Minnesota Wilderness approved to purchase a NA3HL franchise
The Minnesota Wilderness bench.
The Cloquet based Minnesota Wilderness was approved by the North American Hockey League (NAHL) board of governors Thursday to purchase the Minnesota Loons – a franchise in the North American Tier III Hockey League (NA3HL).
According to a release by the team, Wilderness owner Barry Bohman plans to move the Loons from its current home in Breezy Point, Minnesota 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 NAHL Wilderness, who will keep its home in Cloquet. The specific location of the NA3HL squad has not yet been determined. 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 13th season of operation. It is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior league, and is comprised of 34 teams across 16 states.
The new Wilderness franchise will begin building its roster immediately, with the help of the NA3HL draft scheduled for April 24. Their first season will begin in September.