Iowa Wild AAA Hockey Club Purchases Steele County Blades

In a press release posted on the Steele County Blades website and distributed on Twitter and Facebook, the Iowa Wild AAA Hockey Club announce the purchase of the Blades.

The team will remain in Owatonna and coaches Nick Adamek and Bobby Solari will return to the team. A statement from the Iowa Wild says, "We would like to thank the Steele County Blades staff for their dedication in building a solid, competitive organization."

According to their website, the Iowa Wild AAA Hockey Club is a member of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League and also competes at the midget, bantam and peewee level. They are based in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Blades also announce the hiring of Max Baron as the club's general manager. He is quoted in the news release, saying, "I want to thank the Iowa Wild AAA Hockey Club for giving me this opportunity." He added, "I have heard nothing but great things about Steele County and the city of Owatonna." Baron is from St. Louis and has played hockey at several levels including junior hockey, according to the news release. He graduated from Suffolk University with a business management degree and has worked with the Iowa Wild AAA Hockey Club in several positions.

Blades President Trent Nelson is quoted in the release, saying, "We are proud of the legacy that we have established, but realized that the Wild AAA hockey group better fits the progression model of our current league." Nelson added, "We have the best group of volunteers, fans and sponsors."

The current group of volunteers and hockey enthusiasts pulled together plans to continue junior hockey in Owatonna after the Express left town. One thing led to another and they found themselves as the owners of the team. After four years of running the team they had several groups interested in acquiring the team.

The Blades will play in the United States Premier Hockey League again next winter, as they did last season.