Since it originated in 2012, the Minnesota Wilderness has built a tradition of high performance junior hockey in the greater Twin Ports area. Later this year, a new era in the history of the Wilderness organization will begin as it was officially granted the rights to bring a new junior hockey team to northeast Minnesota.
The board of governors for the North American Hockey League (NAHL) today approved Wilderness owner Barry Bohman’s request to purchase the Minnesota Loons – a franchise in the North American Tier III Hockey League (NA3HL). Bohman plans to move the Loons from its current home in Breezy Point, MN, to northeast Minnesota and rebrand the team as the Minnesota Wilderness of the NA3HL.
The Wilderness NA3HL franchise will bear the same colors, logo and uniform as the Wilderness team that currently competes in the NAHL. The Wilderness NAHL squad will keep its home in Cloquet, MN.
The specific location of the NA3HL squad has not yet been determined, although talks are underway with a potential suitor.
The Wilderness NA3HL team will be part of the West Division, which includes four other teams based in Minnesota, plus one in Mason City, IA.
The NA3HL is in its 13 th season of operation. It is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior league. It comprises 34 teams across 16 states in the United States.
The new Wilderness franchise will begin building its roster immediately, with the help of the NA3HL draft scheduled for April 24.
The NA3HL Wilderness embarks on its first season in September and will play a 47-game regular season schedule. If the squad finishes the season among the top 4 teams in its division, it will qualify for the NA3HL’s Fraser Cup playoffs which begin in March.
The Wilderness Tier 2 team has been part of the NAHL since 2013 after spending its first season in Cloquet in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL). The organization also sponsors 16U and 18U AAA teams that compete in the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL).