NAHL approves Janesville, Wisconsin membership

The North American Hockey League announced today that its Board of Governors has approved the membership application for a team in Janesville, Wisconsin, to begin play in 2009-10.

“We’re exited to welcome Janesville to our league,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.  “With such a solid ownership group in place in a community that’s already shown tremendous support for the NAHL, all the pieces are in place for success, both on and off the ice.”

Janesville’s NAHL team is owned by Wisconsin Hockey Partners, LLC, which includes Bill McCoshen, Mark Cullen, Stephen B. King, William Kennedy, Tobin Ryan, Eric P. Peterson and San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski, a Wisconsin native.

“We’re very excited to bring the North American Hockey League to Wisconsin,” said McCoshen.  “We believe Janesville will be a great market to develop and promote elite hockey players to the NCAA and beyond.”

The first team from Wisconsin in the NAHL’s 34-year history, the Janesville entry will play out of the Janesville Ice Arena.

The team’s nickname will be determined through a local “Name The Team” contest, which will be held in the coming weeks.

The team’s first open tryout will be held in Duluth, Minn., from June 26-28 (Mars Lakeview Arena) followed by another open tryout at the Janesville Ice Arena from July 17-19. The team’s final tryout camp is scheduled for July 30-August 2 at the Janesville Ice Arena.

For more information on the NAHL’s new team in Janesville, visit JanesvilleNAHL.com.

The North American Hockey League, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior A league boasting 19 teams from across the country, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey.