The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 49th season of operation in 2023–24.^[1] It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and 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 (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.^[2]

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 60-game regular season, usually starting on the 2nd weekend in September and ending near Mid-April(2020-21 season is exception, the season started in late 2020-early 2021 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic). The top teams of the NAHL playoffs meet in a predetermined location to play in the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament.

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.^[3][4] The league's all-time leading scorer is Ryan Fultz who tallied 246 points in four seasons.^[5] 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.

2006–07 season: Bozeman Icedogs, Billings Bulls, and Helena Bighorns left the league for the Northern Pacific Hockey League. Cleveland Jr. Barons were granted inactive status for the season. Wasilla Spirit changed names to Alaska Avalanche. Minnesota Blizzard became the Alexandria Blizzard. Texarkana Bandits moved to Chesterfield, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Bandits. Marquette Rangers were added to the league.

2007–08 season: Santa Fe Roadrunners moved to Topeka, Kansas, as the Topeka Roadrunners. The Kenai River Brown Bears started play in the league.

2008–09 season: The Southern Minnesota Express moved to Detroit and became the Motor City Machine.^[20] However, the Express' home city of Owatonna was granted another NAHL team for 2008–09, named the Owatonna Express.^[21] The Express were joined by another new Minnesota NAHL franchise, the Albert Lea Thunder.^[22] The Texas Tornado franchise went on a one-year hiatus as they awaited renovations on their arena. Wenatchee, Washington, was awarded an expansion franchise for the 2008–09 season as the Wenatchee Wild.^[23] The Fargo-Moorhead Jets were approved for dormancy.^[24]

2009–10 season: The Janesville Jets were awarded an expansion franchise.^[25] The Mahoning Valley Phantoms and the USNTDP left the league for the USHL.^[26][27] The Texas Tornado returned to the league after taking a year off while their home arena was undergoing renovations.^[28] The Motor City franchise's new ownership changed the team's nickname from Machine to Metal Jackets.^[29]

2010–11 season: The NAHL Board of Governors accepted membership of several new teams in the league. The Fresno Monsters were awarded an expansion franchise. after having a team in the Tier III Junior A Western States Hockey League. The Corpus Christi IceRays were awarded a franchise formerly known as the Alpena IceDiggers. The Chicago Hitmen joined the North Division and played at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The Marquette Rangers moved to Flint, Michigan, and changed their name to Michigan Warriors. Port Huron joined the North Division and played at McMorran Place in Port Huron, Michigan. The North Iowa Outlaws relocated to become the Coulee Region Chill in Onalaska, Wisconsin. The Aberdeen Wings joined the Central Division and played at the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Austin Bruins joined the Central Division and played at the Riverside Arena in Austin, Minnesota. The Dawson Creek Rage joined the West Division and played at EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. The Albert Lea Thunder relocate to become the Amarillo Bulls at joined the South Division out of the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas. The New Mexico Mustangs joined the South Division and played at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The Alaska Avalanche relocate to Palmer, Alaska, but keep the same name.

2011–12 season: The Owatonna Express relocate to Odessa, Texas, and become Odessa Jackalopes. The Motor City Metal Jackets relocate to Jamestown, New York, and become Jamestown Ironmen. The Minot Minotauros and Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings granted expansion.

2012–13 season: The Alaska Avalanche relocated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and became Johnstown Tomahawks. Alexandria Blizzard relocated to Brookings, South Dakota, and became the Brookings Blizzard. Traverse City North Stars franchise purchased by the Soo Eagles and joined the league from Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Dawson Creek Rage, New Mexico Mustangs, and St. Louis Bandits takes leaves of absence. The Chicago Hitmen fold.

2013–14 season: The dormant New Mexico Mustangs relocated to Richfield, Minnesota, and became Minnesota Magicians. The Texas Tornado relocated back to North Richland Hills, Texas, and became Lone Star Brahmas. The Minnesota Wilderness joined the league from the Superior International Junior Hockey League by purchasing dormant St. Louis Bandits franchise. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees purchased the Wenatchee Wild franchise. The Fresno Monsters were relocated to become the second incarnation of the Wenatchee Wild and the Monsters returned to only fielding a team in the Western States Hockey League. The Jamestown Ironmen and Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings ceased operations.

2014–15 season: The Port Huron Fighting Falcons were relocated to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, to become the Keystone Ice Miners, remaining in the North Division, and the Wenatchee Wild moved from the Midwest Division to the South Division.^[30]

2015–16 season: On May 1, 2015, the NAHL announced that the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise was purchased by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights organization to be an expansion team for the 2015–16 season.^[31] The Keystone Ice Miners ceased operations. The Michigan Warriors ceased operations due to the arrival of the major junior Flint Firebirds. The Soo Eagles announced they were returning to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League citing the lack of other local teams as they were the last remaining team in Michigan. The New Jersey Junior Titans organization bought the franchise from the Eagles and relocated to Middleton, New Jersey. The Eagles originally sought membership with the NAHL for the 2012–13 season and returned to the NOJHL for the season 2015–16 season. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were relocated to Aston, Pennsylvania and became the Aston Rebels. A new East Division was formed composed of Aston, Johnstown, New Jersey, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Wenatchee Wild organization left the NAHL and joined the Canadian Junior A British Columbia Hockey League.

2016–17 season: The league announced the continued expansion of the East Division by adding the Northeast Generals of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Generals organization also has a Tier III team in the North American 3 Hockey League (previously in the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League prior to the 2016 league merger). On April 8, 2016, the Shreveport Mudbugs were announced as an expansion team.^[32]

2017–18 season: The Wichita Falls Wildcats ceased operations after failing to find a buyer for the franchise.^[33] Aston Rebels relocated and renamed as the Philadelphia Rebels.

2018–19 season: The NAHL added another team to its East Division with an expansion franchise granted to the Maryland Black Bears.^[8][34] The Coulee Region Chill were sold and relocated as the Chippewa Steel in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and the Philadelphia Rebels became the Jamestown Rebels in Jamestown, New York. The Topeka RoadRunners were sold and rebranded as the Topeka Pilots.^[18]

2019–20 season: The NAHL approved of two expansion teams: the Maine Nordiques in Lewiston, Maine, and the New Mexico Ice Wolves in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[7][11] The Brookings Blizzard relocated and became the St. Cloud Blizzard.

2020–21 season: The NAHL added the Wichita Falls Warriors as an expansion team while the Topeka Pilots were relocated as the Kansas City Scouts and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights sold their franchise to the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. The St. Cloud Blizzard rebranded as the St. Cloud Norsemen. The Corpus Christi IceRays, Jamestown Rebels, Kansas City Scouts, and Springfield Jr. Blues went dormant for the season due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.^{[35][36][37][38]} The Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears both temporarily relocated to Minnesota and closer to the other teams in their division until mid-April 2021 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions to Alaska.^[39]

2021–22 season: The Amarillo Bulls were relocated to Mason City, Iowa, as the North Iowa Bulls.^[40] The Kansas City Scouts were originally granted another season of dormancy,^[41][42] but were instead sold and relocated to Amarillo as the Amarillo Wranglers to begin play for the 2021–22 season.^[43] Corpus Christi, Jamestown, and Springfield returned after a one-season pandemic-related hiatus. The league added a third team in Alaska called the Anchorage Wolverines.^[44]

2022-23 Season: The Minnesota Magicians were purchased and relocated to Eagle River, Wisconsin as the Wisconsin Windigo.^[45] The NAHL approved the relocation of the Wichita Falls Warriors to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to become the Oklahoma Warriors.^[46]

2023-24 Season: NAHL approved a new team in the East Division to be located in Rochester, New York that will be known as the "Rochester Junior Americans" ("Jr. Amerks"), a nod to Rochester's American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Rochester Americans ("Amerks"), a minor league affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team is co-owned by Wegmans CEO Coleen Wegman and Chris O'Donnell. Former Amerks, AHL and NHL players and coaches, including Brian Gionta, Nathan Paetsch, Stephen Gionta, David Leggio, will be affiliated with the new team. The team will play at the Rochester Ice Center in the metropolitan suburb of Fairport, New York.^[47][48] The NAHL added another team to the East Division later in 2022-23 season, as the New Hampshire Mountain Kings were approved for their membership, making it the first time an NAHL team was located in New Hampshire. The team will be based out of the renovated Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett, New Hampshire.^[49] The NAHL also introduced a team in Greeley, Colorado called the Colorado Grit.^[50] The Grit will play in the Greely Ice Haus.

2024-25 Season(Not finalized, more moves could happen): NAHL has approved a 7th team in the Central Division, located in Watertown, South Dakota, going by the name of the Watertown Shamrocks. The Shamrocks will be the 33rd team in the NAHL. They will play their home games at the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. The Shamrocks will be owned by Codington County Hockey Club LLC, including Mark Gullbrandson, Donald Sisson, KC Finnegan, and Vince Foley.

(Midwest and Central)Top 4 teams qualify, and in the 1st round(Division Semi-Finals), the 1st seed(seeding based off of placement in division) plays the 4th seed and the 2nd seed plays the 3rd seed in a 2H-2A-1H best of 5 Series. The winners of those two series will play each other in the Division Finals with the same 2H-2A-1H Best of 5 format. The winner of the Division Finals will be crowned the Division Champions and will represent the Divison in the Final Four, hosted at the Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.

(South and East) The top 6 teams qualify, with the 1st seed and 2nd seed(seeding based off of placement in division) getting byes. Seeds 3,4,5,and 6 will all play in the play-in, which happens April 12-14. The 3 seed will host the 6 seed for all 3 games*, as the 4th seed will also host the 5th seed for all 3 games*. The winner with the lowest seed will play the 1st seed, and the winner with the highest seed will play the 2nd seed. From there, the format is the same as the Midwest and Central.

* If necessary

PI-Clinched Play-in(South and East Division only)

W-Clinched Play in-Bye(South and East Division only)

X-Clinched Playoff Spot(Midwest and Central only)

Y-Clinched Division(Regular Season)

Y*-Clinched Best Record(Regular Season)

e-Did not qualify for playoffs

• Note: "Robby Cup" is shortened. The Official name is the Robertson Cup.

The Robertson Cup Championship is a playoff series held at the end of the NAHL season. The trophy is awarded annually to the USA Hockey Tier II junior national playoff champion. The Cup is the oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States and is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan.^{[citation needed]} Chuck Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pool Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976 to 1983.

As of the 2023–24 season^[51]

• However, Lone Star did beat New Jersey 6-3 in the Virtual Robertson Cup Championship^[53]