Granite City Lumberjacks: A History of Success on Ice

The Benton County Fairgrounds hold a secret: the Miller Buick GMC Arena (Sports Arena East), home to the Granite City Lumberjacks. This Tier III Junior A ice hockey team competes in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) and plays their home games in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Currently, the team boasts an impressive 9-0 record, fresh off a weekend sweep of Mason City. With a history of competing for championships, this season looks promising for another banner-raising year.

If you're looking for something to do, catching a game from one of our local teams is a great way to spend some time.

The NA3HL: A Brief Overview

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The NA3HL has roots dating back to the early 1980s as the Junior B level Central States Hockey League (CSHL). In 2007, the CSHL transitioned from Junior B to Tier III Junior A under the USA Hockey classification system.

Recent Successes

The Lumberjacks' recent victory over Mason City improved their record to 9-0, with Saturday night's game resulting in a dominant 10-1 win. Friday night saw the Jacks double up the Toro's 6-3.

Key Factors in the Team's Success

One reason for the team's success this year is the well-distributed goal-scoring. Before the weekend, the team had four players tied with 10 points apiece: Parker Comstock, Easton Portner, Justin Lesser, and Seth Terhell.

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The goaltending has also been a strong point for the Jacks, featuring a familiar name in the net: Nick Hansen from Cathedral.

NA3HL Arena Graphic

Historical Achievements

The Granite City Lumberjacks have a rich history, including:

• 2008-09 MnJHL regular season champions, qualifying for the USA Hockey Tier III Jr.
• 2015 Silver Cup Championship victory over the North Iowa Bulls.

Past Playoff Results

The Lumberjacks have had numerous successful playoff runs over the years. Here's a summary of their division semifinal and final results:

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• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Minnesota Flying Aces
• Won Div. Finals, 2-1 vs. North Iowa Bulls
• Won Div. Semifinals, 3-1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
• Lost Div. Finals, 1-2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
• Lost Div. Finals, 1-2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
• Lost Div. Finals
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Breezy Point North Stars
• Won Div. Finals, 2-1 vs. New Ulm Steel
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Willmar WarHawks
• Won Div. Finals, 2-0 vs. New Ulm Steel
• Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-2 vs. New Ulm Steel
• Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Alexandria Blizzard
• Won Div. Finals, 2-1 vs. North Iowa Bulls
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Willmar WarHawks
• Lost Div. Semifinals
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 Mason City Toros
• Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 Wilmar WarHawks

Silver Cup Championship Runs

The Lumberjacks have had several notable Silver Cup Championship runs:

• 2-1-0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
  • (L, 1-2 vs. Jr. Blues; W, 5-2 vs. Cherokee; W, 3-2 vs. Jr. Generals)
  Won Championship game, 2-1 vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues
• 1-1 in Silver Cup Round Robin
  • (W, 5-2 vs. Flint Jr. Generals; OTL, 2-3 vs. North Iowa Bulls)
• 2-1-0 in Silver Cup Round Robin (as wildcard qualifier)
  • (L, 4-7 vs. Bulls;W, 2-0 vs. Jr. Predators; W, 6-1 vs. Jets)
  Won Championship game, 3-2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
• 2-1-0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
  • (L, 0-3 vs. Metro Jets; W, 4-3 vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues; W, 5-2 vs. Atlanta Capitals)
  Won Semifinal game, 3-2 vs. Binghamton Jr. Senators Won Championship game, 2-1 vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues
• 2-0-1 in Fraser Cup Round Robin Lost Semifinal game, 2-3 (ot) vs. Metro Jets

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead at the Lumberjack's schedule, they are traveling down to the Twin Cities on Friday to play the newest team in the division, the Minnesota Moose, and on Saturday the team is back home to take on Willmar.

The 48 in 24 Series

The "48 in 24" series offers an in-depth look into all 48 teams in the NA3HL for the 2016-17 season. This series includes interviews with all 48 head coaches, providing fans with their expectations and outlook for the upcoming season, including a look at their potential roster and strengths as a team. It also reviews the 2015-16 season, highlighting each team's accomplishments.

2015-16 Season Recap

In the 2015-16 season, the Granite City Lumberjacks finished with a record of 33-11-3, totaling 69 points. They made it to the West Division finals but fell short of the Silver Cup Championship.

Head Coach Brad Willner aimed to build on that momentum and add another championship to the Lumberjacks' history.

“I was happy with last season as a whole,” Willner said. “Winning the West Division during the regular season was great, but our team was disappointed about our finish. I feel we peaked too early and couldn't find that chemistry during playoffs."

Coaching and Playing History

Before joining the Lumberjacks, Willner coached with the Alexandria Blizzard of the NAHL for four seasons and with St. Cloud State for five seasons. He also had a rich playing career, including playing for Lake Superior State University in the CCHA, the Raleigh Ice Caps in the ECHL, the Albany River Rats in the AHL, and the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

“I feel the lessons I learned from playing for great coaches has helped me the most,” Willner said. “I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that there isn't one way to do things correctly."

Team Culture and College Commitments

The Lumberjacks have a history to live up to, with two Silver Cup Championships in 2012 and 2015.

“I think championship teams start with great leadership from our veteran players,” Willner said. “The discipline that they instill on the rest of the team will create the atmosphere for winning. Players play hard and want to give their all for the guy next to them."

The Lumberjacks have a strong reputation for preparing players for college, with six college commitments in the summer of 2016, including four active players and two alumni. These commitments included:

• Forward Adam Marty and defenseman Typer Mros to Bethel University in Minnesota.
• Forward Tommy Hall to Hamline University in Minnesota.
• Defenseman Kevin Finley to Midland University in Nebraska.

“We have a great reputation of preparing our players for college and college coaches know that,” Willner said.

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