The team, based out of The Crossover in Cedar Park, will play in the North American 3 Hockey League starting in the 2021-22 season, according to an April 27 league release.
“We are excited to continue our growth in the South Division with the addition of the Austin Ice Bats,” NA3HL Commissioner Blake MacNicol said in the release. "This will be the first junior hockey team of its kind in the Austin area and with the already established teams and growth of the NA3HL’s South Division, this is an exciting addition to the footprint. The fans will enjoy some of the great rivalries with other teams in the state and region."
The junior hockey team will be owned by Ryan Raya, who also owns Chaparral Ice where the team will play.
The Austin Ice Bats previously were a minor league hockey team in Austin from 1996-2008 in the Central Hockey League, according to the release.
“Bringing the Ice Bats back to Austin is something me and my partners thought would really bring excitement to people inside and outside of the hockey community,” Raya said in the release. “They were part of the DNA here for many years and now will fill a hole in our youth hockey developmental pyramid that can help bridge the gap for local kids to perhaps play for any of the NAHL teams that are an easy drive from Cedar Park and Austin, without ever having to leave home.”
The Austin Ice Bats will be in the South Division, which also has teams in Sandy Springs, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; Lafayette, Louisiana; Euless, Texas; Edmond, Oklahoma; North Richland Hills, Texas; and College Station, Texas. https://www.facebook.com/austinicebatsna3/. http://na3hl.com
