The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior
hockey leagues in the
United States and is in its 49th season of operation in 2023–24.[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 60-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 top teams of the NAHL
playoffs meet in a predetermined location to play in the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament.
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.
Central Texas Blackhawks (
Belton, Texas; 2003–2005; renamed Central Texas Marshals for the 2004–05 season before ceasing operations at the end of the season)
Gaylord Grizzles (
Gaylord, Michigan; 1995–1998; formerly Saginaw Gears until relocating in December 1995; relocated to
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and renamed Grand Rapids Bearcats)
Grand Rapids Bearcats (
Grand Rapids, Michigan; 1998–2000; renamed Rockets during the 1999–2000 season when the league took over the franchise; relocated to Lansing and renamed Capital Centre Pride)
Texas Tornado (North Richland Hills, Texas for 1999–2008; hiatus for 2008–09 season;
Frisco, Texas for 2009–13; relocated to back North Richland Hills in 2013 and renamed
Lone Star Brahmas)
Toledo IceDiggers (
Toledo, Ohio; 2003–2005; relocated to Alpena, Michigan, and renamed Alpena IceDiggers)
Wenatchee Wild (
Wenatchee, Washington; 2008–2013; relocated to Hidalgo, Texas, and renamed Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees; Wild returned with the Fresno membership)
Wenatchee Wild (Wenatchee, Washington; 2013–2015; former Fresno franchise; joined the
BCHL following the 2014–15 season)
2008–09 season: The
Southern Minnesota Express moved to Detroit and became the Motor City Machine.[20] However, the Express' home city of Owatonna was granted another NAHL team for 2008–09, named the Owatonna Express.[21] The Express were joined by another new Minnesota NAHL franchise, the Albert Lea Thunder.[22] 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.[23] The
Fargo-Moorhead Jets were approved for dormancy.[24]
2009–10 season: The
Janesville Jets were awarded an expansion franchise.[25] The
Mahoning Valley Phantoms and the USNTDP left the league for the USHL.[26][27] The
Texas Tornado returned to the league after taking a year off while their home arena was undergoing renovations.[28] The Motor City franchise's new ownership changed the team's nickname from Machine to Metal Jackets.[29]
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.
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.
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.[30]
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.[31] 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.
2017–18 season: The
Wichita Falls Wildcats ceased operations after failing to find a buyer for the franchise.[33] Aston Rebels relocated and renamed as the Philadelphia Rebels.
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 hiaturs. The league added a third team in Alaska called the
Anchorage Wolverines.[44]
2024-25 Season(Not finalized, more moves could happen): 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.
Playoff Structure
(Midwest and Central)Top 4 teams qualify, and in the 1st round(Division Semi-Finals), the 1st seed(seeding based off of 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 Divison in the Final Four, hosted at the
Fogerty Ice Arena in
Blaine, Minnesota.
(South and East) Top 6 teams qualify, the 1st and 2nd seeds(seeding based off placement in division) will be on bye, while the 3rd seed plays the 6 seed in a 1H-1A-1H Best of 3 matchup, same with the 4th seed and 5th seed. The lowest seed who wins the Best of 3 will play the 1st Seed, and the Highest seed who wins the Best of 3 will play the 2nd. From there, it's basically the normal playoff format, as the 1 seed will host the lowest seed and the 2nd seed will host the Highest seed in a 2H-2A-1H series, winners of those series will play against each other in the same game format, winner of that will represent their division at the final four in Blaine, Minnesota.
Current Standings
Place
Team
GP
W
L
OTL
PTS
GF
GA
Central
1
X-Minot Minotauros
54
41
12
1
83
189
106
2
X-Bismarck Bobcats
54
36
14
4
76
180
129
3
Aberdeen Wings
54
28
21
5
61
171
159
4
Austin Bruins
54
27
24
3
57
140
152
5
St Cloud Norsemen
54
22
19
13
57
149
155
6
e-North Iowa Bulls
54
11
41
2
24
99
227
East
1
W-Maryland Black Bears
56
39
12
5
83
194
132
2
PI-Maine Nordiques
55
36
13
6
78
222
158
3
PI-Johnstown Tomahawks
56
34
19
3
71
196
165
4
PI-Rochester Jr Americans
56
32
17
7
71
199
164
5
PI-New Jersey Titans
55
31
21
3
65
201
166
6
Northeast Generals
57
25
30
2
52
178
196
7
Philadelphia Rebels
54
22
28
4
48
159
191
8
e-New Hampshire Mountain Kings
58
20
33
5
45
146
208
9
e-Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
55
14
33
8
36
119
214
Midwest
1
X-Wisconsin Windigo
57
37
14
6
80
217
140
2
X-Anchorage Wolverines
54
36
13
5
77
212
152
3
X-Janesville Jets
54
32
18
4
68
208
159
4
Chippewa Steel
56
27
24
5
59
160
179
5
Minnesota Wilderness
54
27
23
4
58
143
156
6
e-Fairbanks Ice Dogs
54
18
28
8
44
140
195
7
e-Springfield Jr Blues
54
18
28
8
44
138
205
8
e-Kenai River Brown Bears
55
17
32
6
40
146
208
South
1
W-Lone Star Brahmas
58
42
10
6
90
198
105
2
PI-Shreveport Mudbugs
56
40
14
2
82
200
127
3
PI-El Paso Rhinos
55
34
15
6
74
159
133
4
PI-Amarillo Wranglers
57
30
19
8
68
169
175
5
PI-New Mexico Ice Wolves
56
30
18
8
68
177
162
6
PI-Oklahoma Warriors
56
27
22
7
61
171
160
7
e-Odessa Jackalopes
56
21
28
7
49
148
172
8
e-Corpus Christi Ice Rays
56
19
32
5
43
140
218
9
e-Colorado Grit
54
11
37
6
28
126
226
PI-Clinched Play-in(South and East Division only)
W-Clinched Play in-Bye(South and East Division only)
X-Clinched Playoff Spot(Midwest and Central only)
Y-Clinched Division(Regular Season)
e-Did not qualify for playoffs
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 HockeyTier 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.[citation needed] Chuck Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pool Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976 to 1983.