Northern Maine Pioneers

Last updated
Northern Maine Pioneers
City Presque Isle, Maine
League United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL)
National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC)
DivisionNorth
Founded2025
Home arenaThe Forum
ColorsDark gray and orange
  
Owner(s)Brandon Johnson
General managerGreg Heffernan
Franchise history
2025Presque Isle Frontiers
2025–presentNorthern Maine Pioneers

The Northern Maine Pioneers are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League's National Collegiate Development Conference. The team plays their home games at the The Forum in Presque Isle, Maine. The club was originally founded as the Presque Isle Frontiers.

Contents

History

The Presque Isle Frontiers were founded by the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference as part of a wave of five teams; the Frontiers are the only one located in the United States, with the other four teams being located in Canada. [1] The team was initially owned by the Chris and Rhea Reaves, who also own the Woodstock Slammers in Woodstock, New Brunswick, another team that joined the NCDC as part of this wave of expansion. [1]

The team's inaugural head coach was Slovak national Erik Čaládi, [2] who had a long playing career in Europe. Sam Shaheen was the team's general manager. [3] However, the team encountered problems before in short order. The Frontiers had trouble filling out its roster and ended up forfeiting what was supposed to be their inaugural game. [4] The league responded immediately by revoking the franchise license from the Reaves'. In short order, Brandon Johnson, who also owns the CT Chiefs North, agreed to purchase the franchise. [5] The club was rebranded as the Northern Maine Pioneers, and Johnson planned to have them on the ice by September 30 or October 1. [6] Čaládi ultimately did not join the team after visa issues delayed his arrival from Slovakia, [6] and Shaheen was replaced as general manager by Greg Heffernan. [5]

Former logos

References

  1. 1 2 "NCDC Announces Five New Teams for 2025-26 Season • USPHL - United States Premier Hockey League". USPHL - United States Premier Hockey League. 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  2. ↑ "Northern Maine is getting its 1st junior hockey league team - The County". 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  3. ↑ Lemelin, Joseph (2025-07-04). "A new hockey team in Presque Isle is looking to make a big impact on the community". WAGM-TV. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  4. ↑ "Roster chaos disrupts debut of Aroostook junior hockey team - The County". 2025-09-16. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  5. 1 2 Hofstra, Brandon (2025-09-25). "NCDC Franchise Rebrands as Northern Maine Pioneers for 2025–26 Season • USPHL - United States Premier Hockey League". USPHL - United States Premier Hockey League. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  6. 1 2 "Junior hockey league replaces new Presque Isle franchise after roster troubles". The County. September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
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