Sep. 30—- The
hope their experience will pay dividends in the new
season come March.
A bevy of returners are back for the 2025-26 season after the WarHawks finished with a 22-26-1-0 record. They were eliminated from the playoffs by the Granite City Lumberjacks.
“Our whole focus this year is to win hockey games and our goal is to win the West Division,” Willmar head coach Payton Ruter said. “We have 12 returners from last year’s season and everyone came back to prove a point this year.”
The WarHawks, who are 1-2-0-0 this season, began play in their 2025-26 schedule on Sept. 12. They host the Alexandria Blizzard for their home opener at 7:10 p.m. Friday at Willmar Civic Center Arena.
Willmar opened with back-to-back West Division losses to the Minnesota Moose and Granite City before beating the Mason City Toros on Sept. 26.
“The first two games were a little rocky — some inconsistent play, our attention to details weren’t quite there — but I’ve been really happy with this group because I feel like every game we’ve had, we’ve progressed in the right direction,” Ruter said.
Ruter is hopeful for a top finish in the West Division after his team dealt with significant injuries last season, highlighted by returnee Mason Wanka, who before suffering an elbow injury, led Willmar with 43 points (21 goals, 22 assists) in 32 games.
Wanka is one of three returnees who finished in the top five in scoring for the WarHawks in 2024-25.
Also back are Aidan Callaghan, who had 44 points (22 goals, 22 assists) in 48 games and Gabe Adams, who finished with 31 points (18 goals,13 assists) in 49 games.
Willmar also has its top four scoring defensemen from a season ago back in its lineup.
That includes former Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato skater Carson Wendorff, Timothy Vaculik, Toby Holtz and Hayden Stensrud.
Holtz and Max Jackson are Willmar’s captains and Kaiden Jackson and Elliot Domagala will serve as alternates. Max Jackson is leading the WarHawks with six points (three goals, three assists) through three games.
Ruter tabbed forward Logan Woods, who has 3 points (one goal, two assists), and defenseman Connor Williams as newcomers to watch, as he did for his two goaltenders Sam Moen and Jacob Brumm.
“The thing I really love about this group is the brotherhood culture that they have established,” Ruter said. “It’s the returners who give us an extra spark. … This is the year to make a push for that West Division, and hopefully, make a run for the Fraser Cup at the end of the year.”
