Minnesota Northern Lights chosen as FPHL team name

by April Scheinoha
Editor

Plans continue to progress for the professional minor league hockey team that will call Thief River Falls home. At its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Thief River Falls City Council learned the team will be called the Minnesota Northern Lights.

Shawn Jones, newly-appointed general manager for the team, said the team colors will be electric green, purple and white – similar to the colors seen during the phenomenon of the same name. A professional artist will design the logo, which will feature something similar to a moose.

The Minnesota Northern Lights will start competition during the 2026-27 hockey season and play its home games at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls. The team is part of the FPHL, which is made up of 16 teams from across the United States.

“You will be entertained,” said Jones. “The hockey is almost secondary.”

On Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, the FPHL will host a two-game (regular season) game between the Indiana Sentinels and Topeka Scarecrows at REA in Thief River Falls. The puck drops at 7 p.m. for each game. Tickets are expected to be on sale soon.

The FPHL features professional minor league teams. Jones explained the players are one step or a couple steps away from playing in the National Hockey League. He noted that the Norskies, a now-defunct hockey team that formerly called Thief River Falls home, was a Junior A hockey team.

Northern Lights players will live at Seven Clans Casino, Hotel and Water Park in Thief River Falls. Another team has utilized a hotel to house its players in the past. Jones anticipated that some hockey players may be from Minnesota and some may be from locations outside of the United States.

Jones encouraged the public to embrace the players and help them feel at home here. He said the community will get to know them through various activities in the community.
Jones anticipated the team would need to be creative with its travel plans since Thief River Falls is an outlier in terms of its location compared to other FPHL teams.

The team is a nonprofit organization. Council member Jason Aarestad pointed out that the city isn’t subsidizing the team.

Jones noted that any money made here would stay here. He thanked Mayor Mike Lorenson, saying Lorenson was a catalyst in bringing the team to Thief River Falls.

In a press release, FPHL Commissioner Don Kirnan said, “We’re very excited to bring professional hockey to Thief River Falls in the heart of hockey country. We are thrilled to be coming to Minnesota and become part of their historic hockey community.”