BILLINGS — A new junior hockey team will call Billings home starting next September, with games to be played at the upcoming Signal Peak Energy Arena near Amend Park.

The franchise is part of the National Collegiate Development Conference's Tier 2 Junior A program, designed to help young players develop skills before advancing to college hockey. The team has no connection to the long-standing Billings Bulls.

"College scouts will often tell these kids, 'go play a year of junior hockey. Put on some size, work on your skill, put on some weight … and get bigger, better, faster and we'll follow your progress,'" said Kevin Greene, president of Billings Hockey LLC.

Hear from the team's ownership on plans surrounding the new franchise: Billings gets new Tier 2 junior hockey franchise starting

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