Wichita Falls Warriors announce relocation to Oklahoma City
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that the NAHL Board of Governors has approved the relocation of the Wichita Falls Warriors to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the 2022-23 season. The team will be renamed the Oklahoma Warriors and play out of the Blazers Ice Center.
The Warriors and the City of Wichita Falls have mutually agreed to part ways following the conclusion of the current 2021-22 season.
The Warriors released the following statement: As an organization, we are grateful for the tremendous support that we have received since joining the Wichita Falls community. We would like to thank our sponsors for helping us build the product and fan experience that we have been able to display over the past two seasons. Junior hockey is built on having families who open their homes to our players and give them the ability to live out their dream of playing college hockey. To every family that has helped us along the way, we cannot thank you enough. Your commitment and sacrifice to give these players the ultimate experience in Wichita Falls while being away from their families has been extraordinary.
We also want to thank all our phenomenal off-ice officials. Each one has become an important part of our hockey family and we will forever be grateful for being here with us every step of the way. Another huge thank you to the Warriors Booster Club; these wonderful volunteers have tirelessly supported our players over the last two seasons and we will be forever grateful. Lastly, to all our fans, volunteers, and the many service members at Sheppard Air Force Base, we would like to salute you. You have shown amazing support to us and have been passionate about our team since our first game at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. It has truly been an unforgettable two seasons playing in front of you and we would love to have your support as we continue on our playoff journey and beyond.
The Warriors have been a member of the NAHL since the 2020-21 season. Under the direction of Head Coach and General Manager Garrett Roth, the team has qualified for the Robertson Cup Playoffs in each of its two seasons. Last season, the team finished in 3rd place in the South Division with a record of 30-19-7. The team was named the South Division Organization of the Year and had two players named to the All-South Division Team.
This season, the Warriors have improved on that mark, putting together a 32-16-8 record with four more regular season games remaining. The Warriors, who currently sit in 3rd place in the South, have had 14 players who have played on the 2021-22 roster make NCAA Division I commitments.
The Warriors will continue to play in the eight-team South Division. The NAHL has had a team in the Southern part of the United States since 1999 and the South Division first was formed in 2003. The division currently has eight teams competing in the NAHL: Amarillo Wranglers (Amarillo, TX), Corpus Christi IceRays (Corpus Christi, TX), El Paso Rhinos (El Paso, Texas), Lone Star Brahmas (North Richland Hills, Texas), New Mexico Ice Wolves (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Odessa Jackalopes (Odessa, TX), Oklahoma Warriors (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), and Shreveport Mudbugs (Shreveport, LA).
