LATEST REPORT: Reason Junior Hockey Back To Twin Cities Metro
The Mallards mark the NAHL’s fourth Minnesota-based team and the first to land in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area since the Minnesota Magicians migrated to Wisconsin in 2022. Nestled in Forest Lake, the Mallards will debut their hockey prowess during the NAHL Showcase this September in Blaine. A.J.
Bucchino recently announced on WCCO Radio that the Mallards will call Forest Lake home, becoming the league’s 34th team. Joining the ranks of the Austin Bruins, St. Cloud Norsemen, and Cloquet’s Minnesota Wilderness, the Mallards signify expansion into the metro area after the departure of the Minnesota Magicians, who relocated to Eagle River, Wisconsin, and rebranded as the Wisconsin Windigo two years ago.
Breaking hockey news. @NAHLHockey in Forest Lake this fall. Minnesota Mallards will be a new junior hockey team. We spoke with GM AJ Bucchino on @wccoradio @TMNwithVineeta https://t.co/pQGJzD65tg @TheRinkLive @JessRMyers @YouthHockeyHub @bloisolson @GopherPuckLive
— Vineeta Sawkar (@vsawkar) April 24, 2024
In an interview with Vineeta Sawkar of WCCO, Bucchino informed that the Mallards’ home games will take place at the Forest Lake Sports Center, aiming for attendance ranging between 600 to 1,000. He mentioned that the NAHL is expected to officially declare the new team by Wednesday. The Mallards will don maroon and gold uniforms akin to Forest Lake High School’s colors and have appointed Terry Watt as their head coach.
Originally hailing from eastern Canada, Watt previously served as a scout for the Maine Nordiques in the NAHL. Bucchino, formerly the head coach and general manager of the Magicians, expressed plans to launch a website in the upcoming week, featuring details about player tryouts, ticket sales, and billet family arrangements.
NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld, in a statement released by the league, emphasized the league’s commitment to nurturing player development through quality ownership. He highlighted the strategic advantage of the Mallards’ location, which will place players from both the home and visiting teams under the scrutiny of college and professional scouts, offering significant opportunities for all parties involved.
The Mallards will join the NAHL’s Central Division as its eighth team, alongside Aberdeen, Austin, Bismarck, Minot, North Iowa, and St. Cloud. With 32 teams during the 2023-24 season, the NAHL previously announced the addition of the Watertown Shamrocks from South Dakota, expanding the Central Division to include 33 franchises.