The North American Hockey League’s Board of Governors held
an emergency conference call Wednesday to address the situations with the
Colorado Grit and Wisconsin Windigo.
COLORADO GRIT
Back at the beginning of April, when the news surrounding
NA3HL Texas RoadRunners coach Michael Beavis’ move to the Colorado Grit started
getting out, I really thought it was another elaborate April Fool’s Day joke.
It turns out the joke is really on Grit owner Bob Bowden. It’s
now clear that the owner’s interest in the NAHL was completely dependent on his
son getting the opportunity to play in the league. Beavis, overcome with joy,
was unable to contain himself during the 3HL Fraser Cup event just outside of
St. Louis. He bragged to any and everyone about what he had to do for Bowden’s
son to get committed to Utica.
Now we are being told that Bowden, Beavis, and Utica coach
Gary Heenan are all subject to a federal criminal investigation.
In Wednesday’s conference call, the Grit were permitted to
go into dormancy for the 2025-26 season and are expected to be sold, and likely
rebranded, in time for the 2026-27 season.
I think it’s clear that Beavis will not be involved going
forward with the expected change of ownership. As a result, the career
pay-to-play coach is already seeking other employment options. Could we see him
return to College Station?
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WISCONSIN WINDIGO
On that same call, the league approved the sale and
relocation of the Windigo membership to a Milwaukee area group.
This is a tremendous blow to the Eagle River, Wisconsin
hockey community that did whatever possible to support their team. The truth is
that it was a big ask for that small of a community to generate enough support
to sustain an NAHL level club in the first place.
The Ponds of Brookfield is expected to be announced as the
new home of the NAHL club.