Meet the Owner of the Wooster Bulls, Q&A

The Wooster Bulls have been preparing for the 2025-26 APHL season, which is just over a month away.

Throughout the entire offseason, the team has been led by Owner Cody Lang, who's vision for the franchise has only grown over time. 

Bulls Beat Reporter, Cade Cracas, was able to stop by and engage in an exclusive Q&A with Lang.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you first got involved in hockey? 

"I have been involved in hockey since I was three-years-old. I played travel hockey and four years of varsity high school hockey for Bowling Green High School. Instead of going to play college hockey, I decided to take the officials route. I have spent the last 13 years as a referee in professional hockey, along with four years in Division I college hockey."

What’s your connection to Wooster, and what made you want to invest in a team here? 

"When I was officiating in the USA Hockey officiating program, Wooster was one of my "home games" and I really enjoyed coming to Wooster. The people, the arena, and the atmosphere was incredible. 

I have been in professional hockey long enough to know that towns like these, strive really well with a semi pro hockey team. I could have not picked a better community to bring a team too."

Before the Bulls, what other ventures were you involved in? 

"Hockey for the most part has been my life, I've spent time doing landscaping, irrigation and mowing as a normal day job, along with spending years as a field service tech for John Deere and Case IH."

How did the opportunity to own the Wooster Bulls come about? 

"I have been a referee in this league for the first two seasons, and watching the league grow has been great. I have always wanted to own a hockey team and the timing just worked out perfect as the league was expanding and Wooster is placed right in the middle of the league footprint."

What was your vision for the team when you took over, and how has that evolved? 

"The vision I had when I started this was bringing semi-pro hockey to a town that has always had a passion for hockey. Semi-pro hockey brings a different style of hockey to Wooster that junior hockey does not. Culture and community involvement are at the top of the priorities of our organization. 

Without fans and the community, there is no team. The vision still remains the same from when we started."

What makes the Wooster Bulls different from other teams in the league? 

"It starts at the top of the organization. Having 13 years in pro hockey I have seen just about everything. Our organization is run with the absolute most professionalism from the top to the bottom. Staff, players, fans and sponsors are treated right and anything less than that is unacceptable for me. 

We have built a fantastic seasoned coaching staff, scouting staff, equipment staff, media staff and supporting cast that is unmatched in this league. We are not just building this team for short term, we would like to take this team to the next level of professional hockey but that takes some very high goals which we have set for ourselves."

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an owner so far? 

"The first year of any sports organization at any level is the most difficult. Gaining sponsors, finding a whole new staff, finding all new players, getting all the fine details set into place is a lot of work. Making sure we put the correct people in the correct positions helps a lot with continued success of the organization.

I know we are having to repair some previous issues with past teams and not treating sponsors the correct way, but sponsors are very important to us and making sure we take care of them is key."

How do you hope the team impacts young athletes in Wooster and the surrounding area? 

"I want our team as involved in the local youth hockey organization as much as possible. It gives the kids something and someone to look up too. Growing up in Bowling Green, the Bowling Green Falcons Division I hockey team was always involved with youth hockey and I remember what a great impact that had on us kids. 

We will be having a youth player of the game for every single home game, allowing parents to nominate their kid to be recognized at a Bulls home game and skate the Bulls flag out of the players tunnel before the game. We will also be having a youth hockey day game."

What’s your philosophy when it comes to building a winning team? 

"The team that we have built so far is by far the most talented team I have seen in the league the first two years. We have signed two of the top four point leaders from last season. 

We have signed guys with a decent amount of FPHL and SPHL experience and the goaltending tandem we have is top notch. 

We have also brought in some tough guys to keep things in line. A good balance of skill, depth and grit is key to building a winning team."

What’s one thing about you that Bulls fans might be surprised to learn? 

"I think some know but most fans probably do not. My wife and I had our first baby girl on Easter of this year. She was born with a condition called an Omphalocele which is a birth defect where the abdominal wall does not close all the way. 

She was born with her liver, 10% of her stomach, and 5% of her bowels in a sack outside of her body. We have been in Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus since, but we are hopeful to be going home soon as she is doing very well!"