North American Hockey League


The North American Hockey League is a Tier II junior ice hockey league based in the United States. Sanctioned by USA Hockey, it 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 nor Tier I United States Hockey League. One of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States, the NAHL is headquartered in Addison, Texas.
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. The Champions of each division 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. The league's all-time leading scorer is Ryan Fultz who tallied 246 points in four seasons. 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 2025–26 season has 34 teams playing in four divisions:


''Note: An asterisk denotes a franchise relocation. See respective team articles from more information.''

Past teams

  • Alaska Avalanche
  • Albert Lea Thunder
  • Amarillo Bulls
  • Aston Rebels
  • Alexandria Blizzard
  • Alpena IceDiggers
  • Billings Bulls
  • Bloomfield Jets
  • Bozeman Icedogs
  • Brookings Blizzard
  • Buffalo Jr. Sabres
  • C & H Piping
  • Capital Centre Pride
  • Central Texas Blackhawks
  • Chicago Cougars
  • Chicago Freeze
  • Chicago Hitmen
  • Chicago Patriots
  • Chicago Young Americans
  • Cleveland Jr. Barons
  • Cleveland Jr. Barons
  • Colorado Grit Given inactive status by league governors for the 2025-26 season
  • Coulee Region Chill
  • Danville Wings
  • Dawson Creek Rage
  • Dayton Gems
  • Dearborn Heights Nationals
  • Dearborn Magic
  • Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
  • Detroit Falcons
  • Detroit Freeze
  • Detroit Jr. Wings
  • Detroit Little Caesars
  • Fargo-Moorhead Jets
  • Fernie Ghostriders
  • Fraser Flags
  • Fraser Highlanders
  • Fresno Monsters
  • Gaylord Grizzlies
  • Grand Rapids Bearcats
  • Helena Bighorns
  • Hennessey Engineers
  • Indianapolis Jr. Ice
  • Jamestown Ironmen
  • Jamestown Rebels
  • Kalamazoo Jr. Wings
  • Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
  • Keystone Ice Miners
  • Kansas City Scouts
  • Lakeland Jets
  • Lone Star Cavalry
  • Lytes Rustlers
  • Mahoning Valley Phantoms
  • Marquette Rangers
  • Melvindale Blades
  • Melvindale Lakers
  • Michigan Nationals
  • Michigan Warriors
  • Minnesota Blizzard
  • Minnesota Magicians
  • Motor City Machine
  • Motor City Metal Jackets.
  • New Mexico Mustangs
  • Niagara Scenic
  • North Iowa Outlaws
  • Oakland Chiefs
  • Owatonna Express
  • Paddock Pool Saints
  • Pittsburgh Forge
  • Port Huron Fighting Falcons
  • Port Huron Fogcutters
  • Redford Royals
  • Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
  • Rochester Jr. Americans
  • Saginaw Gears
  • Santa Fe RoadRunners
  • Soo Eagles
  • Soo Indians
  • Southern Minnesota Express
  • Springfield Spirit
  • St. Clair Shores Falcons
  • St. Cloud Blizzard
  • St. Louis Bandits
  • St. Louis Sting
  • Texarkana Bandits
  • Texas Tornado
  • Toledo IceDiggers
  • Topeka Pilots
  • Topeka RoadRunners
  • Traverse City North Stars
  • USNTDP
  • Wasilla Spirit
  • Waterford Lakers
  • Wayne Chiefs
  • Wenatchee Wild
  • Wenatchee Wild
  • Western Michigan Wolves
  • Wichita Falls Rustlers
  • Wichita Falls Warriors
  • Wichita Falls Wildcats
  • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
  • Youngstown Phantoms

    Timeline of league membership


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bar:2 color:inact from:07/01/1975 till:06/01/1976 text: Detroit Little Caesars
bar:3 color:inact from:07/01/1975 till:06/01/1976 text: Oakland Chiefs, Wayne Chiefs
bar:3 color:inact from:07/01/1976 till:06/01/1980 text:
bar:4 color:inact from:07/01/1975 till:06/01/1983 text: Detroit Jr. Wings
bar:4 color:inact from:07/01/1987 till:06/01/1992 text:
bar:5 color:inact from:07/01/1975 till:06/01/1984 text: Paddock Pool Saints
bar:6 color:inact from:07/01/1976 till:06/01/1979 text: Cleveland Jr. Barons
bar:7 color:out from:start till:06/01/1976 text:
bar:7 color:inact from:07/01/1976 till:06/01/1980 text: Fraser Highlanders
bar:8 color:inact from:07/01/1978 till:06/01/1984 text: Redford Royals
bar:9 color:inact from:07/01/1981 till:06/01/1982 text: Waterford Lakers, Melvindale Lakers
bar:9 color:inact from:07/01/1982 till:06/01/1983 text:
bar:10 color:inact from:07/01/1981 till:06/01/1984 text: Fraser Flags
bar:11 color:inact from:07/01/1983 till:06/01/1986 text: Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Niagara Scenic
bar:11 color:inact from:07/01/1987 till:06/01/1994 text:
bar:11 color:out from:06/01/1994 till:end text:
bar:12 color:inact from:07/01/1983 till:06/01/1986 text: St. Clair Shores Falcons, Detroit Cougars
bar:12 color:inact from:07/01/1986 till:06/01/1987 text:
bar:13 color:inact from:07/01/1984 till:06/01/2003 text: Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
bar:14 color:inact from:07/01/1985 till:06/01/1987 text: Hennessy Engineers, Redford Royals, NACE
bar:14 color:inact from:07/01/1987 till:06/01/1989 text:
bar:14 color:inact from:07/01/1989 till:06/01/1990 text:
bar:15 color:inact from:07/01/1986 till:06/01/1987 text: Chicago Patriots
bar:16 color:inact from:07/01/1986 till:06/01/1987 text: Chicago Cougars
bar:17 color:inact from:07/01/1987 till:06/01/1989 text: Chicago Young Americans
bar:18 color:inact from:07/01/1987 till:06/01/1990 text: Bloomfield Jets, Lakeland Jets, Soo Indians
bar:18 color:inact from:07/01/1990 till:06/01/1995 text:
bar:18 color:inact from:07/01/1995 till:06/01/2005 text:
bar:19 color:inact from:07/01/1988 till:06/01/1989 text: C & H Piping, Melvindale Blades
bar:19 color:inact from:07/01/1989 till:06/01/1990 text:
bar:20 color:inact from:07/01/1988 till:06/01/1989 text: Western Michigan Wolves, Kalamazoo Jr. Wings, Danville Wings
bar:20 color:inact from:07/01/1989 till:06/01/1994 text:
bar:20 color:inact from:07/01/1994 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:20 color:out from:06/01/2003 till:end text:
bar:21 color:inact from:07/01/1989 till:06/01/1995 text: Indianapolis Jr. Ice
bar:22 color:inact from:07/01/1990 till:06/01/1991 text: Lytes Rustlers
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/1990 till:06/01/1991 text: Dearborn Magic, Michigan/Dearborn Heights Nationals, St. Louis Sting, Springfield/Wasilla Spirit, Alaska Avalanche,
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/1991 till:06/01/1994 text:
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/1994 till:06/01/1996 text:
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/1996 till:06/01/2001 text:
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/2001 till:06/01/2005 text:
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 text:
bar:23 color:inact from:07/01/2006 till:06/01/2012 text:
bar:23 color:act from:07/01/2012 till:end text: Johnstown Tomahawks
bar:24 color:inact from:07/01/1991 till:12/01/1995 text: Saginaw Gears, Gaylord Grizzlies, Grand Rapids Bearcats, Grand Rapids Rockets, Capital Centre Pride
bar:24 color:inact from:12/01/1995 till:06/01/1998 text:
bar:24 color:inact from:07/01/1998 till:12/01/1999 text:
bar:24 color:inact from:12/01/1999 till:06/01/2000 text:
bar:24 color:inact from:07/01/2000 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:25 color:inact from:07/01/1992 till:06/01/1997 text: Detroit Freeze, Chicago Freeze
bar:25 color:inact from:07/01/1997 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:26 color:out from:06/01/1990 till:06/01/1993 text:
bar:26 color:inact from:07/01/1993 till:06/01/2006 text: Cleveland Jr. Barons
bar:26 color:out from:06/01/2006 till:06/01/2008 text:
bar:27 color:act from:07/01/1993 till:06/01/2020 text: Springfield Jr. Blues
bar:27 color:act from:07/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:28 color:out from:06/01/1996 till:06/01/1997 text:
bar:28 color:inact from:07/01/1997 till:06/01/2009 text: USNTDP
bar:28 color:out from:06/01/2009 till:end text:
bar:29 color:inact from:07/01/1999 till:06/01/2000 text: Rochester Jr. Americans
bar:30 color:inact from:07/01/1999 till:06/01/2008 text: Texas Tornado
bar:30 color:inact from:07/01/2009 till:06/01/2013 text:
bar:30 color:act from:07/01/2013 till:end text: Lone Star Brahmas
bar:31 color:inact from:07/01/2001 till:06/01/2003 shift:-80 text: Pittsburgh Forge, Toledo/Alpena IceDiggers,
bar:31 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2005 text:
bar:31 color:inact from:07/01/2005 till:06/01/2010 text:
bar:31 color:act from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2020 text: Corpus Christi IceRays
bar:31 color:act from:07/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:32 color:out from:06/01/1991 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:32 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2004 text: Fernie Ghostriders
bar:32 color:out from:06/01/2004 till:end text:
bar:33 color:out from:06/01/2002 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:33 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2004 text: Central Texas Blackhawks, Central Texas Marshals
bar:33 color:inact from:07/01/2004 till:06/01/2005 text:
bar:34 color:out from:06/01/2001 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:34 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2006 text: Helena Bighorns
bar:35 color:out from:06/01/1993 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:35 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2006 text: Billings Bulls
bar:35 color:out from:06/01/2006 till:06/01/2017 text:
bar:36 color:out from:06/01/1996 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:36 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2006 text: Bozeman Icedogs
bar:36 color:out from:06/01/2006 till:end text:
bar:37 color:out from:06/01/1993 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:37 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2004 text: Wichita Falls Rustlers, Wichita Falls Wildcats
bar:37 color:inact from:07/01/2004 till:06/01/2017 text:
bar:38 color:out from:06/01/1997 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:38 color:act from:07/01/2003 till:end text: Bismarck Bobcats
bar:39 color:out from:06/01/1997 till:06/01/2003 text:
bar:39 color:act from:07/01/2003 till:end text: Fairbanks Ice Dogs
bar:40 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:12/01/2003 text: Dayton Gems
bar:41 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2008 text: Fargo-Moorhead Jets
bar:42 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2005 text: Youngstown Phantoms, Mahoning Valley Phantoms
bar:42 color:inact from:07/01/2005 till:06/01/2009 text:
bar:42 color:out from:06/01/2009 till:end text:
bar:43 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2006 text: Texarkana Bandits, St. Louis Bandits
bar:43 color:inact from:07/01/2006 till:06/01/2012 text:
bar:43 color:act from:07/01/2013 till:end text: Minnesota Wilderness
bar:44 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2006 text: Minnesota Blizzard, Alexandria/Brookings/St. Cloud Blizzard,
bar:44 color:inact from:07/01/2006 till:06/01/2020 text:
bar:44 color:act from:07/01/2020 till:end text: St. Cloud Norsemen
bar:45 color:inact from:07/01/2003 till:06/01/2004 text: Lone Star Cavalry, Santa Fe/Topeka RoadRunners, Topeka Pilots
bar:45 color:inact from:07/01/2004 till:06/01/2007 text:
bar:45 color:inact from:07/01/2007 till:06/01/2020 text:
bar:45 color:act from:07/01/2021 till:end text: Amarillo Wranglers
bar:46 color:inact from:07/01/2005 till:06/01/2008 text: Southern Minnesota Express, Motor City Machine/Metal Jackets, Jamestown Ironmen
bar:46 color:inact from:07/01/2008 till:06/01/2009 text:
bar:46 color:inact from:07/01/2009 till:06/01/2011 text:
bar:46 color:inact from:07/01/2011 till:06/01/2013 text:
bar:47 color:inact from:07/01/2005 till:06/01/2012 text: Traverse City North Stars, Soo Eagles
bar:47 color:inact from:07/01/2012 till:06/01/2015 text:
bar:47 color:act from:07/01/2015 till:end text: New Jersey Titans
bar:48 color:inact from:07/01/2005 till:06/01/2010 text: North Iowa Outlaws, Coulee Region Chill
bar:48 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2018 text:
bar:48 color:act from:07/01/2018 till:end text: Chippewa Steel
bar:49 color:inact from:07/01/2006 till:06/01/2010 text: Marquette Rangers, Michigan Warriors
bar:49 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2015 text:
bar:50 color:act from:07/01/2007 till:end text: Kenai River Brown Bears
bar:51 color:inact from:07/01/2008 till:06/01/2011 shift:-60 text: Owatonna Express,
bar:51 color:act from:07/01/2011 till:end text: Odessa Jackalopes
bar:52 color:inact from:07/01/2008 till:06/01/2010 text: Albert Lea Thunder, Amarillo Bulls
bar:52 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2021 text:
bar:52 color:act from:07/01/2021 till:end text: North Iowa Bulls
bar:53 color:inact from:07/01/2008 till:06/01/2013 shift:-50 text: Wenatchee Wild, Rio Grande/Aston/Philadelphia/Jamestown
bar:53 color:inact from:07/01/2013 till:06/01/2015 text:
bar:53 color:inact from:07/01/2015 till:06/01/2017 text:
bar:53 color:inact from:07/01/2017 till:06/01/2018 text:
bar:53 color:inact from:07/01/2018 till:06/01/2020 text:
bar:53 color:inact from:07/01/2021 till:06/01/2022 text:
bar:53 color:act from:07/01/2022 till:end text: Philadelphia Rebels
bar:54 color:act from:07/01/2009 till:end text: Janesville Jets
bar:55 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2012 text: Chicago Hitmen
bar:56 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2012 text: Dawson Creek Rage, WBS Knights
bar:56 color:inact from:07/01/2015 till:06/01/2020 text:
bar:56 color:act from:07/01/2020 till:end text: Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
bar:57 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2012 text: New Mexico Mustangs, Minnesota Magicians
bar:57 color:inact from:07/01/2013 till:06/01/2022 text:
bar:57 color:act from:07/01/2022 till:end text: Wisconsin Windigo
bar:58 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2014 text: Port Huron Fighting Falcons, Keystone Ice Miners
bar:58 color:inact from:07/01/2014 till:06/01/2015 text:
bar:59 color:inact from:07/01/2010 till:06/01/2013 text: Fresno Monsters, Wenatchee Wild
bar:59 color:inact from:07/01/2013 till:06/01/2022 text:
bar:60 color:act from:07/01/2010 till:end text: Aberdeen Wings
bar:61 color:act from:07/01/2010 till:end text: Austin Bruins
bar:62 color:inact from:07/01/2011 till:06/01/2013 text: Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
bar:63 color:act from:07/01/2011 till:end text: Minot Minotauros
bar:64 color:act from:07/01/2016 till:end text: Northeast Generals
bar:65 color:act from:07/01/2016 till:end text: Shreveport Mudbugs
bar:66 color:act from:07/01/2018 till:end text: Maryland Black Bears
bar:67 color:act from:07/01/2019 till:end text: Maine Nordiques
bar:68 color:act from:07/01/2019 till:end text: New Mexico Ice Wolves
bar:69 color:inact from:07/01/2020 till:06/01/2022 shift:-100 text: Wichita Falls Warriors
bar:69 color:act from:07/01/2022 till:end text: Oklahoma Warriors
bar:70 color:act from:07/01/2021 till:end text: Anchorage Wolverines
bar:71 color:act from:07/01/2021 till:end text: El Paso Rhinos
bar:72 color:act from:07/01/2023 till:end text: Colorado Grit
bar:73 color:act from:07/01/2023 till:end text: New Hampshire Mountain Kings
bar:74 color:act from:07/01/2023 till:end text: Rochester Jr. Americans
bar:75 color:act from:07/01/2024 till:end text: Elmira Aviators
bar:76 color:act from:07/01/2024 till:end text: Minnesota Mallards
bar:77 color:act from:07/01/2024 till:end text: Watertown Shamrocks
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at:06/01/1984
at:06/01/1992
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