Pre-season training camp begins today for the Minnesota Wilderness’ 2023-24 campaign.
A roster of 29 players will take to the ice with the first three days of practice set for Wessman Arena on the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus in Superior, WI. Beginning Saturday, Aug. 26, the team will skate at Proctor’s St. Luke’s Sports and Events Center.
The Proctor facility will also be the team’s home for its single pre-season home game, and first three regular season home contests, due to an ice plant breakdown at its home venue—the Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet. Repairs on the ice plant in Cloquet are not expected to be completed until October.
The training camp roster includes eight players who skated for the Wilderness in the 2022-23 season, which saw them win the Midwest Division and return to the Robertson Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2015.
Returning players include forwards Joe Cesario (who returned to the team during the summer after being traded to Anchorage at the 2023 trade deadline), Adam Johnson, Evan Pahos, Eddie Shepler and Oliver Stümpel; defensemen Carson Liebaert and Gustavs Ozolins; and goaltender Nick Erickson.
The pre-season will include two exhibition games—both against the Austin Bruins. Game 1 will be in Austin Sept. 1, while game 2 is set for the St. Luke’s Sports and Events Center on Sept. 2 at 7:15 p.m.
The regular season opens with a game in Proctor versus the Anchorage Wolverines on Sept. 9 at 7:15 p.m.