THUNDER BAY — Road trips in the Superior International Junior Hockey League just got a little bit longer.
The league on Wednesday announced it had approved the relocation of the Wisconsin Lumberjacks from Spooner, Wisc. to Ironwood Mich.
The move got unanimous support from the league’s board of governors.
It’s the first official move under the leadership of newly appointed SIJHL commissioner, Dean Thibodeau.
"On behalf of the SIJHL Board of Governors we are extremely pleased with the relocation of the Lumberjacks organization to the Ironwood, Michigan market,” Thibodeau said in a release.
Ironwood is located about 483 kilometres from Thunder Bay, on the western border with Wisconsin on Michigan’s upper peninsula.
Spooner, the Lumberjacks' former home, is about 430 kilometres from Thunder Bay and about 120 kilometres south of Superior, Wisc.
Doug Lein II, the owner and governor of the Lumberjacks, said they’re looking forward to playing out of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Centre, the team’s new home.
“The arena management and staff along with the city of Ironwood have been fantastic, and we are looking forward to working closely with their minor hockey teams and becoming involved in community events throughout the year,” Lein said in a release.
The team needed the approval of USA Hockey in order to make the move.
No reason for the move was given.
The Lumberjacks joined the league in 2019 and spent most of their time in Spooner, though the team did play games in Rice Lake, Wisc. and Hayward, Wisc. last season.
Both of Wisconsin’s 2024 playoff games were played in Rice Lake.
The team’s first home games in Ironwood will take place on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14.
The league is expected to release its schedule on Wednesday.
