NA3HL Announces New Team in Appleton, WI

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced that its Board of Governors has approved the membership of Fox Cities LLC, with the team set to begin play in the 2026-27 season.

“We’re excited to include another strong organization to compete in the Central Division,” said NA3HL Deputy Commissioner Tyler Giwerowski. “Our teams in Wisconsin have consistently shown success both on and off the ice, and the state continues to prove why it’s such a strong hockey market. The Fox Cities area has a tremendous hockey culture, and we expect this organization to build on that tradition while providing another great opportunity for players to develop and advance to the NAHL and the college ranks.”

The Appleton Family Ice Center will serve as the home rink for Fox Cities, providing an intimate and energetic setting for the team. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee, the facility has a capacity for 1200 spectators and serves as the home rink for Lawrence University, an NCAA Division III program. With the addition of this team, Appleton becomes part of the growing NA3HL presence in Wisconsin, marking the fourth team in the state and further strengthening the league’s footprint in one of the country’s premier hockey hotbeds.

The new ownership group consisting of Mark Mazzoleni and Jeff Lindemann shared their excitement about bringing NA3HL hockey to the Fox Valley and becoming part of the local hockey community: “As an ownership group, we couldn’t be more excited to bring NA3HL hockey to the Fox Valley. This community embodies the passion, work ethic, and pride that define our organization, and we’re committed to building a franchise that develops young athletes and brings high-energy hockey to our local fans. We’re honored to partner with the Appleton Family Ice Center and look forward to working with the local hockey community to help us brand our team.”

The NA3HL is one of three USA Hockey-sanctioned junior leagues and serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes. The NA3HL advances more players to the NAHL, NCAA and ACHA than any other junior league of its kind. 

Additional information regarding the Appleton organization can be obtained by emailing:

FoxCitiesHockey@gmail.com  A formal press conference will be held in April.

USA Hockey has been properly notified and formal approval is expected at their annual meeting in June.