The Wildcats are excited to land their third commitment of the 2024-25 recruiting class with the addition of power-forward, Owen Vilhauer!

Vilhauer, standing 6’2”, 185-pounds, comes from Aberdeen, South Dakota and has spent the last three seasons playing in the NCDC with the P.A.L Jr. Islanders, where he is currently serving as a team captain. Vilhauer has tallied 47 points in 153 games played. Vilhauer and the Jr. Islanders are headed into the Dinneen Cup finals this week, taking on the South Shore Kings in an effort to defend their national title!

“I chose Arizona because I was looking for an experience unlike anything I have done to this point,” said Owen Vilhauer. The facilities, playing in front of a big crowd, and location were big things that really drew me to Arizona. The Business program and hockey team seems to be the right fit for me, and I’m stoked to get down to Tucson and get things going. “

Vilhauer brings a simple, north-south game that is repeatable, something coach Berman was anxiously looking to add around the Wildcats current skill.

“Owen is an absolute home run for us,” said coach Berman. “He is precisely the kind of player we were looking to add. Owen is the kind of player teammates like to play with but coaches love, because he plays the game the right way. I think he brings a lot of what Jack Kurrle brought us at Christmas break. A simple, repeatable game that makes a massive impact over time. We aren’t looking for any passengers. He brings leadership, experience, a heavy forecheck, and plays the game with urgency, always on his toes. He naturally brings a disruptive style to his game that will fit perfectly around our skill. While we were watching the end of the national tournament in St. Louis - looking for the things we need to make a run next season - I kept saying to myself, we need a kid like Owen Vilhauer.  We are excited to see what else we can add as the summer unfolds.”

The Wildcats will return to the TCC in September for what is shaping up to be an exciting 2024-25 season. Make sure you are following the Wildcats on social media to stay up to date as they continue their recruiting reload this summer!