Ben Johnson, General Manager & Head Coach
bjohnson@na3hlwildernesshockey.com
Ben Johnson joins the staff for the inaugural season. He is no stranger to new programs coming directly from being the first head coach at co-op Rock Ridge for the past 3 seasons. Before that he was the head coach at Ely High school from 2015-2018.
As a player, Ben boasts an impressive career spanning 96 games over four seasons in the USHL, including one season with North Iowa and three seasons with the Rochester Mustangs. He also competed in the WHL, appearing in 31 games over two seasons with the Spokane Chiefs.
Patricia Elsmore-Sautter, Assistant Coach
Paddy Elsmore-Sautter, a Switzerland native, joins the Minnesota Wilderness with an impressive playing and coaching background. She brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective.
A former standout goaltender at Minnesota-Duluth, she won national championships in 2002 and 2003 before representing Switzerland in the 2006 Winter Olympics and seven World Championships. Previously, she has coached for St. Scholastica along with several Minnesota high school teams.
She resides in Esko, MN with her husband Steve and children Anika and Neil.
Board of Governor/Owner: Barry Bohman
Board of Governor/Owner: Brenda Bohman
Dave Boitz: President of Operations
Dave Boitz has been an integral part of the Wilderness Hockey Organization for the last 10 seasons, serving at the Wilderness General Manager and now President of Operations. During this time, The Wilderness claimed the Robertson Cup in 2015 and Dave Boitz was recognized as the 2017 GM Of The Year.
Prior to working with The Wilderness, Boitz was the Head Coach and General Manager of the Alaska Avalanche, from 2008 – 2011. During his time with the Avalanche, the team rose from the bottom of the league into a team that was able to contend for a playoff spot each year, winning over 30 games in their last two seasons.
Previous to the Alaska Avalanche, Boitz was part of the inaugural season for the North Iowa Outlaws, where he was Head Coach and GM for three seasons. During Boitz’s time in Iowa, the Outlaws elevated to one of the top teams in the NAHL, winning the Central Division Title in 2008. During the same year, the North Iowa Outlaws were also recognized as Organization of the Year in the NAHL.
Boitz’s first season coaching in the NAHL came during the inaugural season of the then Alexandria (Brookings) blizzard in 2003. After getting a late start in their first season, they came back as a serious contender in their second season, competing in the Robertson Cup playoffs.
Before coaching in the NAHL, Boitz spent over 8 years coaching in the Alexandria hockey association, both as a bantam and high school boys hockey coach. Boitz’s teams in Alexandria would consistently compete in State championships and brought home several Conference Championship titles.
Hailing from the hockey-rich region of Hermantown and a graduate of Duluth Denfeld, Jonah Williams brings a wealth of experience and passion for the game to the Minnesota Wilderness.
Before joining the Wilderness, Jonah held significant roles within the hockey community, Most recently with the American Hockey Academy as an Assistant Coach for the 16u AAA team in Boston, MA.
Jonah’s extensive scouting background includes stints with the NAHL’s Chippewa Steel and Kansas City Scouts, as well as the USHL, where he played a pivotal role in securing the prestigious Clark Cup with the Youngstown Phantoms in 2023.
Throughout his coaching career, Jonah has left an indelible mark on various teams, including the NA3HL’s Wausau RiverWolves and Gilmour Academy in Cleveland, OH. At Gilmour Academy, he held the position of Director of Player Development and served as an assistant coach for both the 18u Prep and 16u AAA teams.
In his role with the Minnesota Wilderness, Jonah will lead the 16u and 18u Fall/Spring teams while also contributing his expertise in scouting, recruiting, and other areas of hockey operations. His deep roots in the Minnesota hockey community and unwavering commitment to player development make him a valuable asset to the Wilderness organization.
Nick Campbell, Director of Player Personnel
(507) 995-9315
Nick will be entering his 4th season as an assistant coach for the Mankato West Scarlets. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach in the NA3HL for the New Ulm Steel for 3 years (one of those seasons with Coach Stepan). His playing career included 3 years of high school at Mankato West and 3 seasons playing for the Twin City Steel/New Ulm Steel. He currently resides in Mankato with his fiance Kelsey.
Kevin Smalley, Director of Player Development
Kevin is entering his fifth season with the Minnesota Wilderness Organization as the Director of Player Personnel. In addition to his leadership role, Kevin plays an integral part in the development of the organization’s future talent by coaching the U16 and U18 Fall/Spring development teams. As a scout, he has been instrumental in discovering top prospects from Northern Minnesota and integrating them into the Wilderness family. A former player at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Kevin’s experience and keen eye for talent have made him a key asset in building the team’s success.