Coaches

Brad Willner – General Manager

Brad Willner is entering his 15th year with the Granite City Lumberjac2ks hockey program.  In his first 14 seasons, the Lumberjacks have won five league championships, seven division championships.  Willner was named NA3HL General Manager of the Year in 2012 and 2022 and Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2019.  Prior to joining the Lumberjacks, Willner was the Head Coach and General Manager of the Alexandria Blizzard of the North American Hockey League for four seasons (2005-09).  While there, he led the Blizzard to four straight playoff appearances and captured the Central Division Playoff Championship and earned a spot at the Robertson Cup Championship during the 2007-08 season.

Before heading up Alexandria, Willner spent five seasons with St. Cloud State University (2000-05), where he served as an assistant coach.  During his time at SCSU, the Huskies won the 2001 WCHA Final Five and had 36 players earning WCHA All-Academic honors. Prior to SCSU, Willner served as an assistant coach with Providence College (1996-2000) helping them recruit two NCAA All-Americans and placing 26 players on the Hockey East Academic Honor Roll.

Willner has also coached in seven USA Hockey Select Festivals and assisted with the US Under 17 Team in Huttwil, Switzerland, which won the Gold at the Five Nations Tournament in August of 2005.

Before entering his coaching career, Willner, a fourth round draft choice by the New Jersey Devils in 1991 (77th pick), played professional hockey for the Albany River Rats (AHL) and Raleigh Ice Caps (ECHL) in 1995-96 before suffering a career ending injury. Willner played collegiate hockey for Lake Superior State University winning two NCAA Championships (1992, 1994) and three Central Collegiate Hockey League (CCHA) championships (1992, 1993 and 1995). He also earned Academic All-American Honors in 1995.

Willner played junior hockey for the St. Paul Vulcans, which won the Gold Cup in 1991.

Brad, his wife Alyssa and sons Jude and Jones, currently reside in Kimball, MN.

DJ Vold – Head Coach / Scouting Coordinator

DJ Vold is entering his 5th year as Head Coach and Scouting Coordinator of the Granite City Lumberjacks, and his 10th year with the Lumberjacks’ organization. DJ was an Assistant Coach and Scouting Coordinator for the Lumberjacks from 2013-2017. During that time, the Lumberjacks went on to win the West Division twice and the Silver Cup, which is now known as the Fraser Cup, twice.

Prior to returning to the Lumberjacks, DJ was the Head Coach and General Manager for the Breezy Point North Stars of the NA3HL. DJ spent two years with the North Stars (2017-2019).

Before DJ started coaching, he played one year of Junior Hockey with the Rochester Ice Hawks (MNJHL) when he was a Sophomore in high school. After the Ice Hawks he joined the Madison Capitols AAA in Madison, WI. After two years with the Capitols, DJ joined the Granite City Lumberjacks where he played for three years. In that three-year period the Lumberjacks went on to win the Bush Cup in the MNJHL, the West Division in the NA3HL and the Fraser Cup. DJ’s hockey career came to end in 2013 due to injury.

DJ resides in Sauk Rapids, MN with his wife Molly. They are currently expecting their first child in early 2021.

Mat Hall – Assistant GM

Mat Hall is the current Assistant General manager and player scout for the Lumberjacks.  Previously, Mat was an Assistant Coach for the Lumberjacks from 2009-2012.  During that time the Lumberjacks went on to win a MNJHL Bush Cup Championship and an NA3HL Silver Cup Championship.

Before Mat began coaching, he played five years of high school hockey at Saint Cloud Cathedral. As a senior, he was an Assistant Captain and helped the Crusaders earn a trip to the 2003-2004 Minnesota State High School hockey tournament.

After High School, Mat played 1 year of Midget AAA hockey for the Russell Stover Stars (Overland Park, Kansas). When he was finished in Kansas, he played Junior hockey for the Minnesota Ice Hawks (MNJHL) and the Oswego Admirals (OPJHL). Mat finished his hockey career at St. Mary’s University (MIAC).

Mat is the 5th generation of the Hall Family to work at Mathew Hall Lumber Company in Saint Cloud. He currently is in outside sales.
Mat resides in Sauk Rapids, MN with his wife, Abby and two children.

Eric Moser – Assistant Coach

 

Anders Franke – Goalie Coach

Anders is a 2012 graduate of Elk River High School where he played 4 years of varsity hockey for the Elks. As a freshman, Franke was named to the USA Warren Strelow National Goalie Development Camp in Ann Arbor, Michigan for his birth year.  He was a 4 time All-Conference winner and All-Metro goalie of the year his senior season while playing for Elk River. Franke also holds the record for most career starts and all time wins for Elk River High School. After his 4 years of high school hockey, Anders decided to take on the junior hockey route.

Anders played 2 years of junior hockey in Flint, Michigan following his High School career. During his two seasons with the Flint Jr. Generals of the NA3HL, Franke received honors for
Goalie of the Year and 1st Team All-NA3HL in his 2013-2014 campaign with the Generals. That same year, Anders brought the Generals to a Tier 3 National Championship played in Hartford,
Connecticut.  After 2 seasons in Flint, Franke committed to play college hockey at Saint John’s University (NCAA – D3).
Anders is a graduate of Saint John’s University where he gained a degree in Global Business.

Following his years at St. John’s University, Anders has worked as the goalie coach for a number of teams. Franke worked 3 seasons with Elk River High School Hockey, 4 seasons with St. Cloud Co-Op High School Hockey, 1 season with Saint John’s University (NCAA – D3). He currently helps with the Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL) and St. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA -Women’s D1). Anders is also the Northwest Goalie Director for MEGA Goaltending based in Blaine, MN.