Wichita Falls Wildcats | |
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City | Wichita Falls, Texas |
League | NAHL |
Division | South |
Founded | 1993 (In the AFHL) |
Home arena | Kay Yeager Coliseum |
Colors | Black, Red, and White |
Owner(s) | Roy Davoult, Alex Shnayderman |
General manager | Paul Baxter |
Head coach | Josh Nelson (interim) |
Media | YouTube, FASTHockey |
Franchise history | |
1993–1996 | Vail Avalanche |
1996–2002 | Butte Irish |
2002–2004 | Wichita Falls Rustlers |
2004–2017 | Wichita Falls Wildcats |
The Wichita Falls Wildcats were a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The Wildcats played out of the 7,380-seat Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas. After failing to find a buyer, the Wildcats ceased operations for the 2017–18 season.
Previously known as the Wichita Falls Rustlers (and before this, the Butte Irish of Butte, Montana and the Vail Avalanche of Vail, Colorado), the franchise was a part of the American Frontier/America West Hockey League prior to 2003, and became an NAHL team after the two leagues merged for the 2003–04 season. The Irish, Rustlers, and Wildcats are technically three separate franchises, but with a major overlap of players and coaches between the organizations, they are often listed together as one.
After 13 seasons as the Wildcats, ownership had been trying to sell the franchise to keep it in Wichita Falls during the 2016–17 season. After failing to find a buyer, they announced they would not be operating the team in the 2017–18 season.
The team's games are broadcast over the internet via FASTHockey. Audio Broadcasting is provided on the team's YouTube channel.