NA3HL Announces New Team in Amarillo, TX

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced that its Board of Governors has approved the membership of the West Texas Wranglers, with the team set to begin play in the 2025-26 season.

"We’re going all in on the NAHL model. We believe the combined strength of the NAHL, NA3HL, and NAPHL footprint is the best in all of junior hockey. Our commitment is simple: the West Texas Wranglers will mirror the standards of the NAHL Amarillo Wranglers when it comes to player development, fan engagement, billet support, and creating a first-class experience for everyone involved. With next season marking the 30th consecutive year of hockey in the Texas Panhandle, there’s no better time to invest in the game’s future. We’re excited to join a competitive and well-run division, and we look forward to working alongside our South Division partners to elevate the standard of junior hockey together,” exclaimed Wranglers Owner Austin Sutter.

The team will serve as an affiliate of the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Amarillo Wranglers and will share the Amarillo Ice Ranch facility with them.

"We’re thrilled to welcome the West Texas Wranglers to the NA3HL family. Texas continues to prove itself as a rapidly growing hockey market, and adding another membership here only strengthens that momentum. This new team will not only provide local players with the opportunity to compete at a higher level, but also serve as a key developmental affiliate to their NAHL counterpart, creating a clear and valuable pathway to the North American Hockey League and collegiate programs,” stated NA3HL Director, Tyler Giwerowski.

The NA3HL is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior league 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. 

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