The Chippewa Steel, a Tier II junior hockey franchise, announced that it will relocate from its current home to Pueblo, Colorado, where it will begin play at the Pueblo Ice Arena.
A new mountain division takes shape
The move places the team in a freshly created mountain division of the North American Hockey League, a league that now includes clubs from Colorado, Montana, Utah and Idaho.
The North American Hockey League, commonly known as the NAHL, is recognized as the second‑strongest junior circuit in the United States and is officially sanctioned by USA Hockey.
Chippewa Steel General Manager Vinny Bohn and Pueblo Bulls Head Coach Chris Wilhite have been in communication about the transition, and the two organizations will operate under a single umbrella.
Both coaching staffs will remain in place, a decision intended to preserve continuity and produce the best possible product on the ice.
The shared objective is clear: capture a championship and bring that title back to Pueblo.
Tryouts for the upcoming roster will be held in Michigan from June 25 through June 28, after which the top prospects will be invited to the Colorado training site.
The franchise expects to arrive in Pueblo in late August, at which point practices will commence ahead of the September season opener.
With the new division set to begin play this fall, the Steel hope to translate their preparation into a competitive run that culminates in a championship pursuit.