Minnesota Wilderness Goaltender Andersen makes NCAA Commitment

The Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that goaltender, Valdemar Andersen, has committed to play NCAA hockey for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the WIAC.

The 6-foot-3 netminder from Herning, Denmark, Andersen will join the Falcons in Wisconsin this upcoming fall. Andersen is a second-year veteran of the NAHL, playing between the pipes the past two seasons with the Wilderness. During the 2025-26 regular season, the ‘05 goaltender recorded 23 wins in 33 games played for the Midwest Division team. Andersen notched a .908 save percentage and featured a 2.49 goals-against average in his age-out season. On November 22, 2025, the second-year veteran secured a 23-save shutout against the Janesville Jets.

Thanks to his work in the regular season, Andersen earned the distinction as a Top Prospect for the Midwest Division team and got to compete at the USA Hockey Arena. He played in net in both games and turned aside 18 out of 20 shots against the top talent from across the League of Opportunity. In addition to earning solo recognition, he also helped to lift his team to a postseason position and ultimately to a Midwest Division title. During the playoffs, Andersen got the nod midway through the Midwest Division Finals Series, earning the chance to play between the pipes for his team. Andersen notched his second shutout of the year in game five fashion against the Wisconsin Windigo, stopping all 24 shots by the Windigo. He would then play in net for the Wilderness in all three games at the Robertson Cup.

Andersen recorded a dominating .935 save percentage and 1.93 goals-against average in his five postseason contests. His one loss would come in overtime fashion during the championship game against the Maryland Black Bears.

In his debut year in the NAHL, the 6-foot-3 goaltender joined the Wilderness in October and played in net for 19 games. He secured 10 victories while recording a .895 save percentage and a 3.09 goals-against average in his first year of junior hockey.

The Denmark netminder comes from a family of goaltenders, with his older brother, Frederik Andersen, winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes this year.

Andersen will join more than 20 NAHL alumni currently on the roster at UW-River Falls.

UW-River Falls, located just 30 minutes from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, competes in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and is a 19-time WIAC champion. The three-time NCAA national champions play their home games at the brand-new, $65 million W.H. Hunt Arena, located directly on campus.

Andersen 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