 2nd Round, 1–2 vs Rochester Ice Hawks [6]
2008–09Minnesota Flying AcesMnJHL48163002341532526th of 9, MnJHLLost 1st Round, 0–2 vs Rochester Ice Hawks
2009–10Minnesota Flying AcesMnJHL50153203331812516th of 9, MnJHLLost 1st Round, 0–2 vs Rochester Ice Hawks [7]
2010–11Minnesota Flying AcesMnJHL45261504561801643rd of 8, MnJHLLost 1st Round, 1–2 vs Hudson Crusaders
2011–12Minnesota Flying AcesNA3HL48212421451762014th of 4, West Div.
12th of 16, NA3HL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs Granite City Lumberjacks
2012–13Minnesota Flying AcesNA3HL48202611421371754th of 6, West Div.
11th of 17, NA3HL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 vs North Iowa Bulls
2013–14Minnesota Flying AcesNA3HL489363—211112755th of 6, West Div.
19th of 21, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2014–15Minnesota Flying AcesNA3HL477373—171092736th of 6, West Div.
30th of 31, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2015–16Minnesota Flying AcesNA3HL4711342—241242485th of 5, West Div.
26th of 34, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2016–17Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47222221471481755th of 5, West Div.
30th of 48, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2017–18Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47222140481591824th of 5, West Div.
23rd of 42, NA3HL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
2018–19Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47123320261102177th of 7, West Div.
29th of 36, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2019–20Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47182432411462105th of 6, West Div.
23rd of 34, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2020–21Willmar WarhawksNA3HL40221800441471383rd of 5, West Div.
16th of 31, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2021–22Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47321401652191213rd of 6, West Div.
11th of 34, NA3HL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. Mason City Toros
2022–23Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47202502421552074th of 6, West Div.
24th of 34, NA3HL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
2023–24Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47162821351601895th of 6, West Div.
25th of 34, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2024–25Willmar WarhawksNA3HL47222410411301674th of 6, West Div.
21st of 35, NA3HL

Coaching History

As of 2/25/25

TenureHead CoachYearsRecordPct.
2016-17Chris Blasius †1+31–30–1–0.508
2017-18Steve Yurichuk16-4-1-0.591
2017-18Mike Bowman ††17-11-2-0.400
2018-19Saverio Posa112-33-2-0.277
2019–22Kirk Olimb372–60–0–2.545
2022–23Connor White & Kyle Christensen †††120–25–2–0.447
2023–presentPayton Ruter238-52-3-1.426

† Chris Blasius stepped was the head coach for the 2016-17 season, and for the first portion of 2017-18 through 11/17/17.

†† Mike Bowman was hired as fulltime head coach on 12/24/17 to replace interim head coach Steve Yurichuk .

††† Connor White was hired as head coach for 2022-23 season. Kyle Christensen took over as head coach for a portion of the 2022-23 season, before being replaced by Connor White for the remainder of the season. Transition dates have not been able to be verified so both coaches are co-listed for the 2022-23 season.

Statistical Leaders

Willmar Warhawks Statistical Leaders

The Willmar Warhawks statistical leaders consider all historical statistics commencing with the franchise's move to Willmar, MN, prior to the 2016-17 NA3HL season (2016-present).

Willmar Warhawks Career Points Leaders

Brandan Holt (Madison Heights, MI) set the Willmar Warhawks career points record during the 2019-20 season with 114 career points.

NA3HL Regular + Post-Season Combined - Updated Following 2024-25 Season
RankPlayerYearsGPGAPts
1Brandan Holt2017-201194074114
2Michael Sweetland2020-231074469113
3Tyler Misialek2021-24131593897
4Eli Slagter2017-20133375289
5Jeremiah Konkel2020-2285313970
t6Braden Shea2016-1878273865
t6Braydon Buckingham2022-2483263965
8Max Oelkers2016-1895263763
9Nathan Hinze2022-2579154762
t10Luke McCarthy2022-2463253459
t10Riley Dixon2016-1872184159

Willmar Warhawks Career Goal Leaders

Tyler Misialek (West Fargo, ND) set the Willmar Warhawks career goals record during the 2023-24 season with 59 career goals.

NA3HL Regular + Post-Season Combined - Updated Following 2024-25 Season
RankPlayerYearsGPGAPts
1Tyler Misialek2021-24131593897
2Michael Sweetland2020-231074469113
3Brandan Holt2017-201194074114
4Eli Slagter2017-20133375289
5Jeremiah Konkel2020-2285313970
6Braden Shea2016-1878273865
t7Max Oelkers2016-1895263763
t7Jordan Cooper2016-1885262551
t7Braydon Buckingham2022-2483263965
10Luke McCarthy2022-2463253459

Willmar Warhawks Single Season Points Leaders

Kyle Wendorf (Richfield, MN) set the Willmar Warhawks NA3HL single season points record during the 2016-17 regular season, the franchise's first season in Willmar, with 56 points.

NA3HL Regular Season - Updated Following 2024-25 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeasonGPGAPts
1Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
2Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
3Brandan Holt202019-2045173451
4Anthony Foster192021-2245183250
5Michael Sweetland202022-2342173249
t6Braden Shea192017-1847173047
t6Ben Luedtke202021-2240182947
t8Collin Kerchoff202021-2241143044
t8Nathan Hinze202024-2547123244
t8Aidan Callaghan192024-2546222244
11Mason Wanka192024-2532212243
12Tyler Misialek202023-2446281442

Willmar Warhawks Single Season Goal Leaders

Tyler Misialek (West Fargo, ND) set the Willmar Warhawks NA3HL single season goals record during the 2023-24 regular season, with 28 goals.

NA3HL Regular Season - Updated Following 2024-25 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeasonGPGAPts
1Tyler Misialek202023-2446281442
2Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
3Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
4Aidan Callaghan192024-2546222244
5Mason Wanka192024-2532212243
6Hudson Zinda202023-2430201232
t7Eli Slagter192018-1941182139
t7Anthony Foster192021-2245183250
t7Ben Luedtke202021-2240182947
t7Tyler Misialek192022-2341181533
t7Gabriel Adams192024-2547181230

Franchise Statistical Leaders

The franchise statistical leaders consider all historical statistics commencing with the franchise's inaugural NA3HL season (2011–12), including all NA3HL seasons for the Minnesota Flying Aces (2011-2016) & Willmar Warhawks (2016–present).

Franchise Career Points Leaders

Brandan Holt (Madison Heights, MI) set the franchise NA3HL career points record during the 2019-20 season with 114 career points.

NA3HL Regular + Post-Season Combined - Updated Following 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerYearsGPGAPts
1Brandan Holt2017-201194074114
2Michael Sweetland2020-231074469113
3Kyle Wendorf2015-17934655101
4Tyler Misialek2021-24131593897
5Eli Slagter2017-20133375289
6Jake Mullendore2013-1574343771
7Jeremiah Konkel2020-2285313970
t8Braden Shea2016-1878273865
t8Braydon Buckingham2022-2483263965
10Wyatt Toll2015-18108115364

Franchise Career Goal Leaders

Tyler Misialek (West Fargo, ND) set the franchise NA3HL career goals record during the 2023-24 season with 59 career goals.

NA3HL Regular + Post-Season Combined - Updated Following 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerYearsGPGAPts
1Tyler Misialek2021-24131593897
2Kyle Wendorf2015-17934655101
3Michael Sweetland2020-231074469113
4Brandan Holt2017-201194074114
5Eli Slagter2017-20133375289
6Jake Mullendore2013-1574343771
7Jeremiah Konkel2020-2285313970
8Parker Tomczyk2011-1245303060
9Braden Shea2016-1878273865
t10Max Oelkers2016-1895263763
t10Alec Skar2015-1776263561
t10Jordan Cooper2016-1885262551
t10Braydon Buckingham2022-2483263965

Franchise Single Season Points Leaders

Parker Tomczyk (Mosinee, WI) set the franchise NA3HL single season points record during the franchise's inaugural NA3HL season (2011–12) with 59 points during the regular season.

NA3HL Regular Season - Updated Following 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeasonGPGAPts
1Parker Tomczyk202011-1243293059
2Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
3Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
4Brandan Holt202019-2045173451
5Anthony Foster192021-2245183250
6Michael Sweetland202022-2342173249
7Paul Sorenson192011-1248103848
t8Jake Mullendore192013-1448242347
t8Braden Shea192017-1847173047
t8Ben Luedtke202021-2240182947

Franchise Single Season Goal Leaders

Parker Tomczyk (Mosinee, WI) set the franchise NA3HL single season goal record during the franchise's inaugural NA3HL season (2011–12) with 29 goals during the regular season.

NA3HL Regular Season - Updated Following 2024-25 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeasonGPGAPts
1Parker Tomczyk202011-1243293059
2Tyler Misialek202023-2446281442
3Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
t4Stephen Langford192011-1240242044
t4Liam Johnston182011-1246241034
t4Jake Mullendore192013-1448242347
t4Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
8Kyle Wendorf192015-1647222345
9Aidan Callaghan192024-2546222244
10Mason Wanka192024-2532212243

Alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Warhawks name next head coach". willmarwarhawks.com. May 22, 2023.
  2. ↑ "NA3HL Standings | North American Tier III Hockey League | NA3HL". na3hl.com.
  3. ↑ "NA3HL's Flying Aces purchased, relocated by NAHL Blizzard ownership". Junior Hockey News. May 24, 2016.
  4. ↑ "NA3HL hockey team announces its new name: Willmar WarHawks". West Central Tribune. 15 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Fatis not surprised by Flying Aces' success". Rochester Post-Bulletin. 6 March 2008.
  6. ↑ "Ice Hawks oust Flying Aces in deciding game". Rochester Post-Bulletin. 11 March 2008.
  7. ↑ "Ice Hawks move to crucial semifinals". Rochester Post-Bulletin. 8 March 2010.
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