Junior hockey: Willmar WarHawks tab Joey Fodstad as new head coach/GM
· Yahoo Sports
Mar. 13—WILLMAR — The Willmar WarHawks named Joey Fodstad its new head coach and general manager, the team announced on Friday.
Fodstad comes to the WarHawks after serving as an assistant coach at Division III Concordia-Moorhead behind former WarHawks head coach Kirk Olimb.
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Fodstad replaces Payton Ruter in both roles. Ruter spent three seasons with the WarHawks.
Willmar finished the 2025-26 season with a 19-26-2-0 record.
"I'm extremely honored and excited to be named the next head coach of the Willmar WarHawks," Fodstad said in a press release. "From the moment this opportunity came up, it felt like the perfect fit. I'm looking forward to helping our players develop their game while also growing as young men off the ice. I'd also like to give a special thank you to my family for supporting me throughout this process. Lastly, let's go WarHawks!"
A native of Rogers, Fodstad played one season in the United States Premier Hockey League with the Minnesota Mullets based in Minneapolis, followed by three seasons in the NA3HL with the Rochester Grizzlies. That got him to college hockey, where he played at Concordia-Moorhead for two seasons before transitioning into coaching. He also coached at the youth and junior level in the Fargo area.
"Joey brings proven leadership and the ability to connect with today's young athletes," WarHawks director of operations Nate Schueller said in the press release. "His mission and goals for the program all align with what we are building here in Willmar. I am extremely thrilled to have Joey leading this program."