By Sheridan (WY) Press (Newspaper)
Sheridan, WY., April 16, 2019 — The Sheridan Hawks junior team president Dr. Brent Milner announced today that the Sheridan Hawks will launch its junior team in September 2019.
The team, formerly known as the Wisconsin Whalers, was previously located near Madison, Wisconsin.
It is now the eighth team in the NA3HL’s Frontier Division, which currently consists of Bozeman Icedogs, Butte Cobras, Gillette Wild, Great Falls Americans, Helena Bighorns, Missoula Junior Bruins and Yellowstone Quake.
The Sheridan Hawks junior team home game schedule will be announced by summer 2019, and season tickets will go on sale soon thereafter. Tickets will also be available at the door for all 22 home games.
“Sheridan is a passionate hockey community with a dedicated and growing youth program, so this addition of the Sheridan Hawks junior team could not come at a better time for the area and the NA3HL. The team fits perfectly into the NA3HL’s Frontier Division. I am sure fans will enjoy the level of play on the ice and the rivalries that will be formed within the footprint,” said NAHL commissioner and president Mark Frankenfeld.
Andy Scheib, the head coach of the Whalers, has been hired as the Sheridan Hawks junior team head coach. This past season was Scheib’s third year as a junior hockey coach and first year as a head coach. He is from Sun Prairie, Wis. and grew up playing hockey around the Midwest; including Sun Prairie High School and Team Wisconsin, later playing two seasons of junior hockey with the Dubuque Thunderbirds. He went on to play NCAA DIII college hockey at Saint Mary’s University, where he earned his B.A. in public relations and graduated with a career .892 save percentage and logged 2134 minutes as goalie.
Sheridan Hawks junior team board of directors consists of Dr. Brenton Milner, Dan Carlin, Sandy Suzor, Charles Whiton and Dave Nelson. Dr. Milner is the president and is a practicing orthopedic surgeon in Sheridan.
With 25 slots to fill, Milner and Scheib are actively scouting players across the Rocky Mountains and the Midwest. All players will be 16-20 years old and must attend school full time or work while playing junior hockey. Most will live with billet families, and all will volunteer in the community and support the youth hockey program through mentorship and player development.
“On and off the ice, I push my players to not only become better athletes, but better men who positively contribute to society,” said Scheib. “Our team will play hard and give back to the community that supports it.”
The Sheridan Hawks NA3HL Junior Team is a 501c3 supported by a dozen founding partners who funded the purchase of the team. For information about how to become a founding partner, or about many other opportunities to donate and/or volunteer, email juniorteam@sheridanice.org.
“Sheridan youth hockey is one of the strongest programs in the state,” said Milner. “We have a beautiful new facility, top-tier youth coaches, a thriving adult hockey program and hundreds of deeply committed donors and families who support our mission. Launching a junior team is a natural next step for us. We are grateful for Sheridan on Skates and our founding partners support — without them this would not be possible.”
About the NA3HL
Now in its 10th season, the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), one of only two USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior leagues, serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes in its classification.
The primary mission of the NA3HL, which is managed organizationally by the North American Hockey League (NAHL), is to provide a structured developmental environment for student-athletes whose youth options are limited but are still reaching their potential and have aspirations of playing in the NAHL or United States Hockey League and eventually the NCAA or American College Hockey Association.
For more information, visit www.na3hl.com.
Story Courtesy: Sheridan (WY) Press Newspaper: Sheridan Hawks to launch NA3HL junior team in September (April 16, 2019)
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