2012-13 AWHL Season

The 2012–13 AWHL season was the 2nd season of the America West Hockey League. The regular season schedule ran from September 28, 2012 to March 2, 2013.

Team changes
The Yellowstone Quake joined the AWHL for the 2012-13 season. The Quake, who previously played in the Northern Pacific Hockey League, will be the league's 7th member.

The Glacier Nationals of the Northern Pacific Hockey League played 20 games (10 home, 10 away) against AWHL teams. This was done to help alleviate the travel time Glacier had to make to play teams in their league. Glacier is the farthest east of all of the NORPAC teams.

AWHL Semifinals
The Helena Bighorns swept the Missoula Maulers in three games to advance to the finals. The Yellowstone Quake also swept the Gillette Wild in three games to reach the finals.

AWHL Finals
The Helena Bighorns swept the Yellowstone Quake in three games to win the 2012-2013 AWHL Championship.

USA Hockey Tier III Junior National Championship
By winning the AWHL Championship, Helena earned a birth to the 2013 USA Hockey Tier III Junior National Championship in Rochester, Minnesota. The Bighorns went 2-1 in pool play, with a 2-1 overtime win against the New Jersey Rockets, an 11-2 win over the Boch Blazers, and a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Knights. The Bighorns earned the 2nd seed in their group and advanced to the semifinals, losing to the eventual national champion North Iowa Bulls 3-2 in 2OT.