2018-19 NA3HL Season

This is the 2018-19 North American 3 Hockey League season. This is the league's 9th season under this name and it's 21st dating back to it founding as the Central States Hockey League in 1988.

Membership Changes

 * The whole East Division from 2017-18 North American 3 Hockey League withdrew from that league and joined the USPHL Premier Division. The Lansing Wolves, Metro Jets, Pittsburgh Vengeance, Southern Tier Xpress, Toledo Cherokee, and Wooster Oilers were announced on April 19th that the teams joined the United States Premier Hockey League and would form a Great Lakes Conference within the Premier Division.


 * On April 30, 2018 the North American Hockey League announced that the Coulee Region Chill were sold and would be relocated about 90 miles (145km) north to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin playing out of the Chippewa Area Ice Arena. The team is being renamed to the Chippewa Steel. In a related move the La Crosse Freeze of the North American 3 Hockey League will have their membership transferred to nearby Onalaska, Wisconsin and would become the Coulee Region Chill to replace the NAHL team in that city.


 * The Point Mallard Ducks organization was sold and relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they were renamed the Milwaukee Power


 * The Butte Cobras return to the league.


 * According to published reports the Wisconsin Whalers folded in early September.   However, the team has continued to play after the reports.


 * The Rochester Rivermen apparently folded early in September of 2018.

Format
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs. The six division champions advance to the Fraser Cup tournament.

Frontier Division

 * Helena Bighorns defeated Missoula Bruins 2 games to 1
 * Great Falls Americans defeated Bozeman Icedogs 2 games to 1

Northeast Division

 * Binghamton Jr Senators defeated Niagara Falls PowerHawks 2 games to none
 * Oswego Stampede defeated Skylands Kings 2 games to 1

South Division

 * Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Mid-Cities Jr. Stars 2 games to none
 * Atlanta Capitals defeated Louisiana Drillers 2 games to none

West Division

 * Alexandria Blizzard defeated Granite City Lumberjacks 2 games to 1
 * North Iowa Bulls defeated Rochester Grizzlies 2 games to 1

Central Division

 * St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Milwaukee Power 2 games to 1
 * Coulee Region Chill defeated Peoria Mustangs 2 games to 1

Coastal Division

 * Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques defeated Long Beach Sharks 2 games to none
 * Northeast Generals defeated New England Stars 2 games to none

Frontier Division

 * Helena Bighorns defeated Great Falls Americans 2 games to 1

Northeast Division

 * Binghamton Jr Senators defeated Oswego Stampede 2 games to none

South Division

 * Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Atlanta Capitals 2 games to none

West Division

 * North Iowa Bulls defeated Alexandria Blizzard 2 games to none

Central Division

 * St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Coulee Region Chill 2 games to none

Coastal Division

 * Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques defeated Northeast Generals 2 games to none

Format
Each of the Division winners advance to the tournament. The teams are paired off in two groups based on regular season records. Seeds 1,4, and 6 make up one pool and 2,3, and 5 make up the other. Each team plays a round robin within its own group on March 27-29. The first place finisher in one pool plays the second place finisher in the other pool in the single game semifinals on March 30. The semifinal winner meet in the championship game on March 31.

Pool A

 * Helena Bighorns
 * Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques
 * North Iowa Bulls

Pool B

 * Binghamton Jr Senators
 * St. Louis Jr. Blues
 * Texas Jr. Brahmas

Round Robin
March 27
 * Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques defeated Helena Bighorns 4-1
 * Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Binghamton Jr Senators 6-1

March 28
 * Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques defeated North Iowa Bulls 7-4
 * St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Binghamton Jr Senators 6-2

March 29
 * North Iowa Bulls defeated Helena Bighorns 8-2
 * Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated St. Louis Jr. Blues 3-1

Semifinals
March 30
 * Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques defeated St. Louis Jr. Blues 3-2 (ot)
 * Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated North Iowa Bulls 3-1

Championship
March 31
 * Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques 2-1