The Minnesota Wilderness made a number of transactions within the last week ahead of this week’s NAHL trade deadline and roster freeze. Five new players have been acquired to help bolster a lineup ahead of the regular season’s final stretch.
New to the team are the following players:
Bo Cosman: A 21-year-old forward from Milton, GA, who has most recently played with the Anchorage Wolverines, but spent most of this season with the El Paso Rhinos. Cosman has 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) over 30 games this season, and is committed to play college hockey at UMass.
Niklas Erickson: An 18-year-old goaltender from Apple Valley, MN, played one game with the Oklahoma Warriors after spending most of 2022-23 with Tri-City of the USHL. In 13 games with the Tri-City Storm, Erickson compiled a 3.75 GAA with .852 save percentage and 3-5 record. In his lone game with Oklahoma, he made 20 saves in an 8-3 victory over Corpus Christi. Prior to junior hockey, Erickson spent two seasons with Hill-Murray High School where he set career records for GAA (1.40) and save percentage (.931).
Nicolas Haviar: A 3-year junior hockey veteran from Vail, CO, Haviar began the season with the New Mexico Ice Wolves, where he also played his first two seasons at the junior level. The 20-year-old forward was part of New Mexico’s 2021-22 South Division championship squad, where he played 47 games, and registered 14 goals and 11 assists (plus six points over 13 playoff games). This season, he has compiled 4 goals and 3 assists over 36 games, including 1 goal in his first two games with the Wilderness Feb. 4-5.
Evan Pahos: A 19-year-old defenseman from Edina, MN, who was acquired from the St. Cloud Norsemen, has notched one goal and nine assists over 34 games this season. Pahos is in his 2nd season at the Jr. level after playing his rookie campaign with New Jersey of the NCDC. He spent his youth in Colorado where he played at Valor Christian HS and AAA with the Colorado Thunderbirds.
Sawyer Scholl: A 3-year junior hockey veteran who began his career in his hometown of Green Bay, WI, with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. Scholl is a 20-year-old forward who played 96 games in his first two seasons in Green Bay, generating 31 points (9 goals, 22 assists). He began 2022-23 with the Sioux City Musketeers, where he put up seven points (six goals, one assist) over 35 games. He was acquired by the Wilderness through the deal that sent Ren Morque to Sioux City. Scholl jumped into his role with the Wilderness, scoring a goal in the first period in his first game on Feb. 2. He has an NCAA verbal commitment to play at the University of Wisconsin.
Two of the deals listed above forced the Wilderness to part ways with others who have been with the team for at least the last month. Defenseman Severi Sulonen was sent to St. Cloud for Pahos, while forward Joe Cesario and defenseman Mitch Simmons went to Anchorage for Bo Cosman. The Wilderness received Haviar in exchange for a future draft pick.
With the roster freeze and others coming off injured reserve within the next few weeks, four players were released from the team, and have found a home with the NA3HL’s Alexandria Blizzard. They include goaltender Konrad Kausch, forwards Calvin Knight and Hayden DeMars, and defenseman Jameson O’Flynn.
Minnesota is back on the ice Feb. 17-18 for a road series vs. the Wisconsin Windigo.