The Amarillo Wranglers have recently shared some exciting news over the past month naming Matt Hill as the new head coach of the Wranglers as well as adding a new NAHL3 team to the franchise.

President and owner of the NAHL Amarillo Wranglers Austin Sutter recently announced the acquisition of a North American 3 Hockey League team. The N3 (as it’s affectionately known) is a tier 3 junior league that is owned and operated by the North American Hockey League. The West Texas Wranglers will play all of their home games at the Amarillo Ice Ranch with a few opportunities at the Budweiser Bullpen. 

Long time Amarillo native and hometown hockey player Brit Brookes will be the general manager of the organization. Brookes brings a litany of executive experience as he was working behind the scenes for the Amarillo Wranglers as a scout and in various executive roles. Brookes’ extensive playing history in our community and his complete understanding of what is needed to succeed in the Amarillo ADI will only enhance and compliment this new organization.

Austin Sutter, President of the Amarillo Wranglers, was recently announced as the head coach of the WTX Wranglers. Sutter’s coaching history in our community is legendary and is certain to bring a competitive advantage to this startup organization. 

Not only will this team help the Amarillo Wranglers as a farming system, it will also provide next level hockey opportunities for local and regional players. Recently the WTX Wranglers held a camp with over 50 players in attendance. These players came from all over the region, including Amarillo, Odessa, as well as New Mexico, Oklahoma, etc. Homegrown hockey players are making an impact as we are now seeing local players drafted in both the NAHL and NA3L.

For decades Amarillo has been a destination spot for world class hockey players. Now it is becoming a developmental spot for world class hockey players as our home-grown players now have accessibility to world class coaching, facilities, and some of the best hockey fans in the country. As Timbuk 3 used to sing “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.”

Michael Hill has been hired as the new Head Coach of the Amarillo Wranglers. Previously the Associate Head Coach for the Shreveport Mud Bugs, Hill will take over the head coaching duties for the Wranglers in the 25/26 hockey season and beyond. Hill will be the fifth coach in four seasons for the Amarillo Wranglers franchise. With a wealth of North American hockey League coaching/playing experience, Hill is considered a “hot prospect” within the junior league hockey coaching space. 

He began his NAHL career with the Wichita Falls Wildcats as a shooting sniper. He also played two seasons for the Topeka Roadrunners and was involved in one of the most controversial fisticuffs that occurred at the Budweiser Bullpen between the Amarillo Bulls and the Roadrunners. He played his college hockey at Saint Norbert College. He had a brief stint in the professional ranks playing in the ECHL and SPHL.

Hill began his coaching career with the Texas Junior Brahmas, GM and head coach in the North American 3 Hockey League (a tier 3 Junior league). He also acted as the Lone Star Brahmas strength and conditioning coach. His NAHL coaching journey began with 3 seasons as an assistant coach for the Aberdeen Wings, winning a Robertson Cup. Most recently, coach Hill held the position of Associate Head Coach with the Shreveport Mudbugs for the last 3 seasons.

I asked Coach Hill what type of a team can we expect for the 25/26 season? He answered succinctly and in a concise manner by saying “A very structured team that’s going to be battling at every second of the game.” He went on to say that the blue-collar style of hockey would be on full display.

The volatility in the head coaching position with the Amarillo Wranglers has been quantifiable. With the experience, attitude and Texas swagger that coach Hill represents, this volatility should subside. The future looks extremely bright for the Amarillo Wranglers with this coaching hire.

Former Wranglers head coach Cory Wogtech and assistant coach Ryan Seavy in what is being described as a “mutual agreement” have parted ways with the Amarillo Wranglers. 

Please listen for Tommy Tee‘s weekly recap of the Amarillo Wranglers hockey on the “Drive at Five” with Lance Lahnert every Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. exclusively on 102.9 FM the Panhandle Sports Star. 

In terms of culture shock, Greg Cronin is in for a doozy, going from the sunshine, beaches and traffic of Southern California to the relatively quiet winter weather and flat landscape of Des Moines, Iowa.

But on the hockey rink, the new head coach of the Iowa Wild — Minnesota’s top minor league team — should feel right at home. On Monday, the Wild made it official, naming Cronin, 62, their new head coach after he was dismissed from his NHL job running the Anaheim Ducks shortly after the regular season’s conclusion.

Originally from Massachusetts, with a background in college hockey and with USA Hockey, Cronin coached the Ducks for the past two seasons and led them to their most successful campaign in nearly a decade but failed to produce a playoff entry.

“We are thrilled to have a coach of Greg’s caliber behind the bench in Iowa,” Iowa Wild general manager Matt Hendricks said in a statement. “He brings a thorough, detail-oriented approach and an extremely high understanding of the game of hockey. With (his) extensive background in player development and a proven track record of leading winning organizations, we are excited to bring Greg’s passion for coaching to our organization.”

The Iowa gig will be Cronin’s third stint as an AHL head coach, having previously guided the top developmental teams for the New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche. He was an Islanders assistant coach for nine seasons, and spent a year as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well.

The change in Des Moines comes after Brett McLean was named an assistant coach on the staff that Adam Foote is putting together since being named the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. McLean, 48, had spent the previous eight seasons as a member of the Wild organization, coaching Iowa to a 27-37-6-2 record last season. They finished sixth in the AHL’s Central Division and missed the playoffs in a year where the NHL club was routinely calling up players because of injuries.

The Iowa Wild have been Minnesota’s AHL team since 2013, when the franchise relocated the Houston Aeros to Des Moines. They play in the 15,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena in downtown.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Anthony Petruzzelli has spent a lot of time the last few summers helping to grow the sport of hockey in Fort Wayne.

Monday, he dropped the puck on the second year of his own summer camp, through his P13 Hockey School.

A group of 44 kids stepped onto the ice at the SportOne Parkview Icehouse to learn from Petruzzelli and his staff this week.

“I look forward to this every year,” Petruzzelli said. “This is somethign that I enjoy doing. It’s great to give back to the community and help grow the game of hockey.”

The summer camp will continue throughout the week, wrapping up on Friday afternoon.

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After a long year of lectures, late-night study sessions and too many dining hall meals, I’m finally back home from Penn State — and wow, it’s nice to eat something that didn’t come from a buffet line. And let’s talk about Amazon orders. Remember when you’d forget what you bought by the time it finally arrived on campus? Now they’re at my door in 48 hours, right on schedule, like they missed me too.

As much as I loved the buzz of campus life, there’s something uniquely comforting about being back in my own bed, with my own space and my own family just down the hall instead of hours away. After a stressful academic year, this slower pace is exactly what I needed.

Before fully settling into summer at home, I had a whirlwind transition. I spent a single week between finals and a three-week study abroad trip to Florence, Italy. Talk about zero time to exhale. But it ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had.

I completed my general arts credit through an apparel design course at Florence University of the Arts. It was a beautiful blend of creativity, culture and exploration. From sketching garments inspired by Renaissance art to walking past centuries-old monuments on my way to class, the experience was surreal.

I loved every moment of getting lost in narrow cobblestone streets, trying new foods (yes, gelato counts as a food group) and taking in the beauty of the Duomo or the Uffizi Gallery on a random Tuesday. It was a dream — and an exhausting one in the best way.

Returning from that kind of immersive travel and a packed academic year made returning home feel especially important. One of the first things I did was resume my position as a front desk attendant at my local community center — a job I’ve held since July 2023 and pick up whenever I’m home. It’s familiar, grounding and surprisingly fulfilling.

Whether I’m helping residents sign up for programs, greeting regulars or simply keeping things organized behind the counter, it’s a way for me to stay connected with my hometown and contribute to a space that has always felt like a second home.

I also have a virtual internship with Penn State’s College of Engineering, which I complete on my own schedule. The flexibility has been a game-changer. I’m gaining professional experience while still getting to enjoy family dinners, take walks in the neighborhood and yes, even catch up on Netflix without feeling like I’m neglecting my homework.

One of the best parts about being home again is having time to sew. It’s something I’ve loved doing since I was seven, but it’s hard to find the space and time during the school year to dive into a project. After being inspired by my apparel design course in Florence, I’ve been sketching, cutting fabric and actually finishing pieces.

Having the time and freedom to create just for fun has reminded me why I love fashion in the first place. It’s been a quiet, satisfying way to reconnect with myself — no deadlines, no grades, just creating.

It might seem like taking a few months at home is just a luxury, but for many students, it’s actually an essential reset. The academic year can be draining — mentally, emotionally and even physically. Constant deadlines, social pressures and the hustle of campus life add up. Being home gives me the chance to breathe again.

There’s real value in re-centering yourself. Spending time with family helps you reconnect with who you are outside of your academic identity. You’re not just a student, or a member of this club or that team — you’re also a sibling, a friend, a neighbor. These roles remind you that you’re part of something bigger and more grounded than your GPA or extracurricular activities.

This time at home isn’t just about relaxing — it’s also a time to reflect. I can think clearly about what academic strategies worked for me this past school year and what didn’t. I’ve realized how important time management is, how much I value independence and how I need to prioritize sleep and mental health next semester (no more 2 a.m. doom scrolling through Instagram reels instead of studying).

With fewer distractions, I’ve been able to plan out future goals, polish my resume and even take a deep breath without worrying that I’m falling behind. Ironically, slowing down has helped me move forward with more clarity.

I won’t lie — there have been a few days where I did absolutely nothing productive and I regret none of them. But I’ve also kept myself engaged through work, my internship, sewing projects and reconnecting with old friends.

The key has been balance: enough activity to keep my brain working while still having enough downtime to let myself truly rest.

That’s something campus life doesn’t always allow for. Even during “breaks,” there’s pressure to fill every moment with resume-builders. Being home reminds me that rest is productive too. It’s not wasted time, but rather it’s preparation for the next chapter.

Soon enough, I’ll be packing up again and heading back to Penn State. I’ll be excited to return, but I’ll bring with me the lessons learned from this summer so far: the value of rest, the importance of reflection and the joy of reconnecting with the people who keep me grounded.

For now, I’m enjoying hot meals that weren’t cooked in bulk trays, packages that actually get delivered to my door and most of all, the comfort of being home. Sometimes, to grow and thrive, you need to step away from the chaos, take a deep breath and just exist.

And hey, not having to swipe in for every meal? That’s just a bonus.

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