Blaine Energy

Last updated
Minnesota Moose
City Blaine, Minnesota
League North American 3 Hockey League
DivisionWest
Founded2020
Home arenaFogerty Arena
Colors Grey, black, red and White
    
General managerTodd Sanden
Head coachTodd Sanden
Franchise history
2011–2015Maple Grove Energy
2015–2017Blaine Energy
2024–presentMinnesota Moose

The Minnesota Moose are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), competing in the West Division. The team played their home games at the 1,200-seat Fogerty Arena located in Blaine, Minnesota.

Contents

History

Founded in 2011, the Maple Grove Energy replaced the recently folded Minnesota Wildcats in Maple Grove. [1] During the 2015 off-season the Energy relocated to Blaine, Minnesota, and changed their name accordingly.

Prior to the 2015–16 season, the Energy were members of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). At the conclusion of the 2014–15 season the majority of the MnJHL members joined the United States Premier Hockey League by creating the USPHL-Midwest Division and the MnJHL ceased operations. After one season, the USPHL-Midwest was split into the Elite and USP3 Divisions with the Energy added to the Elite Division for 2016–17.

In February 2017, owner Cal Ballard announced that he had given up management operations of the Energy to the Dibble Group (an management group headed by the Janesville Jets head coach in the North American Hockey League) in October 2016. His reasons were due to the changing landscape of Tier III junior hockey and the difficulties of fielding a team. He assumed the Energy would be ceasing operations at the end of the season. [2]

Early May 2024, the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) announced that junior hockey would be returning to Blaine Minnesota with the re-location and re-branding of the Oregon Tradesmen (Oregon Wisconsin).

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Maple Grove Energy
2011–12481443131143848th, MnJHLDid not qualify
2012–135025223531912074th, MnJHL-MNLost Division Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Steele County Blades
2013–144631132641792222nd, MnJHL-MNWon Division Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Edina Lakers
Lost Division Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Hudson Crusaders
2014–154216242341872466th of 8, Minn. Div.
10th of 14, MnJHL
Lost Division Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Hudson Crusaders
Blaine Energy
2015–1648838218993039th of 9, West Conf.
16th of 17, USPHL-Midwest
Did not qualify
2016–1744537212673197th of 8, Midwest Div.
24th of 27, USPHL-Elite
Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 (Dells Ducks)
Minnesota Moose
2024–254723195511471513rd of 6, West Div.
20th of 35, NA3HL
Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 (Alexandria Blizzard)
Lost Div Finals 0-2 (Granite City Lumberjacks)

Alumni

The franchise has produced some alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division III, and ACHA college programs.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. "New Junior Hockey Team Coming to Maple Grove". Maple Grove Patch. June 20, 2011.
  2. "February 24, 2017 Blaine Energy Facebook post". Facebook. February 24, 2017.