File photo by Travis Rosenau From this October 1, 2022, file photo, the New Ulm Steel’s Josh Gulden (77) takes the puck into the offensive zone during an NA3HL game at the New Ulm Civic Center.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Steel, an NA3HL junior league hockey team that has played in New Ulm since 2016, has been sold to out-of-state owners, who plan to relocate the franchise to Tomah, Wis., before the start of next hockey season.

The names of the buyers and other details of the sale were not available Wednesday.

Steel General Manager and head coach Alex North said that one of the factors that may have played a part in the sale of the team has been the cost of having a team operate here.

“One of the major factors is the cost of busing the team, with only a limited amount of bus companies in the area.”

The cost of practice ice time has also been a concern.

“Cost is something that we have been fighting all year,” North said.

North knows that the relocation of the team will have a major impact on the fans who have supported the team since their arrival in New Ulm in 2016 and the sponsors.

“I just want to thank our fans and our supporters,” North said. “The support that we have gotten here has been something special. It has made if a fun place to coach and the players really appreciated the support that we have gotten.”

New Ulm Park and Recreation Director Tom Schmitz said the New Ulm Steel’s five year lease for use of the Civic Center facilities expires next week. With the season over, this would be the time to relocate the team.

Schmitz confirmed the Parks Department will lose revenue without the Steel, but said the city will also save on expenses associated with hosting the team.

With the team leaving there will be a vacancy that could be filled by another team. Schmitz said New Ulm has one of the best civic centers for a community its size. He believed there is a strong possibility another team could come to the city in the future.

The Steel moved to New Ulm in 2016 after relocating from the Minnesota Metro area. Then-owner Steve Black ran the franchise until selling it in 2021 to Colorado resident Kelly Kasik.

As owner of the Steel, Kasik has seen problems since she bought the Steel.

First, Kasik was forced to find a new head coach/ GM before the 2021 season started when Zach Stepan resigned weeks before the start of the season to accept a coaching position with Aberdeen, South Dakota, of the NAHL.

It would be a season that saw a revolving door of people come and go. The New Ulm Steel ended up having two general managers, three different head coaches, a front office shake-up and at one time only 15 rostered players.

“But once I got here, we were able to stop that,” North said. “But it was a tough thing to sink time and money into and get moving in the right direction. It is not an easy thing to do.”

The sale and relocation is sure to disappoint several loyal Steel fans.

“There are going to be unhappy people and this was nothing that was taken lightly — I know from my standpoint it wasn’t,” North said.

The Steel ended this season with a 15-26-5 record.