Wisconsin Woodsmen
CityTomah, Wisconsin
LeagueNorth American 3 Hockey League
DivisionCentral
Founded2011
Home arenaTomah Ice Center
ColorsRed, black, silver
     
Owner(s)Adam Keer
Ryan Egan
General managerAdam Keer
Head coachJon Vaillancourt[1]
Franchise history
2011–2016Twin City Steel
2016–2023New Ulm Steel
2023–presentWisconsin 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).

History

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.

New Ulm Steel logo.

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-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
2011–12482421215117317315073rd of 4, West
9th of 19, NA3HL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2012–13481926124116722612105th of 6, West
12th of 17, NA3HL
Did not qualify
2013–1448222065018620110004th of 6, West
13th of 21, NA3HL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2014–1547232224816117013644th of 6, West
20th of 31, NA3HL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2015–164730134642191606602nd 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
2016–1747261803551831637653rd of 5, West
19th of 48, NA3HL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
2017–1847301142662041334692nd of 5, West
13th of 42, NA3HL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
2018–1947251813541921787715th of 7, West
20th of 36, NA3HL
Did not qualify
2019–2047311321651951366903rd of 6, West
11th of 34, NA3HL
Playoffs cancelled
2020–21407294018861855135th of 5, West
29th of 31, NA3HL
Did not qualify
2021–224710361021982457375th of 6, West
29th of 34, NA3HL
Did not qualify
2022–2347152615361452059915th of 6, West
26th of 34, NA3HL
Did not qualify
Wisconsin Woodsmen

References

  1. "VAILLANCOURT NAMED TO LEAD WOODSMEN". woodsmenhockey.com. May 23, 2023.
  2. "Twin City Steel announce ownership change".
  3. "New Ulm Steel have a new owner". The Journal. March 9, 2021.
  4. "NA3HL announces new team in Tomah, Wisconsin". NA3HL. April 10, 2023.


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