The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league that consists of teams from Connecticut , Georgia , Illinois , Iowa , Louisiana , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Missouri , Montana , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Texas , Wisconsin , and Wyoming . Sanctioned by USA Hockey , for most of the league's existence, the winner of the NA3HL playoffs would advance to play for the Tier III National Championship, however, this has not been held since 2015.
26-584: Originally formed in the early 1970s as a Junior B-level league known as the Central States Hockey League (CSHL), the league evolved into the Metro Detroit Junior Hockey League in the early 1980s. The CSHL name was used again from 1994 until 2010. The league was reclassified from Tier III Junior B to Tier III Junior A in the summer of 2007 by USA Hockey. During the 2008–09 season, it was announced that
52-861: A member of the former Minnesota Junior Hockey League , was added the West Division, and the Louisiana Drillers playing out of Lafayette, Louisiana was added to the South Division. On March 4, 2016, it was formally announced that the North American Hockey League 's other Tier III league, the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL), would be added to the NA3HL beginning with the 2016–17 season. The former NA3EHL teams became two new divisions within
78-763: The Battle Creek Jr. Revolution and the West Michigan Wolves . The team began as the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution in 2010 joining the independent Northern Junior Hockey League (NJHL) for the 2010–11 season. In August 2010, with rumors of the league folding, the Jr. Revolution left the NJHL and joined the USA Hockey -sanctioned Tier III Central States Hockey League . The Jr. Revolution replaced
104-527: The Central States Hockey League (CSHL) in 2006 (Junior B). In 2007, the entire CSHL was promoted to Junior A status. During their four years in the CSHL, the Dubuque Thunderbirds shattered individual franchise attendance records for the league, often recording close to four times the number of fans at home games than the second highest team. Because of their success on the ice and getting fans into
130-647: The Grand Rapids Owls , who suspended operations, as the 12th team in the Central States Hockey League . In November 2010, the CSHL changed its name to the North American 3 Hockey League after the Tier II North American Hockey League took over operations of the CSHL. The team ownership was initially the Revolution Advertising LLC. until acquired by Dr. Joseph Burkhardt in 2014. On April 1, 2014,
156-763: The Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques . The Cincinnati Thunder, which had already been playing out of Dayton, re-branded as the Dayton Falcons . The Butte Cobras, formerly of the Western States Hockey League (WSHL), purchased the Glacier Nationals franchise in order to join the NA3HL. The schedule was set with 47 teams, however, the Butte Cobras and Billings Bulls would both fold prior to playing a game, while
182-734: The St. Louis Blues ' organization. The league championship trophy is the Fraser Cup. It was originally called the Hurster Cup during the league's time as the Central States Hockey League. In 2012, the cup was then renamed to the Silver Cup. In 2017, the league again renamed the championship to the Fraser Cup after long-time NAHL, NA3HL, and NAPHL Director of Hockey Administration, Robert ‘Fraser’ Ritchie. The winner of
208-818: The Twin City Steel would join the league beginning with the 2011–12 season bringing the total number of teams in the NA3HL to 16. In March 2013, the NA3HL announced that its Board of Governors has accepted the membership application for the Chicago Jr. Bulldogs, which began play in the NA3HL during the 2013–14 season. Owned by Ken Kestas, the Bulldogs played home games out of Canlan Ice Sports in Romeoville, Illinois. Quad City Jr. Flames (Davenport, Iowa) relocated to Madison, Wisconsin , in May 2013 and were renamed
234-720: The Wisconsin Whalers . In May 2014, the Flint Jr. Generals were purchased and relocated to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and renamed the La Crosse Freeze . The NA3HL announced that the Texas Jr. Brahmas would transfer from the Western States Hockey League and join the South Division. The expansion Nashville Junior Predators and Point Mallard Ducks (Decatur, AL) also joined the South Division bringing its total up to six teams. The American West Hockey League moved to
260-547: The 2009-10 season, with a new 3,000+ seat ice arena in Dubuque under construction, it was announced that the Thunderbirds ownership group would dissolve the Dubuque Thunderbirds hockey franchise as they added several key partners to form a new ownership group, Northern Lights Hockey Foundation, in a bid to get a USHL expansion team. The Dubuque Fighting Saints returned to USHL play in the new Mystique Community Ice Center in
286-572: The CSHL. The NAHL-CSHL affiliation intends for a more structured junior hockey system to provide athletes with more opportunities to advance to college and professional hockey, including a draft of CSHL players into the NAHL. At the time of the take over, the league was renamed to the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). In May 2011, it was announced that the Granite City Lumberjacks , Minnesota Flying Aces , North Iowa Bulls and
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#1732794103600312-585: The Cup typically receives a bid to compete in the USA Hockey Tier III junior hockey National Championship Tournament, however, the tournament has not been held since 2015. Dubuque Thunderbirds The Dubuque Thunderbirds were a Tier III junior ice hockey team based in Dubuque, Iowa that played in the multipurpose Five Flags Event Center from 2001 through 2010. The Thunderbirds franchise
338-730: The Dayton Falcons, Nashville Junior Predators , and Jersey Shore Wildcats were also removed from the schedules during the season. In April 2018, the NA3HL announced the entire East Division had left the league including the reigning champions, the Metro Jets , and joined the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The Butte Cobras were also announced as returning and the Point Mallard Ducks were purchased and relocated to become
364-787: The Hurster Cup Playoff Championship three times in four years, and receiving four consecutive invites to the USA Junior National Tournament. 2006-07 (34-6-3-2) 2nd place in CSHL 2007 Hurster Cup Playoff Champions USA Jr. B National Tournament Qualifier 2007-08 (43-3-1-1) 1st Place in CSHL 2008 Hurster Cup Champions USA Jr. A National Tournament Qualifier 2008-09 (36-8-0-1) 3rd place in CSHL 2009 Hurster Cup Champions USA Jr. A National Tournament Qualifier 2009-10 (38-9-0-1) 2nd place in CSHL 2010 Hurster Cup Runner-up USA Jr. A National Tournament Qualifier During
390-600: The Milwaukee Power. In 2020, the WSHL's Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers purchased the dormant Coulee Region Chill franchise to join the league for 2020 and the El Paso Rhinos announced an agreement to add expansion teams to both the NA3HL in 2020 and the NAHL in 2021. The Coastal and Northeast divisions merged into a new East Division beginning with the 2020–21 season following several teams withdrawing. In 2023,
416-737: The NA3HL to form new Frontier Division. The Battle Creek Revolution announced it was re-branding as the West Michigan Wolves . The Michigan Mountain Cats were sold and relocated to Jamestown, NY, and called the Southern Tier Xpress. In April 2015, the NA3HL announced an expansion team in Evansville, Indiana , called the Thunderbolts, to play in the South Division beginning in the 2015–16 season. On May 21–22 of 2015, two additional expansion teams were announced: Rochester Ice Hawks ,
442-743: The NA3HL. On May 21, 2016, the Missoula Bruins youth hockey organization from Missoula, Montana , announced it had been approved as an expansion team in the Frontier Division of the NA3HL. The Missoula Junior Bruins replaced the Missoula Maulers of the Western States Hockey League after arena negotiations with the Maulers' owner fell through. Prior to the 2017–18 season, the Lockport Express relocated to become
468-740: The New Ulm Steel moved to Tomah, Wisconsin , becoming the Wisconsin Woodsmen . With the moved, they were transferred from the West Division to the Central Division. They hired head coach Jon Vaillancourt. In their first season, they placed 4th and made the playoffs, playing the Wausau Cyclones . They got swept, 2-0. In 2024, the Minnesota Loons were sold and moved to Eveleth, Minnesota , and went under
494-943: The Niagara Falls PowerHawks, the Syracuse Stampede relocated to become the Oswego Stampede , and the West Michigan Wolves relocated to become the Lansing Wolves . The Chicago Jr. Bulldogs, Euless Jr. Stars, and L/A Fighting Spirit franchises were sold; the Bulldogs were relocated as the Wausau RiverWolves, the Jr. Stars re-branded as the Mid-Cities Jr. Stars, and the Fighting Spirit re-branded as
520-688: The Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins would join the CSHL for the 2009–10 season, bringing the number of teams to 13. The league returned to 12 teams for 2010–11, as the Dubuque Thunderbirds franchise folded to make way for the return of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League . On November 1, 2010, it was announced that the North American Hockey League would take control of
546-603: The fall of 2010. Lansing Wolves The Lansing Wolves were a junior ice hockey team a member of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) as part of the Premier Division. The team played its home games at the Summit Sports and Ice Complex in Dimondale, Michigan , a suburb of Lansing . The franchise was previously a member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) from 2010 to 2018 as
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#1732794103600572-739: The same umbrella as the NAHL 's Minnesota Wilderness , taking the same name, logo, colors, and uniforms. Similarly, the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL added a NA3HL franchise as an expansion team. Also joining as an expansion team is the Tulsa Jr. Oilers. Many prominent college and pro hockey players have played in the CSHL at one point in their careers, including 2007 Hobey Baker finalist Eric Ehn ( Metro Jets ), St. Louis Blues forward and 2010 and 2014 U.S. Olympian Paul Stastny (St. Louis Jr. Blues) and Chris Butler (St. Louis Jr. Blues), now in
598-434: The seats, the CSHL twice awarded the city of Dubuque the opportunity to host the entire Hurster Cup playoff tournament (2008 & 2009), with local hockey fans filling the seats to support teams throughout the tournaments in games that did not even feature the home team. The Thunderbirds were incredibly successful in the CSHL. They compiled a 151-26-4-5 record, which would be the best in the league during their tenure, winning
624-818: The team re-branded itself as the West Michigan Wolves. In 2017, the franchise relocated the Lansing suburb of Dimondale, Michigan , and were renamed Lansing Wolves. In 2018, the Wolves left the NA3HL for United States Premier Hockey League 's Premier Division, a non-sanctioned league. During the COVID-19 pandemic , the Wolves were not listed as members of the USPHL prior to the 2020–21 season. In February 2021, their home arena in Dimondale, Summit Sports and Ice Complex, closed. This American ice hockey team-related article
650-1899: The teams in both leagues. After the departure of the Fighting Saints, it took only a few short weeks for the upstart Thunderbirds to start finding success, which would follow the franchise its entire existence; winning 4 league playoff titles, twice finishing as league playoff runner-up, and 7 invitations to the USA Junior Hockey National Tournament. 2001-02 (30-11-1) 3rd place in MnJHL Quarterfinals (best of 3): 2-0 (W) vs St. Paul Lakers (St. Paul, MN) Semifinals (best of 3 ): 1-2 (L) vs NW Wisconsin Knights (Spooner, WI) 2002-03 ( 30-10-2 ) 2nd place in MnJHL Quarterfinals: bye Semifinals (best of 3): 2-0 (W) vs NW Wisconsin Knights (Spooner, WI) Bush Cup Finals (best of 3): 0-2 (L) vs Twin Cities Northern Lights (Bloomington, MN) USA Jr. C National Tournament Qualifier 2003-04 (30-6-3-1) 1st place in MnJHL Quarterfinals: bye Semifinals (best of 3): 3-0 (W) vs Twin cities Northern Lights (Bloomington, MN) Bush Cup Finals (best of 3): 2-1 (W) vs Minnesota Ice Hawks (Rochester, MN) USA Jr. C National Tournament Qualifier - National Semifinalist 2004-05 ( - - - ) __ place in MnJHL Quarterfinals: Semifinals: USA Jr. C National Tournament Qualifier 2005-06 ( - - - ) __ place in MnJHL The Thunderbirds moved to
676-738: Was formed to fill a vacancy for Dubuque hockey fans after the original Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League relocated operations to Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Crude. The Dubuque Thunderbirds were a locally owned franchise that played in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League and the Central States Hockey League . The Thunderbirds played for 9 seasons in the Dubuque Five Flags Civic Center arena, often averaging crowds of between 1600 and 2400, which far surpassed all of
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