Welcome back to The Colony.
The Austin Ice Bats are officially back for the 2026-27 NA3HL season, and the new campaign has already brought plenty of changes, new faces and memorable moments. From a division realignment and a new head coach to a Perardi Party and the Bats’ first sweep of the season, September gave Bat Nation plenty to follow.
A New Season, A New Division
The 2026-27 season marks a new chapter for the Austin Ice Bats following the NA3HL’s division realignment. After competing in the South Division, the Bats have moved to the Southeast Division for the new campaign.
Austin’s Southeast Division opponents now include the Louisiana Drillers, Bayou State Rougarou, Atlanta Capitals, Pelham Prowlers and Texas RoadRunners. The move brings a new group of divisional opponents and new road trips as the Bats begin their first season competing in the Southeast.
The division change wasn’t the only major adjustment heading into the new season. Austin also welcomed a new head coach behind the bench.
Harrison Feeney Takes Over Behind the Bench
Former University of North Dakota Division I goaltender Harrison Feeney took over as head coach of the Austin Ice Bats heading into the 2026-27 season. Feeney brings his collegiate playing experience and hockey background to Austin as he leads the Bats through their new campaign.
With a new division and a new voice behind the bench, the Bats entered the season ready to begin a new chapter.
Opening Weekend: September 4-6 vs. Louisiana
The Austin Ice Bats opened the 2026-27 season at home September 4-6 against the Louisiana Drillers. The Drillers entered the weekend after going undefeated during the regular season the year before, giving Austin a difficult test to begin the campaign.
The opening game went to overtime, with the Bats ultimately falling 3-2. Austin then dropped the second game 3-1 before Louisiana completed the opening-weekend sweep with a 2-0 victory.
Although the Bats didn’t get the results they were looking for, the three-game series gave Austin its first opportunity to settle into the new season, new division and new coaching system.
September 19: A Return to NYTEX Against the Texas Brahmas
Two weeks later, the Bats hit the road for a single out-of-division matchup against the Texas Brahmas on September 19. The game carried some history after the Brahmas defeated Austin in the Division Finals during the 2025-26 season.
Austin battled throughout the matchup but ultimately fell 6-4. Despite the result, the game produced one of the most memorable moments of the young season.
A New Perardi Party
While Arys Perardi is no longer on the Austin Ice Bats roster, the Perardi name returned to the scoresheet when his younger brother, Tres, suited up for his first NA3HL game as an Ice Bat against the Brahmas.
He also scored his first NA3HL goal that night, giving Bat Nation another reason to celebrate a familiar name. For Bats fans, there was only one way to celebrate it: a Perardi Party.
Adding to the moment, the goal was assisted by Guhnar Hillman, who assisted on many of Arys Perardi’s goals throughout his time with the Bats. A new Perardi, a familiar name on the scoresheet and another Perardi Party made for a memorable night in Austin Ice Bats history.
September 25-27: The Bats Find Their Footing in Shreveport
To close out September, the Bats traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, for a three-game divisional series against the Bayou State Rougarou from September 25-27. This was where Austin finally found its footing and began building momentum.
The Bats opened the weekend with a 4-0 victory, earning their first win of the 2026-27 season. Austin carried that momentum into the second game, defeating the Rougarou 7-1 before finishing the weekend with an offensive explosion in an 11-3 victory.
The three wins gave Austin its first sweep of the season and provided the Bats with the momentum they were looking for heading into October.
Kellen Hardy Records His First Shutout
The opening game against the Bayou State Rougarou also marked a major individual milestone for goaltender Kellen Hardy. Hardy recorded his first shutout as an Austin Ice Bat, stopping all 25 shots he faced in the 4-0 victory.
Twenty-five shots. Twenty-five saves. First shutout.
It was a standout performance that helped Austin open its first winning weekend of the season.
Cayden Reamer Named Southeast Star of the Week
The Bats had another individual milestone to celebrate following the sweep. Returning defenseman Cayden Reamer put together a standout weekend against the Bayou State Rougarou, recording eight points across the three-game series.
Reamer finished the weekend with two goals and six assists, helping fuel Austin’s offensive surge as the Bats swept the Rougarou. His eight-point performance earned him Southeast Star of the Week honors.
For a returning defenseman to open divisional play with that kind of offensive production, it was a fitting way to cap off a breakthrough weekend for the Bats and close out September.
October Begins Against the Pelham Prowlers
With September officially in the books, the Bats carried their momentum into October. Austin opened the month on the road against the Pelham Prowlers in Alabama for a three-game series from October 1-3.
The series marks Austin’s first matchup against Pelham this season and another opportunity to continue building momentum within the new Southeast Division.
As the Austin Ice Bats 2026-27 season continues, the Bats will face their new Southeast Division opponents throughout the campaign, including the Louisiana Drillers, Bayou State Rougarou, Atlanta Capitals, Pelham Prowlers and Texas RoadRunners.
Follow the Austin Ice Bats
Want to stay up to date with the Austin Ice Bats throughout the 2026-27 season? Follow the Bats on Instagram and Facebook at @austinicebatsna3 and on TikTok at @austin.ice.bats.
Follow along for game results, player highlights, behind-the-scenes content and everything happening around the team throughout the season.
The division is new, the coaching staff is new, and the 2026-27 campaign is underway.
Welcome back, Bat Nation.
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