Wooster Bulls Set to ignite Local Hockey in 2025-26 Campaign

By: Cade Cracas, Team Beat Reporter

The Wooster Bulls are officially taking the next step in their journey.

As the summer begins to wind down, the club is preparing to join the American Premier Hockey League (APHL) for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. Based in the heart of Ohio, the Bulls will call Alice Noble Ice Arena their home as they welcome a variety of teams. 

The Bulls will start their season with preseason games in the coming months, which will serve as a crucial evaluating point on the team’s progress.

“We won't be focused on the scoreboard, but rather on assessing work ethic, hockey IQ, system execution, leadership, and teamwork,” said head coach Tim Sizemore. “We're looking for players who can create chemistry and demonstrate competitiveness, helping us identify who can best be utilized in specific situations like the power play, penalty kill, faceoffs, or when we're up a goal or down a goal. 

“The final score in these games isn't our primary concern."

The Bulls are expected to draw in a mix of local talent and statewide prospects to help form their inaugural roster. Heading into training camp, player evaluation and chemistry-building will be at the forefront.

While preseason contests won’t count in the standings, they will serve as critical milestones for the coaching staff.

“Our expectations as a coaching staff is a team hungry to compete,” Sizemore said. “We want them not only to compete for each other but also for the great community of Wooster we represent.”

That connection to Wooster is already emerging as a point of pride within the organization. The Alice Noble Arena has long been a hub for youth and amateur hockey, and will now house a team playing at the semi-pro level. Outside of the arena, the organization has formed sponsorships with a number of local businesses.

With puck drop just a few months away, the excitement surrounding the Bulls’ debut is starting to build.

“We are hoping to see the guys hungry to compete and win. For the team and for the community,” said Sizemore.

As Wooster’s persona as a hockey town grows into a hockey destination, the Bulls are preparing for the fans to start rallying around their new faces.

“We are very excited. There will be faces fans recognize and new faces for the fans to cheer on,” Sizemore said. “From the players and coaches all the way to the front office, we are ready to put on a show for our fans.”

The Bulls will play their first preseason game on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. EST against the Iron City Forge.