Minnesota Wilderness Defenseman Luger makes NCAA Commitment

Photo Credit: Madalyn Deane Photography

The Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that defenseman Joseph Luger has committed to play NCAA hockey for Saint John’s University in the MIAC.

The ‘05 blueliner from the State of Hockey, Luger, will join the Johnnies in his home state in the fall. Luger is a second-year veteran of the NAHL, lacing up in 108 career games in the League of Opportunity. This past season, he started his age-out season with the Oklahoma Warriors, serving as the captain of the South Division team. Luger was recognized as a defensive strongman and stood as one of the tallest on the ice at 6-foot-4. He played in 35 regular season games with the Warriors, recording eight points for the club. He scored one goal and produced seven assists in that span with the Warriors.

The Woodbury, Minnesota, blueliner was acquired by the Minnesota Wilderness in early February and went on to play in 15 regular season contests for the team. The 20-year-old recorded two goals and two assists for the Midwest Division team. In addition, he tallied his first game-winning goal in his NAHL career in his first weekend with the Wilderness on February 7, 2026.

Thanks to his work on the ice, the Minnesota native helped to lift the Wilderness to a postseason position and clinch the Midwest Division title. He played in six playoff games for the Midwest Division club, recording his first postseason point in his NAHL career with an assist in game one of the Midwest Division Semifinals against the Anchorage Wolverines.  

The Woodbury, Minnesota, native made his NAHL debut in the 2024-25 season, starting his junior career with the Watertown Shamrocks in the Central Division. The blueliner played in 12 games with the club, getting a taste of the League of Opportunity with the South Dakota team. He would then be acquired by the Oklahoma Warriors in November, where he would go on to lace up in 40 contests for the South Division team. He scored his first goal in his junior career and recorded three assists in his rookie season from the blue line.

In his junior career, Luger notched 17 points over 108 games across two seasons in the NAHL.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner joins the Johnnies at Saint John’s University. The hockey program is coming off clinching a postseason appearance in the Division III Men’s Hockey Tournament after the team won the MIAC championship in overtime fashion. The conference playoff title for the Johnnies was the team’s first since 2013.

Luger is one of 11 members of the Minnesota Wilderness to make a college ice hockey commitment.

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list