Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons men's ice hockey
| Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons men's ice hockey | |
|---|---|
| University | University of Wisconsin-River Falls |
| Conference | WIAC |
| Head coach | Steve Freeman 27th season, 423–246–62 (.621) |
| Arena | Hunt Arena River Falls, Wisconsin |
| Colors | Red and White |
| Fight song | The Pledge Song |
| NCAA tournament champions | |
| 1988, 1994 | |
| NCAA tournament runner-up | |
| 1993 | |
| NCAA tournament Frozen Four | |
| 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| 1984, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 | |
| NAIA tournament champions | |
| 1983 | |
| NAIA tournament appearances | |
| 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| 2015 | |
| Conference regular season champions | |
| WIAC: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 NCHA: 1988, 1996, 2007 | |
Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons men's ice hockey is the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) ice hockey team at the university. UWRF is a Division III hockey team, a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Falcons are a part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), which is also a part of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). However, the WIAC announced in February 2012 that they would be leaving the NCHA due to budgetary reasons, effective for the 2014–15 season.[1]
The Falcons have won three national titles, one as a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1983, and two NCAA national titles in 1988 and 1994.[2] The Falcons play at Hunt Arena, which opened in 1973. Steve Freeman is the head coach of the Falcons and is the all-time wins leader for both UWRF and the WIAC with over 400 wins.[3][4]
Records history
As of January 2025[5]
- NAIA National Champions: 1983
- NCAA National Champions: 1988, 1994
- NCHA Champions: 1988, 1996, 2007
- WIAC Champions: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016
- WIAC Playoff Champions (Commissioner's Cup): 2015
Coaching
| Name | Career |
|---|---|
| Jack Agnew | 2–3–0 |
| Walt Granata | 9–13–0 |
| Tom Younghans | 9–1–0 |
| Gwyn Christensen | 10–2–0 |
| Jim Helminiak | 28–37–1 |
| Don Joseph | 116–97–1 |
| George Gwozdecky | 66–29–2 |
| Mike McGraw | 15–12–0 |
| Craig Dahl | 15–12–3 |
| Rick Kozuback | 65–26–5 |
| Dean Talafous | 110–84–18 |
| Steve Freeman | 423–246–62 |
National tournament history
NAIA tournament
Wisconsin–River Falls participated in the NAIA national tournament nine times. The Falcons won one National Championship, made the semifinals five times, and had a record of 6–12.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | L 0–8 |
| 1976 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Superior | L 3–10 |
| 1977 | Quarterfinals | St. Scholastica | L 4–6 |
| 1978 | Quarterfinals | St. Scholastica | W 3–2 |
| Semifinals | Augsburg | L 2–10 | |
| 3rd Place Game | St. Thomas | L 3–7 | |
| 1979 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | W 4–3 OT |
| Semifinals | Bemidji State | L 5–7 | |
| 3rd Place Game | St. Scholastica | L 2–4 | |
| 1980 | Quarterfinals | Concordia (Moorhead) | W 5–4 |
| Semifinals | Michigan–Dearborn | L 4–5 | |
| 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | L 4–11 | |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals | Augsburg | L 2–9 |
| 1982 | Quarterfinals | Bethel Royals | W 5–4 OT |
| Semifinals | Bemidji State | L 0–7 | |
| 3rd Place Game | Michigan–Dearborn | L 2–4 | |
| 1983 | Semifinals | Hawthorne College | W 7–0 |
| National Championship | Michigan–Dearborn | W 12–5 |
NCAA Division III tournament
Wisconsin–River Falls has participated in the NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament 11 times. The Falcons have won two National Championships, made the Frozen Four six times, and have a record of 24–13.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Quarterfinals | Union | L 0–4 |
| W 6–4 | |||
| L 6–8 | |||
| 1988 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | W 6–5 |
| W 9–5 | |||
| Semifinals | Bemidji State | W 6–4 | |
| W 5–3 | |||
| National Championship | Elmira | W 7–1 | |
| L 3–5 | |||
| W 3–0 | |||
| 1993 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | W 5–2 |
| W 4–2 | |||
| Semifinals | Plattsburgh State | W 4–2 | |
| National Championship | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | L 3–4 OT | |
| 1994 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | W 4–2 |
| W 4–3 | |||
| Semifinals | Fredonia State | W 4–3 | |
| National Championship | Wisconsin–Superior | W 6–4 | |
| 1995 | Quarterfinals | Saint Mary's | W 5–1 |
| W 5–3 | |||
| Semifinals | Middlebury | L 1–3 | |
| 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | W 6–5 OT | |
| 1996 | Quarterfinals | Bowdoin | W 7–1 |
| W 7–3 | |||
| Semifinals | RIT | L 1–2 | |
| 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | W 8–2 | |
| 1998 | Quarterfinals | Augsburg | L 2–3 |
| L 3–4 | |||
| 2001 | Quarterfinals | New England College | W 8–1 |
| W 2–1 | |||
| Semifinals | RIT | L 2–5 | |
| 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | L 1–3 | |
| 2003 | First Round | Saint John's | W 2–0 |
| Quarterfinals | St. Norbert | L 2–5 | |
| 2004 | First Round | St. Thomas | W 3–2 OT |
| Quarterfinals | St. Norbert | L 0–3 | |
| 2007 | First Round | Bethel | L 1–2 |
Current roster
As of November 3, 2025.[6]
| No. | Nat. | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tyler Waram | Sophomore | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 2003-03-11 | Edmonds, Washington | Alaska (NCAA) | — | |
| 4 | Cole Teleki | Sophomore | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 2002-03-13 | Argyle, Texas | Lindenwood (NCAA) | — | |
| 5 | Aidan Torres | Senior | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 2001-03-21 | Hingham, Massachusetts | Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) | — | |
| 6 | Zach Sondreal | Freshman | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2004-02-19 | Woodbury, Minnesota | Chippewa Steel (NAHL) | — | |
| 7 | Burke Simpson | Senior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 2001-08-07 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL) | — | |
| 8 | Dylan Smith | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 2001-12-04 | Plainfield, Illinois | Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) | — | |
| 9 | Max Collette | Senior | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2001-03-01 | St. Malo, Manitoba | Northland (WIAC) | — | |
| 10 | Ethan Lindahl | Sophomore | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2003-02-11 | Andover, Minnesota | St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL) | — | |
| 11 | Alex Atwill | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2003-07-07 | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL) | — | |
| 12 | Anthony Biniaris | Senior | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2001-09-22 | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Brockville Braves (CCHL) | — | |
| 13 | Reid Lune | Sophomore | F | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2003-01-11 | Edwards, Illinois | Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL) | — | |
| 14 | Ryan Tong | Freshman | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2004-05-07 | Burnaby, British Columbia | Ogden Mustangs (NCDC) | — | |
| 15 | Luke Margenau | Freshman | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2004-09-11 | Maple Grove, Minnesota | Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) | — | |
| 16 | Connor Brust | Sophomore | D | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 2003-02-20 | Forest Lake, Minnesota | Austin Bruins (NAHL) | — | |
| 17 | Jonny Meiers | Junior | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 2002-07-15 | Eagan, Minnesota | Maine Nordiques (NAHL) | — | |
| 18 | Tyler Lee | Sophomore | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2003-03-05 | Claremont, California | Yarmouth Mariners (MJAHL) | — | |
| 19 | Gavin Middendorf | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2004-06-18 | Wyoming, Minnesota | Minot Minotauros (NAHL) | — | |
| 20 | Parker Korman | Sophomore | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2003-11-17 | Killarney, Manitoba | Portage Terriers (MJHL) | — | |
| 21 | Anthony Vidrick | Senior | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2001-03-11 | Powell, Ohio | Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL) | — | |
| 22 | Ben Portner | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2004-03-09 | Lakeville, Minnesota | Langley Rivermen (BCHL) | — | |
| 23 | Hunter Jones | Junior | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2002-07-13 | Andover, Minnesota | American International (AHA) | — | |
| 24 | Owen Belisle | Senior | F | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2001-03-02 | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Brockville Braves (CCHL) | — | |
| 25 | Ian Carpenter | Senior | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2001-03-02 | Mount Prospect, Illinois | Wisconsin–Eau Claire (WIAC) | — | |
| 26 | Keenan Ingram | Freshman | F | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 2004-08-31 | Calgary, Alberta | Langley Rivermen (BCHL) | — | |
| 27 | Adisen Brueck | Senior | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2001-08-27 | St. Louis, Missouri | Lindenwood (NCAA) | — | |
| 28 | Grant Kohnen | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2004-12-25 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Maine Nordiques (NAHL) | — | |
| 30 | Nolan LaCosse | Sophomore | G | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 2003-08-04 | Stillwater, Minnesota | Alexandria Blizzard (NA3HL) | — | |
| 33 | Brennan Boynton | Senior | G | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2000-08-01 | Champlin, Minnesota | American International (AHA) | — | |
| 35 | Carson Frye | Sophomore | G | 6' 6" (1.98 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 2003-08-18 | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | New Jersey Bears (EHL) | — |
References
- ^ [1] "WIAC Ice Hockey Teams To Withdraw From NCHA" | retrieved 2012-11-14
- ^ [2] "UWRF Hockey Homepage" | retrieved 2012-11-14
- ^ [3] "Coach Freeman Bio" | retrieved 2012-11-14
- ^ "UWRF Win 3-1 Giving Coach Steve Freeman 300th Career Win". UWRFsports.com. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ [4] "Records and History" | retrieved 2012-11-14
- ^ "2025-26 Men's Hockey Roster". Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
External links