Wisconsin Woodsmen | |
---|---|
City | Tomah, Wisconsin |
League | North American 3 Hockey League |
Division | Central |
Founded | 2011 |
Home arena | Tomah Ice Center |
Colors | Red, light blue, black, silver |
Owner(s) | Adam Keer Ryan Egan |
General manager | Adam Keer |
Head coach | Jon Vaillancourt [1] |
Franchise history | |
2011–2016 | Twin City Steel |
2016–2023 | New Ulm Steel |
2023–present | Wisconsin Woodsmen |
The Wisconsin Woodsmen are a Tier III junior ice hockey team based in Tomah, Wisconsin. They are members of the Central Division of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL).
Founded in 2011 when the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) announced its expansion from 12 teams to 16. The Twin City Steel were to be based in the new White Bear Lake Sports Center in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, starting for the 2011–12 season alongside the other three other new NA3HL teams: the Minnesota Junior Hockey League transfers, Granite City Lumberjacks and Minnesota Flying Aces, and an expansion team, the North Iowa Bulls. The Twin City Steel played their first season out of the new Vadnais Sports Center, situated in the Twin Cities, which includes the suburbs of White Bear Lake, North St. Paul, Forest Lake, Roseville and Moundsview. The Twin City Steel lost their first game, 4–3, at the Granite City Lumberjacks on September 10, 2011, and would record their first win less than a week later at their home-opener.
It was announced on April 23, 2013, that the Steel have been sold by Scott Wallin to the Black family. [2]
After a successful 30–13–4 record during the 2015–16 regular season, the Steel would go on to win their first West Division Championship by sweeping the defending league champions, Granite City Lumberjacks. The Steel then made their first NA3HL Silver Cup Playoff appearance but would lose in overtime to the eventual Silver Cup Champion North Iowa Bulls.
On April 26, 2016, it was announced that the Twin City Steel would be relocating to New Ulm, Minnesota, to become the New Ulm Steel. In 2018, Steve Black also purchased a team in the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and relocated it as the Chippewa Steel. In March 2021, Steve Black sold both Steel teams to an ownership group led by Kelly Kasik. [3]
In April 2023, the Pinnacle Hockey Group, LLC, consisting of owners Adam Keer and Ryan Egan, purchased and relocated the New Ulm Steel to Tomah, Wisconsin, as the Wisconsin Woodsmen. [4]
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Twin Cities Steel | |||||||||||
2011–12 | 48 | 24 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 173 | 173 | 1507 | 3rd of 4, West 9th of 19, NA3HL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
2012–13 | 48 | 19 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 41 | 167 | 226 | 1210 | 5th of 6, West 12th of 17, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
2013–14 | 48 | 22 | 20 | 6 | — | 50 | 186 | 201 | 1000 | 4th of 6, West 13th of 21, NA3HL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
2014–15 | 47 | 23 | 22 | 2 | — | 48 | 161 | 170 | 1364 | 4th of 6, West 20th of 31, NA3HL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
2015–16 | 47 | 30 | 13 | 4 | — | 64 | 219 | 160 | 660 | 2nd of 5, West 15th of 34, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Breezy Point North Stars Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks 1–2–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin (L, 3–4 vs. Jr. Blues; L, 1–2 vs. Jets; W, 5–2 vs. Jr. Brahmas) Lost Semifinal game, 3–4 OT vs. North Iowa Bulls |
New Ulm Steel | |||||||||||
2016–17 | 47 | 26 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 55 | 183 | 163 | 765 | 3rd of 5, West 19th of 48, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks |
2017–18 | 47 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 66 | 204 | 133 | 469 | 2nd of 5, West 13th of 42, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks |
2018–19 | 47 | 25 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 54 | 192 | 178 | 771 | 5th of 7, West 20th of 36, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
2019–20 | 47 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 65 | 195 | 136 | 690 | 3rd of 6, West 11th of 34, NA3HL | Playoffs cancelled |
2020–21 | 40 | 7 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 86 | 185 | 513 | 5th of 5, West 29th of 31, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
2021–22 | 47 | 10 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 98 | 245 | 737 | 5th of 6, West 29th of 34, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
2022–23 | 47 | 15 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 36 | 145 | 205 | 991 | 5th of 6, West 26th of 34, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
Wisconsin Woodsmen | |||||||||||
2023-24 | 42 | 22 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 47 | 150 | 118 | 588 | 4th of 6, Central 18 of 34, NA3HL | Lost Div Semifinal 0-2 (Wausau Cyclones) |
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 49th season of operation in 2023–24. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.
The Minnesota Wilderness are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Cloquet, Minnesota, and play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The organization formerly fielded teams in the Canada-based Junior A Superior International Junior Hockey League for three seasons and in the American-based Tier III Minnesota Junior Hockey League.
The Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was a junior ice hockey league established in 1993. It was sanctioned by the United Hockey Union, the junior hockey branch of the Amateur Athletic Union. Previously, it was sanctioned by USA Hockey from 1994 to 2011. Teams played approximately 50 games in the regular season schedule, mimicking what players would experience at the collegiate level. As of January 2022, there are no active teams in the league following the creation of the Can-Am Junior Hockey League by former WSHL teams.
The Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league operated out of Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
The Billings Bulls were a junior ice hockey organization based in Billings, Montana. They most recently played home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena and due to the arena's small size, the Bulls frequently sold-out games. They previously played their home games in the Metrapark which had a max capacity of 9,000 for hockey games. However, a negotiating dispute with arena officials and local county commissioners resulted in the team losing its lease.
The El Paso Rhinos are a junior ice hockey organization based in El Paso, Texas. Their home games are played at the County Events Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex. The Rhinos are members of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League (NAHL) after adding the team as an expansion franchise in 2021. The organization also has a Tier III team that was originally a member of the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League from 2006 to 2020 before joining the North American 3 Hockey League for the 2020–21 season.
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league that consists of teams from Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Sanctioned by USA Hockey, for most of the league's existence, the winner of the NA3HL playoffs would advance to play for the Tier III National Championship, however, this has not been held since 2015.
The Wooster Oilers were a junior ice hockey team and member of the United States Premier Hockey League 'Premier' level. The Oilers play home games at the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster, Ohio.
The Chippewa Steel is a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, that plays in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
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.
The Granite City Lumberjacks are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) and plays their home games at the Armadillo Deck Sports Arena, located in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. The Lumberjacks play 48 regular season games, in addition to showcase and post-season tournament games.
The Sheridan Hawks are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays home games at the Sheridan Ice M&M’s Center in Sheridan, Wyoming.
The Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks were a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team played their home games at the Ice Land USA in Strongsville, Ohio. The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a spot on higher levels of junior ice hockey in the United States and Canada, Canadian Major Junior, Collegiate, and eventually professional teams.
The New England Knights were a Tier III junior ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team played out of Raynham IcePlex in Raynham, Massachusetts. The Knights' organization are owned by Lovell Hockey, which also operates boys' and girls' Knights youth teams as well as the Boston Advantage organization in the United States Premier Hockey League. The junior Knights team was not listed as a member of the NA3HL for the 2020–21 season, but the organization continued to host its youth teams.
North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league. The league had teams in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. In 2016, the league merged with the North American 3 Hockey League.
The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is an American ice hockey league. Founded in 2012, the USPHL has grown to over 60 organizations from across the United States fielding teams in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), Premier, Elite, EHF, 18U, 16U, 15U, and High Performance youth divisions.
The Coulee Region Chill was a Tier III junior ice hockey team that played at the Green Island Ice Arena in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The team played in the North American 3 Hockey League. The franchise was previously known as the Flint Jr. Generals based in Flint, Michigan, and the La Crosse Freeze. Due to the loss of the Chill's home arena, the team ceased operations and the franchise was sold to the Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers organization in 2020.
Scott Meyer is an American former ice hockey player and coach who was the head coach and general manager of the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League. Meyer was also an ownership partner of the Minnesota Junior Hockey Group, which owns and operates the Magicians.
The North Iowa Bulls are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). They play their home games at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena in Mason City, Iowa. The organization also operates a Tier III junior team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) that was known as the North Iowa Bulls from 2011 to 2021 before relocating the Tier II Amarillo Bulls' franchise to Mason City and rebranding the Tier III team as the Mason City Toros. The Bulls are coached by Todd Sanden, who has been with the North Iowa team since its inception in 2011.