Willmar WarHawks explained

Bg Color:red
Team:Willmar WarHawks
Logosize:220px
City:Willmar, Minnesota
League:NA3HL
Division:West
Founded:2007
Arena:Willmar Civic Center
Colors:Red, black, gray, and white
Owner:Blizzard Hockey, LLC.
Coach:Payton Ruter[1]
Gm:Payton Ruter
Name1:Minnesota Flying Aces
Dates1:2007–2016
Name2:Willmar WarHawks
Dates2:2016–present

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.

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 Loons, and Rochester Grizzlies.[2]

History

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 completion of 2023–24 season

SeasonTeam NameLeagueGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
2007–08 Minnesota Flying Aces MnJHL 48 14 31 1 2 31 160 214 7th of 9, MnJHL Won 1st Round, 2–0 vs Wisconsin Mustangs[5]
Lost 2nd Round, 1–2 vs Rochester Ice Hawks[6]
2008–09 Minnesota Flying Aces MnJHL 48 16 30 0 2 34 153 252 6th of 9, MnJHL Lost 1st Round, 0–2 vs Rochester Ice Hawks
2009–10 Minnesota Flying Aces MnJHL 50 15 32 0 3 33 181 251 6th of 9, MnJHL Lost 1st Round, 0–2 vs Rochester Ice Hawks[7]
2010–11 Minnesota Flying Aces MnJHL 45 26 15 0 4 56 180 164 3rd of 8, MnJHL Lost 1st Round, 1–2 vs Hudson Crusaders
2011–12 Minnesota Flying Aces NA3HL 48 21 24 2 1 45 176 201 4th of 4, West Div.
12th of 16, NA3HL 		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs Granite City Lumberjacks
2012–13 Minnesota Flying Aces NA3HL 48 20 26 1 1 42 137 175 4th of 6, West Div.
11th of 17, NA3HL 		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 vs North Iowa Bulls
2013–14 Minnesota Flying Aces NA3HL 48 9 36 3 —21 111 275 5th of 6, West Div.
19th of 21, NA3HL 		Did not qualify
2014–15 Minnesota Flying Aces NA3HL 47 7 37 3 —17 109 273 6th of 6, West Div.
30th of 31, NA3HL 		Did not qualify
2015–16 Minnesota Flying Aces NA3HL 47 11 34 2 —24 124 248 5th of 5, West Div.
26th of 34, NA3HL 		Did not qualify
2016–17 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 22 22 2 1 47 148 175 5th of 5, West Div.
30th of 48, NA3HL 		Did not qualify
2017–18 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 22 21 4 0 48 159 182 4th of 5, West Div.
23rd of 42, NA3HL 		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
2018–19 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 12 33 2 0 26 110 217 7th of 7, West Div.
29th of 36, NA3HL 		Did not qualify
2019–20 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 18 24 3 2 41 146 210 5th of 6, West Div.
23rd of 34, NA3HL 		Did not qualify
2020–21 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 40 22 18 0 0 44 147 138 3rd 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
2021–22 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 32 14 0 1 65 219 121 3rd of 6, West Div.
11th of 34, NA3HL 		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. Mason City Toros
2022–23 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 20 25 0 2 42 155 207 4th of 6, West Div.
24th of 34, NA3HL 		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks
2023–24 Willmar Warhawks NA3HL 47 16 28 2 1 35 160 189 5th of 6, West Div.
25th of 34, NA3HL 		Did not qualify

Coaching History

As of completion of 2023–24 season

TenureHead CoachYearsRecordPct.
2016-17 Chris Blasius †1+ 31–30–1–0
2017-18 Steve Yurichuk 1 6-4-1-0
2017-18 Mike Bowman †† 1 7-11-2-0
2018-19 Saverio Posa 1 12-33-2-0
2019–22 Kirk Olimb 3 72–60–0–2
2022–23 Connor White & Kyle Christensen ††† 1 20–25–2–0
2023–present Payton Ruter 1 16-28-2-1

† 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 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerYears GP G APts
1Brandan Holt2017-201194074114
2Michael Sweetland2020-231074469113
3Tyler Misialek2021-24131593897
4Eli Slagter2017-20133375289
5Jeremiah Konkel2020-2285313970
t6Braden Shea2016-1878273865
t6Braydon Buckingham2022-2483263965
8Max Oelkers2016-1895263763
t9Luke McCarthy2022-2463253459
t9Riley 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 2023-34 Season
RankPlayerYears GP G APts
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 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeason GP G APts
1Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
2Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
3Brandan Holt202019-2045173451
4Anthony Foster192021-2245183250
5Michael Sweetland202022-2342173249
t6Braden Shea192017-1847173047
t6Ben Luedtke202021-2240182947
8Collin Kerchoff 202021-2241143044
9Tyler Misialek202023-2446281442
10Wyatt Toll192017-184693140

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 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeason GP G APts
1Tyler Misialek202023-2446281442
2Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
3Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
4Hudson Zinda202023-2430201232
t5Eli Slagter192018-1941182139
t5Anthony Foster192021-2245183250
t5Ben Luedtke202021-2240182947
t5Tyler Misialek192022-2341181533
t9Braden Shea192017-1847173047
t9Brandan Holt202019-2045173451
t9Dylan Svoboda202019-2047171330
t9Michael Sweetland202022-2347173249

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
RankPlayerYears GP G APts
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
RankPlayerYears GP G APts
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
RankPlayerAgeSeason GP G APts
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 2023-24 Season
RankPlayerAgeSeason GP G APts
1Parker Tomczyk202011-1243293059
2Tyler Misialek202023-2446281442
3Jeremiah Konkel192021-2243252752
t4Stephen Langford192011-1240242044
t4Liam Johnston182011-1246241034
t4Jake Mullendore192013-1448242347
t4Kyle Wendorf202016-1746243256
8Kyle Wendorf192015-1647222345
9Hudson Zinda202023-2430201232
10Eric Cruickshank202013-1434192443
t11Bradee Thompson202014-1546182442
t11Alec Skar182015-1641181634
t11Eli Slagter192018-1941182139
t11Anthony Foster192021-2245183250
t11Ben Luedtke202021-2240182947
t11Tyler Misialek192022-2341181533

Alumni

External links

Notes and References

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

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