COACHING STAFF
ALEC HAGAMAN
GM / HEAD COACH
Alec Hagaman enters his first season as General Manager and Head Coach of the Minnesota Blue Ox, becoming just the second head coach in organization history. Hagaman brings a championship mindset, proven leadership, and a modern approach to player development as he leads the Blue Ox into a new era.
Hagaman enjoyed an accomplished professional playing career in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), where he was a longtime standout—primarily with the Peoria Rivermen. Serving as a team captain, he helped lead his teams to three championships and earned President’s Cup MVP honors on two of those title runs. Known for his competitiveness and high hockey IQ, Hagaman was one of the league’s most consistent offensive producers, recording multiple 50+ point seasons, including a 71-point campaign in 2021–22. He remains among the top point producers in SPHL history.
Following his playing career, Hagaman transitioned into coaching, serving as an Associate Coach during the 2023–2024 season before continuing his development as a Skills Coach with one of the nation’s premier hockey development organizations. His coaching philosophy blends elite skill development with a strong emphasis on accountability, culture, and team-first play—aligned with the Blue Ox mission of Community. TEAM. Championships.
Hagaman is committed to building a program that develops players both on and off the ice, preparing them for advancement to higher levels of hockey while creating an environment centered on discipline, growth, and competition.
Alec and his wife, Emily, have two children, Paxton and Adley.
JAKE JOHNSON
ASSISTANT COACH
Jake Johnson is a Minnesota-based hockey coach and player development leader for the last 13 years; with experience spanning U8 youth hockey through junior hockey levels. His background includes youth, AAA, high school, prospects, and junior coaching, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the player pathway at every stage of development.
Johnson most recently served as Head Coach of the Minnesota Mallards, where he led all aspects of the junior program including systems implementation, practice planning, video review, player development, staff leadership, and daily team operations. He also served as AAA Director, helping oversee development opportunities for elite youth and prospect players.
At the youth level, Johnson currently serves as Head Coach of the Minnesota Green Giants U14 Prospects team, guiding the program to back to back national tournament appearances while helping players prepare for AAA, high school, and junior opportunities. Throughout his coaching career, teams under his leadership have advanced to regional, state, and national competition.
Johnson is also the founder of A.H.E.A.D. Training, where he has worked with athletes from youth through professional levels. His development work focuses on skating habits, hockey IQ, defensive detail, goaltender development, and long-term advancement.
Before transitioning into full-time coaching, Johnson spent seven years as an educator, a background that continues to shape his coaching style through strong communication, accountability, mentorship, and structured player development.
Known for building positive culture and maximizing player growth, Johnson brings a modern development mindset rooted in discipline, relationships, and helping athletes reach the next level.
His coaching background across multiple age groups gives him a unique perspective on the full development pathway—from early fundamentals to elite youth hockey to junior advancement.
KATRINA STEWART
SKATING COACH
Katrina Stewart joins the Minnesota Blue Ox as the team’s Skating Coach for the inaugural 2026–2027 NCDC season, bringing a strong background in skating development and player performance.
Based in Minnesota, Stewart has built a reputation as a highly detail-oriented skating coach, working with athletes across youth, high school, and junior levels. Her approach focuses on edge control, stride efficiency, balance, and power generation—key components that translate directly to in-game performance and overall player advancement.
Stewart has extensive experience helping players refine their skating mechanics while improving speed, agility, and mobility. She is known for her ability to break down complex movements into teachable, repeatable habits that allow athletes to make measurable progress.
As part of the Blue Ox staff, Stewart will play a critical role in enhancing the team’s overall pace of play and individual player development, aligning with the organization’s commitment to building a fast, disciplined, and development-first program.
Her addition marks an important step in establishing a high-performance environment as the Blue Ox enter their first season in the NCDC.
TRAINING STAFF
DR. KEVIN WILLIS, PhD
MINDSET TRAINING COACH
Dr. Kevin Willis is a sport psychologist and one of North America’s rising mental coaches in hockey.
His work in enhancing performance and team building has helped hockey players, coaches, and parents find success while handling the pressure and stress that comes with playing elite hockey.
Author of Hockey Grit, Grind, and Mind, Dr Willis is the founder of TheCompletePlayer.com, 30DaysMentalToughness.com, ZenHockey.com, GritGrindandMind.net, and conducts team coaching, group coaching, and private 1:1 coaching across North America.
The Minnesota Blue Ox is proud to have Kevin on our staff, as a mindset training coach for our players!
ALLYSON OBERNOLTE, LAT, ATC
ALLINA HEALTH ORTHOPEDICS / ATHLETIC TRAINER
Allyson graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2015 with a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Athletic Training and a minor in Public Health Education and Promotion. She has experience working with youth, high school, adult amateur, and NCAA division I, II, and III athletic events. The sports that she has worked with include hockey, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, lacrosse, baseball, softball, track and field, football, soccer volleyball, cross country, and mountain bike racing.
Allyson has been with Allina since April 2021. She had been working for Blue Line Medical Services, LLC for a little over two years. She works at youth, high school, and adult amateur athletic events all over the Twin Cities metro area.
Allyson is from and currently resides in Saint Paul. When she is not working she enjoys long walks with her dog, Miley, plays tennis, goes to concerts, and likes to check out local breweries.
MARKETING & GAMEDAY SUPPORT STAFF
JOE RUHLAND
PLAY BY PLAY AND GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE LEADER
Joe Ruhland an experienced Momentum Strategist and play-by-play announcer, brings a contagious energy and excitement to each game he calls. He has an extensive radio and tv portfolio that started as a student at St. Cloud State University. The youngest of ten, in a family that grew-up in southwest Minnesota, when Joe was not playing sports, he spent much of his calling games to himself in the living-room, when his older siblings were not watching American Bandstand.
Following college Joe spent his next five years working in Colorado as a Play-by-Play announcer/PR & Media Relations Director with the New York Rangers organization and a consultant with Team USA Hockey in Colorado Springs.
While with the Rangers during his three-year stint, he was key resource in the start-up of their IHL top-development team in Denver, which also included hosting a hockey talk show on KBYG-AM, a 50,000 watt sports network. Phil Esposito was the GM of the New Yorks Rangers during this time and led the league with 48 recall and reassignments throughout the 1988-89 season. Marcel Dionne, Ron Duguay, Mike Richter, Tony Granato, Peter Laviolette were a few of the players that circulated between Denver and New York.
It was during his time with Team USA Hockey, Joe became more familiar with leadership and neuroscience performance and the impact of MPO, Mindset Predicts Outcomes training implemented at the Olympic Training Center for many athletes.
Also, while in Colorado, Joe would call college football games for PrimeSports network as well as Public Address announcer at McNichols Sports Arena for NHL exhibition games and pre-Olympic Team USA Hockey games hosted in Denver.
Joe returned to Minnesota when he took a role with Medtronic in CRM Sales and Leadership Training, which also allowed him to continue enhance his broadcasting skills over the course of the past couple of decades.
Currently, Managing Partner of YourTime Performance Agency, he has continues to strategize and lead leadership and sales launches for medical, healthcare, software companies and Momentum based performance initiative for sports franchises and businesses as well.
You may hear him during telecast for QCTV sporting events or college sports across the radio waves. He continues his passion for hockey and in his call as he has the ability to recognize when key momentum-based moments are about to take place during our Blue Ox games.
Listening and catch the Joementum this season during his Blue Ox Hockey broadcast.
FRED CRIMMINS
GAME DAY MILITARY VETERAN
Fred played hockey as a youth and was a Goalie. He was a practice goalie for Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts. After not getting anywhere with hockey, Fred enlisted in the Air Force where he became a helicopter mechanic and was selected to be a Flight Engineer. Fred retired from the Air Force in 1996 after 21 years. After which he immediately got back into hockey and the rest is history.
- Hockey Coach, 1996 – 2010 North Metro Youth Hockey Association, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- Head Coach, Boy’s Junior Varsity Ice Hockey 2007-2010
- North Metro Stars High School Co-op Team
- Head Coach, Boy’s Junior Gold Ice Hockey 2007-2011
- Totino Grace High School
- Certified USA Hockey Coaching Level 4
- Bachelor’s Degree, Occupational Education, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 1982
- Graduate, West Bridgewater High School, West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 1973
Be sure to stop Freddie at a game (if you can) and say hello! He loves meeting all of our awesome Blue Ox fans!
AUSTIN COOPER
PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER | USPHL LEAGUE STATS
My name is Austin Cooper and I’m 19 years old. Growing up I played a little bit of everything; Hockey, Football, Baseball, and Basketball, I enjoyed playing Baseball and watching Hockey.
As I got older I started getting into bowling and golf. Lastly I make sure that whatever I’m going to commit to, I do it with 110%.
I love helping those in need, getting others involved and most importantly giving someone another reason to see tomorrow.
I’m excited to join the blue ox not only to be on the game day crew but to get to know everyone inside and around the blue ox community.
TIM BROWN
GAME DAY HELPER
‘Browner”, Tim never played hockey growing up, but picked it up in his adult years as the game always intrigued him. The position he choose is intriguing as well. Goalie. He started coaching 4 years ago for the Coon Rapids Youth Hockey Association to share his passion for the game. He joined the Blue Ox year one to help with our game day festivities. He loves the high energy at the Blue Ox games and how involved the team is in the community. Getting to know the players on a personal level is pretty cool as well, especially the players from Europe!
In his real life, Tim has worked at Federal in Anoka for 1o+ years and enjoys spending time camping with his wife Michelle in their new RV during the Summers and Fall.
Stop and say hello to Tim at the next Blue Ox game, he enjoys getting to know all our the wonderful Blue Ox fans and their families.
TIM LEACH
GAME DAY SECURITY
Retired from the Postal Service after 30 years – and has since worked security for various sporting and music events events here around the Twin Cities! “Leacher” was raised in South Saint Paul played and coached youth ice hockey for many years. Now he enjoys watching the greatest sport in the world and is an avid Blue Ox fan!
Let’s Go Boys! Be sure to stop Tim at a game and say hello! He loves meeting all of our awesome Blue Ox fans!
