The new head coach of Minnesota’s American Hockey League affiliate takes the helm as the Iowa Wild kick off their 14th season with back-to-back road contests in Texas, marking his first professional coaching assignment. With no prior AHL experience, the leader will guide the team through a challenging early stretch away from home. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how his tactical approach shapes the Wild’s performance in their opening series. The debut presents an opportunity to assess whether his vision can translate into on-ice success from the start.

He begins his first season as head coach of the Minnesota’s AHL affiliate when the Iowa Wild begin their 14th season with a pair of road games in Texas. Bickel will make his AHL head coaching debut on ...