University of Wisconsin, River Falls Men's Ice Hockey

Steve Freeman completed his 29th season as the UW-River Falls men's hockey head coach in 2024-25, solidifying his legacy as the all-time winningest head coach in both WIAC and UWRF men's hockey history with 467 career wins. A 14-time Conference Coach of the Year (NCHA 1999, 2003, WIAC 1998, 2003-08, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2020-21), Freeman has coached the Falcons to 14 conference regular season championships (’98, ’99, ’01, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07 NCHA & WIAC, ’08, ’10, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’16), including the 2015 WIAC Tournament Championship and five NCAA Tournament appearances (’98, ’01, ’03, ’04, ’07). The Falcons have found success on and off the ice under Coach Freeman. During his time, UWRF has collected 19 All-America honors, two Conference Players of the Year, three Academic All-Americans, and seven WIAC Scholar-Athletes. Under Freeman, over 100 student-athletes have moved on to play professional hockey. Before becoming the UWRF head coach in 1996-97, Freeman served as an assistant for seven seasons, including the 1994 National Championship team. During his time as an assistant, he also helped guide the Falcons to NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 2001. A 2016 inductee of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame, Freeman began his coaching career at the high school level, leading Stevens Point High School to several Wisconsin state tournament appearances and four conference championships, followed by St. Mary’s Spring High School in which his team won a state championship. Prior to UWRF, Freeman was the head coach and general manager with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League. He’s also coached select teams at the international level. The New Brighton, Minn., native played hockey through the high school, Junior A, and college levels. He has been involved with hockey symposiums and clinics both in the United States and internationally and has often been a guest speaker/instructor at U.S.A. Hockey clinics. Freeman has a master’s degree in education and professional development and is a senior instructor in the Health and Human Performance department. He and wife Deb reside in River Falls.   Year W-L-T Pct. NCHA W-L-T, Place, Pct. WIAC W-L-T, Place, Pct. 2025 17-12-1 .583 NA 8-6-1, 4th, .567 2024 16-10-3 .603 NA 6-7-2, 4th, .467 2023 11-15-1 .426 NA 5-9-1, 5th, .367 2022 13-13-1 .500 NA 9-6-0, 2nd, .600 2021 6-3-1 .650 NA 6-3-1, .650 2020 16-10-3 .603 NA 7-6-2, 3rd, .533 2019 12-11-5 .518 NA 1-4-3, 5th,.312 2018     8-17-4  .345 NA 1-6-1, 5th, .188 2017 12-13-2 .481 NA 3-4-1, 3rd, .438 2016 2015 2014 2013 16-7-5 20-7-1 15-9-3 13-11-4 .661 .732 .611 .536 NA NA NA 5-9-4, tie 5th, .388 5-2-1, 1st, .688 7-5-0, 3rd, .583 8-4-0, 1st, .750 4-5-3, 3rd, .458 2012 16-9-2 .630 10-6-2, tie 2nd, .611 8-3-1, 1st, .708 2011 12-14-2 .464 7-10-1, 6th, .416 5-6-1, tie 3rd, .458 2010 18-9-2 .655 9-7-2, 3rd, .555 8-3-1, 1st, .708 2009 10-15-2 .407 4-9-1, 6th, .321 2-6-0, 4th, .250 2008 16-7-4 .666 8-5-1, 2nd, .607 5-2-1, 1st, .687 2007 21-6-2 .758 10-3-1, 1st, .750 7-1-0, 1st, .875 2006 17-7-3 .685 9-4-1, 2nd, .678 6-1-1, 1st, .812 2005 17-9-2 .642 9-5-0, 3rd, .642 6-2-0, 1st, .750 2004 21-6-4 .741 8-3-3, 2nd, 678 4-2-2, tie 1st, .625 2003 23-7-1 .758 11-2-1, 2nd, .821 6-1-1, 2nd, 812 2002 18-9-2 .655 7-5-2, 4th, .571 3-3-2, 3rd, .500 2001 23-10-2 .671 10-4-0, 2nd, .714 7-1-0, 1st, .875 2000 16-9-4 .620 8-4-2, 4th, .642 5-2-1, 2nd, .687 1999 22-9-0 .709 12-4-0, 2nd, .750 6-2-0, 1st, .750 1998 22-8-1 .725 14-5-1, 2nd, .725 5-3-0, 3rd, .625 1997 20-11-0 .645 13-7-0, 5th, .650 5-3-0, tie 2nd, .625 Totals 467-283-67 .613 154-92-22, .615 164-108-25, .594  

Sean Roadhouse joined the UW-River Falls men's hockey coaching staff after his playing career with the Falcons in 2013, entering his eighth year as the associate head coach in 2025-26. He was previously an assistant coach for six seasons. Roadhouse was a four-year member of the UWRF men's hockey team and was a team captain in 2013. He scored 13 goals and 48 points in his career, collecting WIAC honorable mention honors in 2011 and was named to the 2013 WIAC All-Sportsmanship team. In 2011, he received the team’s Norqual Award, a Coaches' Achievement award.

Ritzer, returns for his 21st year with the Falcons in 2016-17.   Ritzer was the assistant hockey coach at the College of St. Scholastica in 1993-94. He has been the coordinator for the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association Bantam Elite Camp in 1992, 1994 and 1996, and has been the coaching coordinator of the Wisconsin Selects AAA Hockey program since 1992. He has also been a USA Hockey Coaching Assistant Director. Ritzer had been the Superior Ice Arena manager since 1989. He was the head coach of the St. Marys Springs High School hockey team in 1988-89 and was an assistant coach there in 1987-88. Ritzer was also an assistant coach at Superior High School in 1986-87. He worked for nine years at the Eagle River Hockey School. Ritzer had a stellar hockey career at UW-Superior where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1986. He was named UW-Superiors Male Athlete of the Year and earned all-NCHA honors in 1985. He was his teams Most Valuable Player in 1985 and was named to the NAIA District 14 and WSUC all-conference teams. He was a 1985 co-captain at UW-Superior and he was also the captain of the Green Bay Bobcats Junior team in 1981-82. At Eagle River High School he was twice the team captain and was named to the first all-conference team in 1978. The teams No. 1 assistant, Bob Ritzer, returns for his 21st year with the Falcons in 2016-17.