Hockey USA allows American teams to join SIJHL

The Superior International Junior Hockey League will live up to its name in 2010-11.

After weeks of stops and starts trying to get permission from Hockey USA to admit a pair of American teams to the junior A circuit, the league on Monday announced the sport’s governing body in the United States has cleared the way for the Wisconsin Mustangs and Duluth Clydesdales to join the SIJHL.

League president Ron Whitehead, who told Thunder Bay Source earlier this month that the league would be hard-pressed to survive as a four-team unit beyond this season, said the news is welcome relief after losing the K&A Wolverines earlier this spring.

The Cydesdales and Mustangs join the reigning champion Fort William North Stars, the Dryden Ice Dogs, the Sioux Lookout Flyers and the Fort Frances Lakers.

The Mustangs played a shortened SIJHL schedule last season.