Milwaukee has a new hockey team built by passionate volunteers that's set to hit the ice for its first season in October.
The Milwaukee Timberwolves will play their first game Friday, Oct. 2 against the Lexington Nightfall in Lexington, Kentucky.
It's already sold out, said Sean Doyle, player, co-owner and director of hockey operations for the team.
The team’s first home game at The Ponds of Brookfield, 2810 N. Calhoun Road, isn’t until Nov. 7 against the McFarland Killer Bees out of McFarland, Wisconsin.
Doesn’t Milwaukee already have a hockey team?
The Timberwolves are not in competition with the Milwaukee Admirals – which play in the American Hockey League. Doyles said the Admirals are on a much higher level and often one phone call away from the National Hockey League.
The Timberwolves are part of the Great Lakes Hockey League, formerly known as the Badger State Hockey League, which was founded in 1937, according to the league website. Teams compete in a 20-30-game season for the Don Kohlman Cup – their trophy akin to the NHL’s Stanley Cup. All teams in the league are non-profits organized by volunteers with everyone from staff to players volunteering their time for the love of the sport.
“This level of hockey is a unique opportunity to get to know the players,” Doyle said, mentioning meet-and-greets, autograph signings and community involvement that a lot of pro-level players can't do due to time and security constraints. “We are (also) simply another opportunity to watch fast-paced, physical hockey.”
“And at an affordable price,” Co-owner and CEO Tomi Vandergriff added.
How much will tickets cost?
Tickets will cost around $10 for adults with special pricing for kids, military and seniors. Season tickets are also in the works.
Intermission activities will be on offer along with specialty games, potentially featuring food trucks available for fans, Vandergriff said.
Why are they the Milwaukee Timberwolves if they play in Brookfield?
While the team’s home ice is in Brookfield, Milwaukee was chosen for marketing and to cast a wider net for fans and sponsors.
“We developed our entire branding based on all of Milwaukee,” Vandergriff said, noting both the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Marquette teams play at the same facility.
Looking at the Timberwolves paw logo, it roars Milwaukee with the colors and the Milwaukee Art Museum silhouette.
The Timberwolves were originally going to hit the ice last year, but the launch was delayed while looking for the best facility to call home.
Doyle said the team lucked out with The Ponds of Brookfield. He said a lot of work has recently been done on the facility which will help to offer a great game experience for fans.
“We just fell into the right spot with them to work with us,” he said.
The facility is already home to The Wisconsin Windigo, who are members of the North American Hockey League. There is potential for double-header tickets in the future for the Windigo and Timberwolves.
The co-owners had to plead their case to be accepted
Doyle and Vandergriff met in a very Milwaukee way – in a bar. From there, the duo took a couple years to form their idea to bring a hockey team to life over the next couple years.
The Milwaukee Timberwolves were accepted into the Great Lakes Hockey League in April 2026 after a full presentation to the league. Vandergriff said that acceptance finally made this feel real.
While Doyle has been focused on the players and the game itself, Vandergriff has been working on grassroots community building signing local bars and restaurants as sponsors. The league has already signed Chick-fil-A as a local sponsor and are working to partner with Children’s Hospital for events.
Vandergriff said she grew up around hockey with her older brother playing. She said her experience working with nonprofits and Doyle’s experience as a hockey player brought different but useful skillsets to the table.
Inspiring the next generation of players chase their dreams
Doyle, who moved to Milwaukee from Florida to play college hockey, said his dad took him to his first hockey game when he was two years old. Twenty-six years later it’s still the only thing he wants to do, and now he also wants to inspire others to do it, too.
“If I can inspire one kid to chase their dream I’ve done more than winning a championship in any pro league,” he said.
Doyle said there’s a lot of young hockey players in the area but there’s not a lot of opportunities to play and getting ice time is hard. Through the Timberwolves he hopes to change that and make a mark in hockey.
How to get involved or watch the Milwaukee Timberwolves
The team is still filling out its roster and is still searching for more trainers and volunteers. Anyone interested can reach out at mketimberwolves@gmail.com.
The Timberwolves will be the only team in the league with a spirit squad, known as The Lunas. People with a background in cheer or dance are encouraged to apply.
On the player side, Doyle said the league is full-contact and pro-style, so he’s looking for people able to play at that level.
“It’s a fast-paced, physical league,” he said, noting he is willing to give anyone who has the passion to play a look. “These are people who love hockey, they want to play hockey.”
Find the team's schedule or get in touch with organizers on the team's Facebook page or on Instagram. An official team website is coming soon.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meet the Milwaukee Timberwolves, an all-volunteer hockey team