Houghton native Blake Hietala was named inaugural coach of an Eagle River, Wisconsin, junior hockey league team ahead of their first season.

Hietala, who played hockey at Michigan Tech from 2010 to 2015, finished his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League. Hietala also served as the team’s assistant director of scouting for the Gamblers last season.

The team will compete in the North American Hockey League. It’s owned and operated by Copper Island Hockey Club LLC. It’s a consortium of owners including David Rowe (Dollar Bay), Mike Kocourek (Eagle River, Wis.), Jason King (Boyne City) and former Michigan Tech hockey player John Rockwell (Kent, Washington). The group purchased the Minnesota Magicians and moved the team to Eagle River after last season to play in the Dome beginning in September.

The team held a pre-draft camp in Minocqua, Wisconsin, on April 9-10. The team will also hold more workouts on April 30 to May 1 in Grand Rapids for 2007 and 2008 birth-year players. The team will also hold a camp for 2002 through 2006 birth-year players on June 3-5 in Richfield, Minnesota. The team will hold camp for 2002 through 2006 birth-year players on June 10-12 in Detroit.

The team is accepting team name and mascot suggestions. Ideas can be sent to info@wisconsinjuniorhockey.com.