This is the 2019-20 North American 3 Hockey League season. This is the league's 10th season under this name and it's 22nd dating back to it founding as the Central States Hockey League in 1988.
Suspension of Play[]
The league would announce it was pausing their playoffs on March 12, 2020.[1]
Membership Changes[]
For 2019-20[]
On April 17, 2019 the league announced some realignment of teams and new organizations expected to join the league for the 2019-20 season:[2]
- The Cape Cod Islanders are relocating to Canton, Massachusetts (just south of Boston) and will be based out of the Canton Sportsplex, which was the original home of the Northeast Generals prior to the moving to their new facility in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The team will be renamed the Canton Cubs. The team would withdraw from the league in mid-September due to a lack of players.[3]
- After exploring a move to Rapid City, South Dakota the Niagara Falls PowerHawks are relocating to Danbury, Connecticut and be playing out of the Danbury Ice Arena. The team will be named the Danbury Colonials. The city is also getting a team in the Federal Hockey League for the 2019-20 season.
- The Binghamton Jr. Senators are relocating to Elmira, New York and will be renamed the Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles after the collegiate hockey teams from Elmira College. The team will be based out of the Murray Athletic Center Arena on the campus of the college.
- The Oswego Stampede were sold and are relocating to the Raynham IcePlex in Raynham, Massachusetts where they will be renamed the New England Knights.
- The Wisconsin Whalers are relocating to Sheridan, Wyoming. The team was sold to the group which runs the youth hockey program in the community, The group has worked on covering its rink over the past few years and was looking to grow the program. The team will be known as the Sheridan Hawks.
- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are transferring their team from the Eastern Hockey League to the NA3HL. The team would fold in mid-September.[4]
- The North Iowa Bulls would relocate to the Mason City MPA from North Iowa Ice Arena when it opened in December of 2019.
For 2020-21[]
- Shortly after the cancellation of the playoffs it was announced that the Maine Nordiques (NAHL) purchased the Androscoggin Bank Colisée and that the Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques would be ceasing operations.[5]
- After the season, the Biddeford, Maine based Maine Wild and Stockholm, New Jersey based Skylands Kings both dropped their junior level team while continuing to run youth level teams.
- On April 1, 2020 the league announced the relocation of the Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts franchise to Oregon, Wisconsin a suburb of Madison. The team will be based out of the Oregon Ice Arena and would be called the Oregon Tradesmen.[6]
- In early April 2020, it was announced the Coulee Region Chill (NA3HL) would not play during the 2020–21 season due to the city's decision to no longer operate Green Island Ice Arena.[7]
- On April 8, 2020 it was announced that the Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles would be relocating to the Fitzpatrick Arena in Holyoke, Massachusetts and would be known as the Bay State Bobcats[8]
- On April 15, 2020 the Breezy Point North Stars announced they would not be participating in the 2020-21 season.[9]
- On April 19, 2020 the New Jersey Junior Titans announced they had purchase the franchise rights of the New England Stars and would be putting a franchise in the Middletown Ice World Arena in Middletown, New Jersey for the 2020-21 season which is the home to the organization's NAHL and NAPHL teams.[10]
- On May 19, 2020 the NA3HL announced that the Coulee Region Chill would be relocated to the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond, Oklahoma. The team took the name Oklahoma City Blazers which was the name of several other professional and junior teams to play in the area.[11]
Current Teams[]
Withdrew After Schedule Written[]
| Team | Location | Arena |
| Canton Cubs | Canton, Massachusetts | Canton Sportsplex |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | Pittston, Pennsylvania | Revolution Ice Centre |
Standings[]
Central Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Grizzlies | 47 | 37 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 233 | 94 | 76 |
| St. Louis Jr. Blues | 47 | 29 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 189 | 123 | 59 |
| Coulee Region Chill | 47 | 29 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 159 | 58 |
| Peoria Mustangs | 47 | 23 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 187 | 130 | 50 |
| Milwaukee Power | 47 | 12 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 270 | 24 |
| Wausau RiverWolves | 47 | 6 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 96 | 291 | 15 |
Coastal Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Generals | 47 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 321 | 100 | 81 |
| New England Stars | 47 | 32 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 221 | 166 | 68 |
| Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques | 47 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 231 | 131 | 67 |
| New England Knights | 47 | 14 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 160 | 211 | 33 |
| Maine Wild | 47 | 15 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 261 | 30 |
Frontier Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman Icedogs | 47 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 241 | 119 | 79 |
| Sheridan Hawks | 47 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 250 | 118 | 72 |
| Great Falls Americans | 47 | 33 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 184 | 98 | 71 |
| Yellowstone Quake | 47 | 19 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 140 | 190 | 41 |
| Gillette Wild | 47 | 20 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 210 | 40 |
| Helena Bighorns | 47 | 17 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 145 | 192 | 38 |
| Missoula Bruins | 47 | 17 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 161 | 190 | 35 |
| Butte Cobras | 47 | 6 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 338 | 13 |
Northeast Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skylands Kings | 47 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 220 | 212 | 51 |
| Danbury Colonials | 47 | 24 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 184 | 171 | 49 |
| Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles | 47 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 146 | 166 | 47 |
| Long Beach Sharks | 47 | 3 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 99 | 342 | 8 |
South Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Jr. Brahmas | 47 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 231 | 81 | 85 |
| Atlanta Capitals | 47 | 22 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 175 | 163 | 50 |
| Louisiana Drillers | 47 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 182 | 186 | 49 |
| Mid-Cities Jr. Stars | 47 | 19 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 160 | 202 | 41 |
| Texas RoadRunners | 47 | 13 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 113 | 216 | 29 |
West Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Iowa Bulls | 47 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 272 | 96 | 78 |
| Granite City Lumberjacks | 47 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 229 | 107 | 67 |
| New Ulm Steel | 47 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 195 | 136 | 65 |
| Alexandria Blizzard | 47 | 24 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 220 | 167 | 53 |
| Willmar WarHawks | 47 | 18 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 146 | 210 | 41 |
| Breezy Point North Stars | 47 | 9 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 113 | 344 | 19 |
Playoffs[]
Format[]
The top four teams qualify for the playoffs in all divisions except the Frontier Division where the top six teams qualify. The six division champions advance to the Fraser Cup tournament.
Division Quarterfinals Series[]
Frontier Division[]
- Yellowstone Quake defeated Gillette Wild 2 games to none
- Great Falls Americans defeated Helena Bighorns 2 games to none
Division Semifinals Series[]
Frontier Division[]
- Great Falls Americans lead Sheridan Hawks 1 games to none
Coastal Division[]
- Northeast Generals lead New England Knights 1 game to none
Balance of playoffs cancelled
References[]
- ↑ http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29236
- ↑ http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=26800
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-na3hl-has-two-fold/
- ↑ https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-na3hl-has-two-fold/
- ↑ https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-5612260
- ↑ http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29306
- ↑ Coulee Region Chill won’t play in 2020-21 NA3HL season. WKBT (April 6, 2020).
- ↑ http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29348
- ↑ http://breezypointnorthstars.com/
- ↑ http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29414
- ↑ http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29562