ROCHESTER, Minn. – The NA3HL announced the league-wide schedule for the 2026-2027 junior hockey season on Thursday afternoon.
The reigning Central Division Champion Rochester Grizzlies will open up their season against a familiar Central Division foe against the West Bend Power, in a Central Division Final rematch, at the Rochester Recreation Center on Sep. 12.
Here are some other notable dates to mark on the calendar for Grizzlies fans.
Oct. 9-10: Hitting the Road
After starting the season with six consecutive matchups in front of the home faithful, the Grizzlies take their first trip into opposing territory to battle the St. Louis Jr. Blues
The black and gold swept the season series with St. Louis last season, and will look to add to an impressive 41-0-1-2 all-time record against the Jr. Blues.
Oct. 31: Hey New Neighbor
On Halloween, Marty Raymond’s squad will take on the newest member of the NA3HL and the Central Division, the Fox Cities Forge.
Based in Appleton, Wisconsin, the Forge become the fourth Wisconsin-based franchise in the NA3HL and add another challenge to an already competitive Central Division.
Dec. 4-6: Better Pack Some Snacks
With the addition of a seventh team into the Central Division, the 2026-2027 season includes the addition of three-game weekends in the regular season.
The Grizzlies’ lone three-game stretch comes in the depths of winter, as the black and gold travel to Peoria, Illinois, to battle the Mustangs before heading to St. Louis on Saturday and Sunday.
A grueling 965-mile round trip awaits Rochester, providing one of the toughest road tests of the season as the first half of the schedule winds down.
Dec. 20-22: NA3HL Showcase
A week later than usual, the annual NA3HL Showcase takes place the week of Christmas in Blaine, Minnesota, as a three-day event for each team to prove their worth.
Last season saw the Showcase as a true turning point for the black and gold, winning all three of their matchups against the Texas Roadrunners, Bozeman Icedogs and Wilmar Warhawks, before finishing the regular season with 24 wins over their final 31 games.
Jan. 23-Feb. 6: Home Sweet Home
After the NA3HL Showcase and a handful of road games, Marty Raymond’s squad heads back to the Rochester Recreation Center for a taste of home cooking with a five-game homestand.
During that stretch, the Grizzlies will take on the newly minted Fox Cities Forge, Wisconsin Woodsmen and Peoria Mustangs as they try to replicate their back-half success from 2025-2026.
Feb. 22-23: Top Prospects Tournament
At the historic USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, is where the annual Top Prospects Tournament will take place, showcasing the best talents across both the NA3HL and the NAHL.
Last season, ast season, Andrew Bastian and Trenton Fore represented Rochester at the star-studded affair, with Team Red winning one of its two contests.
Both Bastian and Fore cemented themselves as cornerstone pieces of the franchise, with Bastian setting the all-time games played record and single-season assist record and Fore setting the single-season point record for a defenseman.
Mar. 14-18: Playoffs Begin
Everyone’s favorite time of year starts just one week later than 2025-2026, as the first round of the Fraser Cup Playoffs begins during the week of Mar. 14.
The start of the Fraser Cup Championship in St. Louis begins on Mar. 31 and runs through Apr. 4, a rare time where the NA3HL season bleeds into the fourth month of the calendar year.
The black and gold will look to defend their Central Division title and make a fourth trip to Fraser Cup once puck drops in mid-September.
Season tickets and single game tickets can be purchased at tickets.rochestergrizz.com.