The Minnesota Wild have announced a multi-year ECHL affiliation agreement with the Jacksonville Icemen set to begin in the 2026-27 season. This partnership expands the Wild’s player development network to include the ECHL for the first time, with the Icemen serving as a developmental resource alongside the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League.
Minnesota Wild Executive Vice President and General Manager Bill Guerin said, “We are thrilled to announce a new ECHL affiliation agreement with the Jacksonville Icemen. This affiliation strengthens our commitment to developing players at every level while expanding the reach of our organization to an exciting and growing market.”
The Icemen, who began play in the 2017-18 season, will provide an additional developmental avenue for Wild prospects. This marks the first time the franchise, which was previously affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans, will be linked to an NHL team in the ECHL. The Icemen are owned by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment and play at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, a 15,000-seat facility completed in 2003.
Joe Ernst, VP of Hockey Operations for Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, added, “We are excited to enter into this affiliation agreement with the Minnesota Wild and its AHL affiliate the Iowa Wild. This is a great opportunity to build a collaborative relationship that benefits our teams, our players, and hockey fans in Minnesota, Iowa and Jacksonville.”
The Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s primary affiliate in the AHL, will continue to serve as the main developmental hub for the team. The Wild organization currently has 24 players under contract who have spent time with Iowa in the last two seasons. The Icemen will offer additional depth and flexibility for prospects needing more playing time or specific skill development.
Jacksonville has been a consistent draw in the ECHL, leading the league in sellouts over the past four seasons. The Icemen have averaged over 5,000 attendees per game in recent years, demonstrating strong fan support in the Jacksonville market.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Iowa Wild season are already on sale. Fans can purchase them at iowawild.com. The Wild organization will begin assigning prospects to the Icemen once the season begins in October 2026.
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