North American Hockey League Explained

North American Hockey League
Pixels:150px
Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:1975
Teams:35
Country:United States(Mainland+Alaska)
Champion:Lone Star Brahmas (7th title *2nd as Brahmas*)
Most Champs:Detroit Jr. Red Wings (SOJHL) (11)
Ceo:Mark Frankenfeld

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 50th season of operation in 2024–25.[1] It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.[2]

The teams span the United States from Maine in the East to Alaska in the Northwest and to Texas in the South. The teams play a 59-game regular season, usually starting on the 2nd weekend in September and ending near mid-April (2020-21 season is exception, the season started in late 2020-early 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic). The Champions of each division(not regular season) will play in Blaine, MN at the Fogarty Arena and will compete for the Robertson Cup Champion.

Under USA Hockey Tier II sanctioning, NAHL teams do not charge players to play and also provide players with uniforms, team clothing and select equipment such as sticks, gloves and helmets. Players without local family live with billet families in their area and pay a monthly stipend that covers food and other costs. Unlike the Tier I United States Hockey League, there are no roster restrictions in the NAHL on overage players, which allows for the older players to gain extra NCAA exposure as well as teams to retain a veteran core. Teams are still bound to USA Hockey rules regarding import players, and presently each team is allowed to have four non-American players on their roster. Import players may also apply for an exemption from being counted as an import, but only if they have played hockey in the United States for four years prior.

From its beginning in 1975, the NAHL was primarily a 6–12-team league based in the Midwest, known as the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League and changed the name to the North American Hockey League in 1984.[3] [4] The league's all-time leading scorer is Ryan Fultz who tallied 246 points in four seasons.[5] Other notable alumni from the NAHL include Pat LaFontaine, Mike Modano, Doug Weight, Pat Peake, Brian Rolston, Brian Holzinger, Brian Rafalski, Todd Marchant, John Scott, Connor Hellebuyck, and George Parros. In 2003, the league merged with the now defunct America West Hockey League to form a 19-team league.

Teams

Current teams

The 2024–25 season has 35 teams playing in four divisions:[6]

Division Team Location Arena Founded Joined
CentralAberdeen Wings Aberdeen, South Dakota2010
Austin Bruins 2010
Bismarck Bobcats 1997 2003
Minnesota Mallards 2024
Minot Minotauros 2011
North Iowa Bulls Mason City, Iowa2008*
St. Cloud Norsemen 2003*
Watertown Shamrocks 2024
EastDanbury Jr. Hat Tricks 2010*
Elmira Aviators 2024
Johnstown Tomahawks 1990*
Maine Nordiques Lewiston, Maine2019
Maryland Black Bears 2018
New Hampshire Mountain Kings 2023
New Jersey Titans 2005*
Northeast Generals 2016
Philadelphia Rebels Hollydell Ice Arena 2008*
Rochester Jr. Americans Rochester Ice Center 2023
MidwestAnchorage Wolverines Ben Boeke Ice Rink[7] 2021
Chippewa Steel 2005*
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 1997 2003
Janesville Jets 2009
Kenai River Brown Bears 2007
Minnesota Wilderness 2000 2013
Springfield Jr. Blues 1993
Wisconsin Windigo 2010*
SouthAmarillo Wranglers 2003*
Colorado Grit 2023
Corpus Christi IceRays 2001*
El Paso Rhinos[8] 2006 2021
Lone Star Brahmas 1999*
New Mexico Ice Wolves Albuquerque, New Mexico2019
Odessa Jackalopes 2008*
Oklahoma Warriors 2020*
Shreveport Mudbugs 2016
Note: An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise relocation. See respective team articles from more information.

Past teams

[9]

Timeline of league changes

2006–07 season: Bozeman Icedogs, Billings Bulls, and Helena Bighorns left the league for the Northern Pacific Hockey League. Cleveland Jr. Barons were granted inactive status for the season. Wasilla Spirit changed names to Alaska Avalanche. Minnesota Blizzard became the Alexandria Blizzard. Texarkana Bandits moved to Chesterfield, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Bandits. Marquette Rangers were added to the league.

2007–08 season: Santa Fe Roadrunners moved to Topeka, Kansas, as the Topeka Roadrunners. The Kenai River Brown Bears started play in the league.

2008–09 season: The Southern Minnesota Express moved to Detroit and became the Motor City Machine.[17] However, the Express' home city of Owatonna was granted another NAHL team for 2008–09, named the Owatonna Express.[18] The Express were joined by another new Minnesota NAHL franchise, the Albert Lea Thunder.[19] The Texas Tornado franchise went on a one-year hiatus as they awaited renovations on their arena. Wenatchee, Washington, was awarded an expansion franchise for the 2008–09 season as the Wenatchee Wild.[20] The Fargo-Moorhead Jets were approved for dormancy.[21]

2009–10 season: The Janesville Jets were awarded an expansion franchise.[22] The Mahoning Valley Phantoms and the USNTDP left the league for the USHL.[23] [24] The Texas Tornado returned to the league after taking a year off while their home arena was undergoing renovations.[25] The Motor City franchise's new ownership changed the team's nickname from Machine to Metal Jackets.[26]

2010–11 season: The NAHL Board of Governors accepted membership of several new teams in the league. The Fresno Monsters were awarded an expansion franchise. after having a team in the Tier III Junior A Western States Hockey League. The Corpus Christi IceRays were awarded a franchise formerly known as the Alpena IceDiggers. The Chicago Hitmen joined the North Division and played at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The Marquette Rangers moved to Flint, Michigan, and changed their name to Michigan Warriors. Port Huron joined the North Division and played at McMorran Place in Port Huron, Michigan. The North Iowa Outlaws relocated to become the Coulee Region Chill in Onalaska, Wisconsin. The Aberdeen Wings joined the Central Division and played at the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Austin Bruins joined the Central Division and played at the Riverside Arena in Austin, Minnesota. The Dawson Creek Rage joined the West Division and played at EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. The Albert Lea Thunder relocate to become the Amarillo Bulls at joined the South Division out of the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas. The New Mexico Mustangs joined the South Division and played at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The Alaska Avalanche relocate to Palmer, Alaska, but keep the same name.

2011–12 season: The Owatonna Express relocate to Odessa, Texas, and become Odessa Jackalopes. The Motor City Metal Jackets relocate to Jamestown, New York, and become Jamestown Ironmen. The Minot Minotauros and Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings granted expansion.

2012–13 season: The Alaska Avalanche relocated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and became Johnstown Tomahawks. Alexandria Blizzard relocated to Brookings, South Dakota, and became the Brookings Blizzard. Traverse City North Stars franchise purchased by the Soo Eagles and joined the league from Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Dawson Creek Rage, New Mexico Mustangs, and St. Louis Bandits takes leaves of absence. The Chicago Hitmen fold.

2013–14 season: The dormant New Mexico Mustangs relocated to Richfield, Minnesota, and became Minnesota Magicians. The Texas Tornado relocated back to North Richland Hills, Texas, and became Lone Star Brahmas. The Minnesota Wilderness joined the league from the Superior International Junior Hockey League by purchasing dormant St. Louis Bandits franchise. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees purchased the Wenatchee Wild franchise. The Fresno Monsters were relocated to become the second incarnation of the Wenatchee Wild and the Monsters returned to only fielding a team in the Western States Hockey League. The Jamestown Ironmen and Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings ceased operations.

2014–15 season: The Port Huron Fighting Falcons were relocated to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, to become the Keystone Ice Miners, remaining in the North Division, and the Wenatchee Wild moved from the Midwest Division to the South Division.[27]

2015–16 season: On May 1, 2015, the NAHL announced that the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise was purchased by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights organization to be an expansion team for the 2015–16 season.[28] The Keystone Ice Miners ceased operations. The Michigan Warriors ceased operations due to the arrival of the major junior Flint Firebirds. The Soo Eagles announced they were returning to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League citing the lack of other local teams as they were the last remaining team in Michigan. The New Jersey Junior Titans organization bought the franchise from the Eagles and relocated to Middleton, New Jersey. The Eagles originally sought membership with the NAHL for the 2012–13 season and returned to the NOJHL for the season 2015–16 season. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were relocated to Aston, Pennsylvania and became the Aston Rebels. A new East Division was formed composed of Aston, Johnstown, New Jersey, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Wenatchee Wild organization left the NAHL and joined the Canadian Junior A British Columbia Hockey League.

2016–17 season: The league announced the continued expansion of the East Division by adding the Northeast Generals of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Generals organization also has a Tier III team in the North American 3 Hockey League (previously in the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League prior to the 2016 league merger). On April 8, 2016, the Shreveport Mudbugs were announced as an expansion team.[29]

2017–18 season: The Wichita Falls Wildcats ceased operations after failing to find a buyer for the franchise.[30] Aston Rebels relocated and renamed as the Philadelphia Rebels.

2018–19 season: The NAHL added another team to its East Division with an expansion franchise granted to the Maryland Black Bears.[31] [32] The Coulee Region Chill were sold and relocated as the Chippewa Steel in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and the Philadelphia Rebels became the Jamestown Rebels in Jamestown, New York. The Topeka RoadRunners were sold and rebranded as the Topeka Pilots.[15]

2019–20 season: The NAHL approved of two expansion teams: the Maine Nordiques in Lewiston, Maine, and the New Mexico Ice Wolves in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[33] [34] The Brookings Blizzard relocated and became the St. Cloud Blizzard.

2020–21 season: The NAHL added the Wichita Falls Warriors as an expansion team while the Topeka Pilots were relocated as the Kansas City Scouts and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights sold their franchise to the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. The St. Cloud Blizzard rebranded as the St. Cloud Norsemen. The Corpus Christi IceRays, Jamestown Rebels, Kansas City Scouts, and Springfield Jr. Blues went dormant for the season due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.[35] [36] [37] [38] The Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears both temporarily relocated to Minnesota and closer to the other teams in their division until mid-April 2021 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions to Alaska.[39]

2021–22 season: The Amarillo Bulls were relocated to Mason City, Iowa, as the North Iowa Bulls.[40] The Kansas City Scouts were originally granted another season of dormancy,[41] [42] but were instead sold and relocated to Amarillo as the Amarillo Wranglers to begin play for the 2021–22 season.[43] Corpus Christi, Jamestown, and Springfield returned after a one-season pandemic-related hiatus. The league added a third team in Alaska called the Anchorage Wolverines.[44]

2022-23 Season: The Minnesota Magicians were purchased and relocated to Eagle River, Wisconsin as the Wisconsin Windigo.[45] The NAHL approved the relocation of the Wichita Falls Warriors to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to become the Oklahoma Warriors.[46]

2023-24 Season: NAHL approved a new team in the East Division to be located in Rochester, New York that will be known as the "Rochester Junior Americans" ("Jr. Amerks"), a nod to Rochester's American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Rochester Americans ("Amerks"), a minor league affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team is co-owned by Wegmans CEO Coleen Wegman and Chris O'Donnell. Former Amerks, AHL and NHL players and coaches, including Brian Gionta, Nathan Paetsch, Stephen Gionta, David Leggio, will be affiliated with the new team. The team will play at the Rochester Ice Center in the metropolitan suburb of Fairport, New York.[47] [48] The NAHL added another team to the East Division later in 2022-23 season, as the New Hampshire Mountain Kings were approved for their membership, making it the first time an NAHL team was located in New Hampshire. The team will be based out of the renovated Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett, New Hampshire.[49] The NAHL also introduced a team in Greeley, Colorado called the Colorado Grit.[50] The Grit will play in the Greely Ice Haus.

2024-25 Season: NAHL has approved a 7th team in the Central Division, located in Watertown, South Dakota, going by the name of the Watertown Shamrocks. The Shamrocks will be the 33rd team in the NAHL. They will play their home games at the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. The Shamrocks will be owned by Codington County Hockey Club LLC, including Mark Gullbrandson, Donald Sisson, KC Finnegan, and Vince Foley[51] at... NAHL Approved an expansion team in the Central Division, located in Forest Lake, Minnesota, with the name of the Minnesota Mallards. They will be the 34th team in the NAHL. They will play home games at Forest Lake Sports Center.[52]

Playoff Structure

(Midwest and Central) Top 4 teams qualify, and in the 1st round(Division Semi-Finals), the 1st seed (seeding based on placement in division) plays the 4th seed and the 2nd seed plays the 3rd seed in a 2H-2A-1H best of 5 Series. The winners of those two series will play each other in the Division Finals with the same 2H-2A-1H Best of 5 format. The winner of the Division Finals will be crowned the Division Champions and will represent the Division in the Final Four, hosted at the Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.

(South and East) The top 6 teams qualify, with the 1st seed and 2nd seed (seeding based on placement in division) getting byes. Seeds 3, 4, 5, and 6 will all play in the play-in, which happens around early-to-mid April. The 3 seed will host the 6 seed for all 3 games*, as the 4th seed will also host the 5th seed for all 3 games*. The winner with the lowest seed will play the 1st seed, and the winner with the highest seed will play the 2nd seed. From there, the format is the same as the Midwest and Central.

Robertson Cup winners

The Robertson Cup Championship is a playoff series held at the end of the NAHL season. The trophy is awarded annually to the USA Hockey Tier II junior national playoff champion. The Cup is the oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States and is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan. Chuck Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pool Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976 to 1983.

As of the 2023–24 season[53]

(*) Lone Star beat New Jersey 6-3 in the Virtual Robertson Cup Championship[54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NAHL releases 2024-25 regular season schedule . NAHL . June 13, 2024.
  2. Web site: Contact Us - North American Hockey League - NAHL. www.nahl.com. March 27, 2018.
  3. Web site: North American Hockey League [1984-2019] history and statistics at hockeydb.com]. www.hockeydb.com.
  4. Web site: NAHL History. NAHL. March 17, 2015.
  5. Web site: NAHL ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON STATS . Elite Prospects . February 22, 2017.
  6. Web site: NAHL releases 2021-22 regular season schedule . NAHL . June 19, 2022.
  7. Web site: Anchorage Wolverines junior hockey team hires a coach and plans to move into Sullivan Arena . . April 14, 2021.
  8. Web site: NAHL team in El Paso, Texas approved for 2021-22 season . NAHL . June 16, 2020.
  9. Web site: North American Hockey League [1984-2015] history and statistics ]. HockeyDB . June 3, 2015.
  10. Web site: NAHL announces relocation of Brookings Blizzard to St. Cloud, Minnesota . NAL . Jun 3, 2019.
  11. Web site: Freeze hockey team shuts down. Jack McCarthy . chicagotribune.com . April 24, 2003 . June 22, 2011.
  12. Web site: Detroit Little Caesars Statistics and History. HockeyDB. March 17, 2015.
  13. Web site: Fargo-Moorhead ceases operations North American Hockey League NAHL . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240107011716/https://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=502 . 2024-01-07 . 2024-01-07 . www.nahl.com.
  14. Web site: Rebel Yell . . June 13, 2018.
  15. Web site: Topeka Pilots — RoadRunners get a new name . . June 5, 2018.
  16. Web site: NAHL announces relocation of WBS Knights to Danbury, Connecticut . NAHL . May 11, 2020.
  17. NAHL.com, Machine Motors into Michigan, May 2, 2008
  18. NAHL.com, Owatonna membership approved for 2008–09, May 19, 2008
  19. Startribune.com, Albert Lea awarded NAHL franchise, May 1, 2008
  20. Wenatchee World, Finally we have a hockey team, May 14, 2008
  21. NAHL.com, Fargo-Moorhead ceases operations, May 19, 2008
  22. NAHL.com, Jets touch down in Janesville, June 5, 2009
  23. NAHL.com, Zoldan, NAHL make a deal, August 13, 2009
  24. NAHL.com, NTDP to no longer compete in NAHL, February 26, 2008
  25. NAHL.com, Tornado to hit the ice again in 2009-10, April 29, 2009
  26. NAHL.com, Motor City changes nickname, logo, June 25, 2009
  27. NAHL.com, NAHL announces teams, alignment for 2014-15 season, May 14, 2014
  28. Web site: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights join NAHL in 2015-16 season. North American Hockey League (NAHL). March 27, 2018.
  29. Web site: Shreveport Mudbugs accepted into the NAHL for the 2016-17 season . OurSports Central . April 8, 2016.
  30. News: Wildcats' season ends with 4-3 overtime loss . . April 22, 2017.
  31. Web site: NAHL team in Maryland approved for the 2018-19 season . NAHL . April 12, 2018.
  32. Web site: NAHL team in Maryland to be called the Black Bears . NAHL.com . May 9, 2018.
  33. Web site: NAHL team in Lewiston, Maine approved for the 2019-20 season . NAHL . February 28, 2019.
  34. Web site: NAHL team in New Mexico approved for the 2019-20 season . NAHL . February 28, 2019.
  35. Web site: Corpus Christi IceRays suspend operations . NAHL . August 24, 2020.
  36. Web site: Kansas City Scouts exercise option to sit out the 2020-21 season . NAHL . August 26, 2020.
  37. Web site: Springfield Jr. Blues suspend operations for 2020-21 season . NAHL . September 16, 2020.
  38. Web site: Jamestown Rebels suspend operations for 2020-21 season . NAHL . September 21, 2020.
  39. Web site: NAHL's Fairbanks Ice Dogs to temporarily relocate to Marshall for part of season . Marshall Independent . August 26, 2020.
  40. Web site: A LETTER TO AMARILLO BULLS FANS . Amarillo Bulls . english . March 5, 2021 . March 5, 2021.
  41. Web site: Kansas City Scouts Organization Update . KC Scouts . March 4, 2021.
  42. Web site: Corpus Christi, Jamestown, Springfield return for 2021-22 season . NAHL . March 4, 2021.
  43. Web site: Kansas City Scouts sold and relocated to Amarillo, Texas . NHL . May 21, 2021.
  44. Web site: NAHL team in Anchorage, Alaska approved for the 2021-22 season . NAHL . March 22, 2021.
  45. Web site: Richfield's Magicians set to move to Wisconsin after the season . Hometownsource . March 22, 2022.
  46. Web site: Wichita Falls Warriors announce relocation to Oklahoma City . NAHL . April 5, 2022.
  47. Web site: Rochester Jr. Amerks to play inaugural season in 2023-24 . News 10 NBC WHEC . December 8, 2022.
  48. Web site: NAHL team in Rochester, New York approved for the 2023-24 season . NAHL . December 8, 2022.
  49. Web site: NAHL team in Hooksett, NH approved for the 2023-24 season . NAHL . March 16, 2023.
  50. Web site: NAHL team in Greeley, Colorado approved for the 2023-24 season . NAHL . January 6, 2023.
  51. Web site: NAHL Team in Watertown, SD Approved for the 2024-25 Season . NAHL . March 15, 2024.
  52. Web site: NAHL adds Minnesota Mallards, bringing junior hockey back to Twin Cities metro . therinklive.com . April 24, 2024.
  53. Web site: Robertson Cup. NAHL. September 13, 2023.
  54. Web site: Robertson Cup Virtual Playoffs-Robertson Cup Championship game-New Jersey vs Lone Star. Youtube. May 12, 2020.

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