THUNDER BAY-  – The Ear Falls Eagles are set to take to the ice starting this fall. The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Thursday that they have accepted an expansion franchise that will based out of the Northwestern Ontario community of Ear Falls and will begin play in time for the 2013-14 season.

Ear Falls Eagles will take flight

Dubbed the Eagles, the newly-minted team will have Ear Falls Arena as their main home venue with the team logo and website to be released, once finalized. The club colours are expected to be black, white, gold and orange.

Serving as the Eagles inaugural head coach and general manager will be Kevin Kahoot, who incidentally also serves as the Mayor of Ear Falls.

Kahoot has a multitude of coaching experience behind him, including a stint with the SIJHL’s Thunder Bay North Stars this past season as well as previously at the high school and Junior A levels.

The organization’s executive is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

“The SIJHL is pleased to welcome our newest franchise to the league,” enthused SIJHL president and commissioner Ron Whitehead.

“An instant rival for one of our original franchises, the Dryden Ice Dogs, the Ear Falls/Red Lake area of Northwestern Ontario is a good fit geographically and we look forward to working with the Eagles organization heading into the 2013-14 season and beyond,” continued Whitehead.

Among the plans the franchise has in the works is a season ticket drive to commence in early June as well as a corporate sponsorship package, which will include multiple options to advertise with the club.

“The new Eagles franchise thanks the SIJHL for the opportunity to become a strong and vital partner for years to come,” said Kahoot.

“We look forward to working with all the teams to make this a league a strong, competitive one that consistently displays an exciting brand of Junior A hockey,” stated the club’s head coach and GM.