NA3HL team in Butte, Montana to rebrand as the Butte Irish

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced that it has approved the renaming and rebranding of the team in Butte, Montana from the Butte Cobras to the Butte Irish beginning in the upcoming 2023-24 season.

The Butte Cobras made their debut in the NA3HL beginning with the 2018-19 season. In that time span, the Cobras have improved their record in each subsequent season in the NA3HL, which included a 25-20-2 record in the most recent 2022-23 season and the team’s first ever playoff appearance. In their five seasons in the NA3HL the team has compiled a 63-161-4 record.

The original Butte Irish made their debut in the now defunct America West/Frontier Hockey League during the 1996-97 season. The team played in the AWHL until the 2021-22 season.

“The name change to the Irish was for a couple reasons. The main reason is when you talk about hockey in Butte, the Irish is the first team that comes to mind. The days of the Butte Irish in the civic center in the 1990's has a legacy that can't be surpassed, but it can be carried on. Butte, Montana is known for its Irish population, so to better connect with the community I want to give them a team they are proud to be a part of,” said Butte owner Bill LaVelle.