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.
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.
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.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM Regular season finish PlayoffsTwin Cities Steel 2011–12 48 24 21 2 1 51 173 173 1507 3rd of 4, West9th 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, West12th of 17, NA3HL Did not qualify 2013–14 48 22 20 6 — 50 186 201 1000 4th of 6, West13th 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, West20th 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, West15th of 34, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Breezy Point North StarsWon Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks1–2–0 in Silver Cup Round RobinLost Semifinal game, 3–4 OT vs. North Iowa BullsNew Ulm Steel 2016–17 47 26 18 0 3 55 183 163 765 3rd of 5, West19th of 48, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Alexandria BlizzardLost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks 2017–18 47 30 11 4 2 66 204 133 469 2nd of 5, West13th of 42, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Alexandria BlizzardLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Granite City Lumberjacks 2018–19 47 25 18 1 3 54 192 178 771 5th of 7, West20th of 36, NA3HL Did not qualify 2019–20 47 31 13 2 1 65 195 136 690 3rd of 6, West11th of 34, NA3HL Playoffs cancelled 2020–21 40 7 29 4 0 18 86 185 513 5th of 5, West29th of 31, NA3HL Did not qualify 2021–22 47 10 36 1 0 21 98 245 737 5th of 6, West29th of 34, NA3HL Did not qualify 2022–23 47 15 26 1 5 36 145 205 991 5th of 6, West26th of 34, NA3HL Did not qualifyWisconsin Woodsmen 2023-24 42 22 17 1 2 47 150 118 588 4th of 6, Central18 of 34, NA3HL Lost Div Semifinal 0-2 (Wausau Cyclones) 2024-25 47 24 16 4 3 55 200 176 588 4th of 6, Central16 of 35, NA3HL Lost Div Semifinal 0-2 (Rochester Grizzlies) 2025-26 47 19 24 2 2 42 166 194 x 5th of 6, Central27 of 38, NA3HL Did not qualify
References
External links Wisconsin Woodsmen North American 3 Hockey League website