NA Now: Minnesota Wilderness
The NA Now video series features an in-depth look into all NAHL teams as they prepare for the 2026-27 season. One team will be highlighted every day, leading up to the start of the regular season on September 11, 2026. Each interview features each team’s head coach, as they dive into detail on the expectations and outlooks for this upcoming season.
Minnesota Wilderness
Head Coach: Sam Graham (1st season)
2025-26 Regular Season Record: 42-12-3-2 – 89 points (1st in Midwest Division)
2025-26 Leading Scorer: Noah Dziver (30-45–75)
2026 Postseason: Lost Robertson Cup Championship Game to the Maryland Black Bears
2026-27 Division: Midwest Division
Location: Cloquet, Minnesota
Formation Year: 2013 (14th season)
Midwest Division Title: One (2026)
Robertson Cup Championship: One (2015)
Heading into his first season behind the bench for the Wilderness, Sam Graham shares what he is hoping to achieve while building upon what Zach Stepan built.
“I think carrying the same structure that Zach had [while] building off that. I think they played fast and they were creative, and scored a lot of goals. They were structured and detailed. But there's definitely creativity within that. And obviously you want to play north, you want to get a lot of scoring chances. And hopefully that leads to a lot of goals, a lot of fun, and exciting hockey to watch.”
Graham is a veteran coach in the NAHL, serving two seasons as an assistant and associate head coach of the Anchorage Wolverines. Now with the opportunity to lead the charge, Graham shares what it means to earn the opportunity to coach for the Wilderness organization and his goals for the year.
Next up: Minnesota Mallards
