Board of Governor/Owner: Barry Bohman
Board of Governor/Owner: Brenda Bohman
Chris Ratzloff, Head Coach/General Manager
Ratzloff became Head Coach and GM of the Minnesota Wilderness in January 2025 after two seasons with the Chippewa Steel in the NAHL. He previously led the Rochester Grizzlies in the NA3HL to a 142-28-10 record over four seasons, winning three Central Division Titles, two Fraser Cup Finals appearances, and the 2021-22 Fraser Cup Championship. He was named NA3HL Coach of the Year in 2020-21 and 2021-22. A Rochester, MN native and John Marshall alum, Ratzloff played in the USHL and NCAA DIII before coaching at John Marshall and Rochester Lourdes.
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.
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.
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.