The Minnesota Magicians of the NAHL, which was owned by the Minnesota Junior Hockey Group, LLC, has agreed to sell their NAHL membership to Copper Island Hockey Club, LLC. The team will be relocated to Eagle River, Wisconsin following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season and also rebranded and renamed.
The new team will play at the Eagle River Sports Arena. The venue was the first indoor ice arena constructed in the State of Wisconsin, in 1925. The facility has been owned and operated by the Eagle River Recreation Association since 1963.
“Our ownership of the club is comprised of individuals who share a passion for hockey, and sport in general,” Copper Island Hockey Club said in a statement. “More importantly, we have demonstrated a devotion to facilitating development and achievement in others, especially those willing to pursue their dreams to fulfill their potential in athletic pursuits, business careers, and personal growth. As owners, our internal measure of success will be defined not only by the number of players that advance to higher levels within the sport but also by the number of coaches, interns, and others within the organization, that advance their career ambitions and personal lives by virtue of the opportunity the club provides them.
“We will view this venture as a success by the positive impact we have on Eagle River and surrounding North Central Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan communities and the influence this experience has on players, coaches, equipment managers, marketing personnel, billet families, and youngsters within our scope of influence. We have structured the ownership group, and advisory board, such that our diverse set of experiences, skills, and knowledge, will achieve congruency with this objective.”
The team will be a part of the NAHL’s Midwest Division during the upcoming 2022-23 season.
This season the Magicians are 23-19-4-3 and they’re currently in seventh place of the NAHL Midwest division.
“The Magicians have done a wonderful job in developing and advancing NAHL players for the past nine years, so we thank their ownership, organization, and community for their commitment to our league,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “We are excited to have a new location in Eagle River, Wisconsin, which has a storied tradition in hockey and great community support who are passionate about the game of hockey.”
