Minnesota Outlaws
| Minnesota Outlaws | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | East Bethel, Minnesota |
| League | United States Premier Hockey League Premier Division |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Home arena | East Bethel Ice Arena |
| Owner(s) | Jason Porter |
| Head coach | Don Babineau |
| Franchise history | |
| 2014–2018 | Ironwood Fighting Yoopers |
| 2018–2022 | Rum River Mallards |
| 2022–2025 | Isanti Outlaws |
| 2025–present | Minnesota Outlaws |
The Isanti Outlaws are a junior ice hockey team based in Isanti, Minnesota. They compete in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Premier Division. The team plays its home games at Isanti Ice Arena.
History
[edit]Formed in the summer of 2018, the Rum River Mallards joined the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Premier Division as a member of the Midwest-West Division. The team was initially led by team president Glen Lucken and Brad Zangs as its first head coach and general manager.[1] A group of investors, including Zangs, purchased the Ironwood Fighting Yoopers who were established in 2014 competing in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) one season before joining the USPHL from 2016 to 2018.[2]
Rum River earned their first victory on September 28, 2018, defeating the host Hudson Havoc 6–4.[3] After 17 games played, the team was sold to local businessman Eddy Wilkinson who hired new head coach, Jimmy Jensen.[4]
The Mallards' inaugural season ended with 51 points, one point back of the Minnesota Blue Ox, despite two regular season games being cancelled. Unable to reschedule those games before the playoffs, the Blue Ox hosted the best-of-three series as the higher seed. The Mallards defeated the Blue Ox in the second game 11–6 before being eliminated the following night.[5][6]
After a good start to their second season, Jimmy Jensen stepped away from the bench for family reasons.[7] He was replaced in early December by Triston Jensen, a former goaltender who played in both the MnJHL and USPHL.[8] Triston played collegiate hockey at the ACHA level with Saginaw Valley State University. Rum River ended the 2019–20 season as the fifth seed with another playoff matchup against the Blue Ox.[9] After winning the first game, the Minnesota Blue Ox responded by winning the final two games to advance in the division playoffs.[10]
After four seasons as the Mallards team owner Jason Porter announced a new identity, Isanti Outlaws, in April 2022. Three years later, the Franchise relocated to East Bethel, Minnesota and rebranded as the Minnesota Outlaws.[11]
Season-by-season
[edit]| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironwood Fighting Yoopers | |||||||||||||||
| Minnesota Junior Hockey League | |||||||||||||||
| 2014–15 | 42 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 8 | 96 | 371 | 8th of 8, Minnesota Div. 13th of 14, MJHL |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Rochester Ice Hawks) | ||||||
| USPHL Midwest | |||||||||||||||
| 2015–16 | dormant | ||||||||||||||
| United States Premier 3 Hockey League | |||||||||||||||
| 2016–17 | 41 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 44 | 155 | 168 | 4th of 7, Midwest Div. t-15th of 27, USP3HL |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Alpena Flyers) | ||||||
| USPHL Premier | |||||||||||||||
| 2017–18 | 43 | 16 | 25 | 2 | 34 | 164 | 208 | t-6th of 9, Midwest-West Div. t-33rd of 44, USPHL Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Minnesota Blue Ox) | ||||||
| Rum River Mallards | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–19 | 42 | 25 | 16 | 1 | 51 | 170 | 108 | 5th of 9, Midwest-West Div. 23rd of 52, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Minnesota Blue Ox) | ||||||
| 2019–20 | 44 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 53 | 207 | 154 | 5th of 9, Midwest-West Div. 20th of 52, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Minnesota Blue Ox) | ||||||
| 2020–21 | 44 | 9 | 33 | 2 | 20 | 123 | 222 | 7th of 9, Midwest-West Div. 52nd of 62, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Minnesota Moose) | ||||||
| 2021–22 | 44 | 11 | 31 | 2 | 24 | 143 | 245 | 7th of 8, Midwest-West Div. 55th of 64, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings) | ||||||
| Isanti Outlaws | |||||||||||||||
| 2022–23 | 44 | 20 | 23 | 1 | 41 | 149 | 200 | 7th of 9, Midwest-West Div. 45nd of 70, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Minnesota Squatch) | ||||||
| 2023–24 | 44 | 13 | 30 | 1 | 27 | 129 | 222 | 7th of 9, Midwest-West Div. 47th of 61, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Minnesota Squatch) | ||||||
| 2024–25 | 44 | 7 | 34 | 3 | 17 | 106 | 274 | 8th of 9, North Div. 65th of 73, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Minnesota Squatch) | ||||||
| Minnesota Outlaws | |||||||||||||||
Former logos
[edit]-
Isanti Outlaws
References
[edit]- ^ "Local graduates sign with Rum River Mallards". Isanti County News. July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Welcome to the 'Fighting Yoopers'". The Daily Globe. April 14, 2014.
- ^ "Rum River Mallards vs Hudson Havoc". USPHL. September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ "Rum River Mallards under new management". Isanti County News. November 27, 2018.
- ^ "Rum River Mallards vs Minnesota Blue Ox". USPHL. February 24, 2019. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ "Rum River Mallards' season comes to a close". Isanti County News. February 27, 2019.
- ^ "Mallards excel in Showcase at Fogerty". Isanti County News. October 31, 2019.
- ^ "Triston Jensen named new Mallards bench boss". Isanti County News. January 9, 2020.
- ^ "Rum River Mallards taking off as playoffs approach". Isanti County News. February 21, 2020.
- ^ "Mallards, Charland take Game 1 vs Blue Ox". Ludwig Media. February 28, 2020.
- ^ "Isanti Outlaws". Facebook. June 9, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.