See also: North American Hockey League (1973–1977) and North American Hockey League (US Tier-II Junior league).
The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (North American Hockey League)[ 1] [ 2] (LNAH ) was founded in 2004 and is a low-level professional league based in the Canadian province of Quebec . It was called the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League from 1996 until it turned pro in 2004. It has no connection with the similarly named North American Hockey League (NAHL), an American junior league for players under twenty. Teams in the LNAH compete for the Futura Cup , which has been awarded annually since 1997.
Unlike higher-level professional leagues, such as the American Hockey League or the ECHL , the LNAH is not known for its skill level. Its teams employ many enforcers and has a rather infamous reputation for on-ice antics that mostly include fisticuffs . The LNAH has the unofficial reputation as the world's toughest hockey league; a New York Times article stated that the league averaged 3.2 fights a game during the 2010-2011 season, compared with 0.6 fights in the National Hockey League .[ 3]
Despite this reputation, many of the players are ex-NHL or ex-AHL players; Patrick Cote , Michel Picard , Stephane Richer , Bobby Dollas , Guillaume Lefebvre , Garrett Burnett , Daniel Shank , Francois Leroux , Jeremy Stevenson , Eric Fichaud , Mario Roberge , David Gosselin , Jesse Belanger , Donald Brashear and Yves Racine . During the 2004–2005 NHL lockout, some NHL players played the entire season in the league, such as Sylvain Blouin , Sebastien Caron , Mathieu Biron , Marc-André Bergeron and Sebastien Charpentier . The league has a rule that stipulates that all players must either have come from Quebec, or played junior hockey in Quebec.[ 3]
Another unique aspect, compared to other minor pro leagues of North America, is the absence of a veteran limit rule, which allows teams to stock up on experienced players. The league is slowly trying to clean itself up (for 2005–2006, the roster limit went from 20 to 19 players, which for most teams meant one less enforcer), but this is no easy task for a league that has always been popular with the fans for its reputation of being the toughest league in the world.
The LNAH Draft is held during the summer, including 15 rounds. Players too old for junior ice hockey may be drafted even if they were already drafted by an NHL team. Drafted players come from many leagues, including the Canadian Hockey League , American Hockey League , lower-level professional league, and the USport .
Current teams (2023-2024 season) [ ]
Notes
An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move/rename. See the respective team articles for more information. The second date is when the team took their present name.
Champions [ ]
Team Timeline [ ]
Present teams in bold
Team
Centre
Arena
Seasons
Fate
Acton Vale Nova
Acton Vale, Quebec
Centre Sportif d'Acton Vale
1996–2000
renamed Acton Vale Beaulieu
Haut-Richelieu Dragons
Le Haut-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Arena Richmond
1996–1997
renamed Iberville Dragons
Lachute Rapides
Lachute, Quebec
Arena Kevin Lowe & Pierre Page
1996–1999
became LaSalle Rapides
Saint-Lin-Laurentides Gladiateurs
Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec
Arena de Saint-Lin
1996–1997
became Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs
Louiseville Jets
Louiseville, Quebec
Arena de Louiseville
1996–1997
folded
Pont-Rouge Grand Portneuf
Pont Rouge, Quebec
Arena Joé Juneau
1996–2001
renamed Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay
Rive-Sud Chacals
Levis, Quebec
Aréna André Lacroix
1996–1998
became Saint-Georges Garaga
Saint-Gabriel Blizzard
Saint-Gabriel, Quebec
Arena de Saint-Gabriel de Brandon
1996–1998
became Joliette Blizzard
Sorel Dinosaures
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Colisée Cardin
1996–1999
renamed Sorel Royaux
Thetford Mines Coyotes
Thetford Mines, Quebec
Centre Mario Gosselin
1996–2000
renamed Thetford Mines Prolab
Vanier Voyageurs
Val-Bélair (now Quebec City ), Quebec
Aréna des Deux Glaces
1996–1997
became Québec As and played at Val-Bélair
Waterloo 94
Waterloo, Quebec
Arena Jacques Chagnon
1996–1997
became Granby Blitz
Windsor Papetiers
Windsor, Quebec
Centre J A Lemay
1996–2001
renamed Windsor Lacroix
Asbestos Aztèques
Asbestos, Quebec
Aréna Connie-Dion
1997–2000
renamed Asbestos Dubé
Granby Blitz
Granby, Quebec
Arena Leonard Grondin
1997–2002
renamed Granby Prédateurs
Iberville Dragons
Iberville, Quebec
Iberville Palladium
1997–1998
became Saint-Laurent Dragons
Jonquière Condors
Saguenay, Quebec
Palais des Sports de Saguenay
1997–2002
renamed Saguenay Paramédic
Québec As
Val-Bélair (now Quebec City ), Quebec
Aréna des Deux Glaces
1997–1998
dormant in 1998–1999 became Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay
Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs
Ste. Therese
Arena de Sainte-Therese
1997–1998
became Laval Chiefs
Joliette Blizzard
Joliette, Quebec
Centre recreatif Marcel-Bonin
1998–2000
renamed Joliette Mission
Laval Chiefs
Laval, Quebec
Colisée de Laval
1998–2005
renamed Laval Summum-Chiefs
Saint-Georges Garaga
Saint-Georges-Beauce, Quebec
Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil
1998–2005
renamed Saint-Georges CRS Express
Saint-Laurent Dragons
Saint-Laurent, Quebec
Raymond Bourque Arena
1998–2001
became Verdun Dragons
Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay
Beaupré, Quebec
Aréna de Beaupré
1999–2000
became Côte-de-Beaupré As
LaSalle Rapides
LaSalle, Quebec
Arena Jacques Lemaire
1999–2003
folded
Sorel Royaux
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Colisée Cardin
1999–2004
folded
Acton Vale Beaulieu
Acton Vale, Quebec
Centre Sportif d'Acton Vale
2000–2001
became Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin
Asbestos Dubé
Asbestos, Quebec
Aréna Connie-Dion
2000–2002
renamed Asbestos Aztèques
Côte-de-Beaupré As
Beaupré, Quebec
Aréna de Beaupré
2000–2001
became Québec As
Joliette Mission
Joliette, Quebec
Centre recreatif Marcel-Bonin
2000–2002
became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission
Thetford Mines Prolab
Thetford Mines, Quebec
Centre Mario Gosselin
2000–2007
renamed Thetford Mines Isothermic
Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay
Pont Rouge, Quebec
Arena Joé Juneau
2001–2004
became Trois-Rivières Caron et Guay
Québec As
Charlesbourg, Quebec (2001-2002), Beauport, Quebec (2002-2003)
Arpidrome (2001-2002), Aréna Marcel Bédard (2002-2003)
2001–2003
renamed Québec Radio X
Rivière-du-Loup Promutuel
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
Centre Premier Tech
2001–2004
folded
Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Stade L.P. Gaucher
2001–2005
renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal
Verdun Dragons
Verdun, Quebec
Verdun Auditorium
2001–2005
renamed Verdun-Montréal Dragons
Windsor Lacroix
Windsor, Quebec
Centre J A Lemay
2001–2003
became Sherbrooke Saint-François
Asbestos Aztèques
Asbestos, Quebec
Aréna Connie-Dion
2002–2003
folded
Granby Prédateurs
Granby, Quebec
Arena Leonard Grondin
2002–2004
folded
Saguenay Paramédic
Saguenay, Quebec
Palais des Sports de Saguenay
2002–2004
renamed Saguenay Fjord
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur
2002–2004
became Sorel Mission
Quebec Radio X
Quebec City, Quebec
Pavillon de la Jeunesse
2003-2008
renamed Pont Rouge Lois Jeans
Sherbrooke Saint-François
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Palais des Sports (Sherbrooke)
2003-2011
became Windsor Wild
Trois-Rivières Viking
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Colisée de Trois-Rivières
2003–2004
folded
Saguenay Fjord
Saguenay, Quebec
Palais des Sports de Saguenay
2004–2005
folded after 24 games
Sorel Mission
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Colisée Cardin
2004–2008
suspend operations; return 2010 as Sorel-Tracy GCI
Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Colisée de Trois-Rivières
2004-2013
renamed Trois-Rivières Viking
Laval Summum-Chiefs
Laval, Quebec
Colisée de Laval
2005–2006
became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs
Saint-Georges CRS Express
Saint-Georges-Beauce, Quebec
Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil
2005-2010
became Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5
Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Stade L.P. Gaucher
2005–2006
renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design
Verdun-Montréal Dragons
Verdun, Quebec
Verdun Auditorium
2005–2006
folded
Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Stade L.P. Gaucher
2006–2008
renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur
2006–2008
became Saguenay 98,3
Thetford Mines Isothermic
Thetford Mines, Quebec
Centre Mario Gosselin
2007-2015
renamed Thetford Mines Assurancia
Pont Rouge Lois Jeans
Pont Rouge, Quebec
Arena Joé Juneau
2008-2010
Folded
Saguenay 98,3
Saguenay, Quebec
Palais des Sports de Saguenay
2008-2009
renamed Saguenay Marquis
Rivière-du-Loup CIMT
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
Centre Premier Tech
2008-2010
renamed Rivière-du-Loup 3L
Ste-Marie Poutrelles Delta
Sainte-Marie, Quebec
Arena Paul-Henri Drouin
2008-2008
folded during the season
Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Stade L.P. Gaucher
2008-2009
folded
Saguenay Marquis
Jonquière, Quebec
Palais des Sports de Saguenay
2009-2012
renamed Jonquiere Marquis
Rivière-du-Loup 3L
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
Centre Premier Tech
2010-Present
Current Team
Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5
Saint-Georges-Beauce, Quebec
Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil
2010-Present
Current Team
Sorel-Tracy GCI
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Colisée Cardin
2010-2011
renamed Sorel-Tracy HC Carvena
Windsor Wild
Windsor, Quebec
Centre J A Lemay
2011-2012
become Cornwall River Kings
Sorel-Tracy HC Carvena
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Colisée Cardin
2011-2013
become Sorel-Tracy Éperviers
Cornwall River Kings
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall Civic Complex
2012-2016
folded in August 2016
Jonquiere Marquis
Saguenay, Quebec
Palais des Sports de Saguenay
2012-Present
Current Team
Sorel-Tracy Éperviers
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Colisée Cardin
2013-Present
Current Team
Valleyfield Braves
Valleyfield, Quebec
Arena Salaberry
2013-2013
relocated to Laval in November 2013
Trois-Rivières Viking
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Colisée de Trois-Rivières
2013-2014
renamed Trois-Rivières Blizzard
Laval Prédateurs
Laval, Quebec
Colisée de Laval
2013-2017
folded when unable to relocate or find new owner
Trois-Rivières Blizzard
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Colisée de Trois-Rivières
2014-2017
Renamed Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Thetford Mines Assurancia
Thetford Mines, Quebec
Centre Mario Gosselin
2015-Present
Current Team
Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Colisée de Trois-Rivières
2017-2018
folded
Berlin BlackJacks
Berlin, New Hampshire
Notre Dame Arena
2018-2018
relcoated to Saint-Jerome, Quebec December 4, 2018; renamed Les Pétroliers du Nord
Les Pétroliers du Nord
Saint-Jerome, Quebec (2018-2019)Laval, Quebec (2019-)
Regional Arena Rivière-du-Nord Colisée de Laval
2018-Present
relocated to Laval without a change in name
Bâtisseurs de Montcalm
Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan , Quebec
Complexe JC Perreault
2021-2023
Folded June 29, 2023
References [ ]
External links [ ]