North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League ( NAHL ) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 39th season of operation in 2014 - 15 . It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league sanctioned by USA Hockey , and acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) . The NAHL is the oldest and largest junior hockey league in the United States . The league currently consists of four divisions with a total of 24 teams . The teams span the United States from Pennsylvania in the East to Washington in the West ; from Alaska in the North to Texas in the South . The teams play a 60 - game regular season , starting in mid - September and ending in early April . The top two teams of the NAHL playoffs will meet in a predetermined location to play in the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament . From its beginning in 1975 , the NAHL was primarily a 6 - 12 team league based in the Midwest , known as The North American Junior Hockey League Jason Weber , of Livonia , Michigan , is the all - time leading scorer in the NAHL , tallying 65 goals and 115 assists for 180 points from 1990 - 1992 . Other notable alums from the NAJHL include Pat Lafontaine , Mike Modano , Doug Weight , Pat Peake , Brian Rolston , Brian Holzinger , Brian Rafalski , and Todd Marchant . In 2003 , the league merged with the defunct America West Hockey League to form a 19 - team league , the NAHL , which has led to the current 24 teams playing in the 2014 - 15 season . Current teams . The 2014 - 15 season has 24 teams playing in 4 divisions : League changes . 2006 – 2007 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 name to Alaska Avalanche . Minnesota Blizzard changed name to Alexandria Blizzard . Texarkana Bandits moved to Chesterfield , Missouri and changed name to St . Louis Bandits . Marquette Rangers were added to the league . 2007 – 2008 season : Santa Fe Roadrunners moved to Topeka , Kansas . The Topeka Roadrunners now play at Landon Arena . The Kenai River Brown Bears started playing in the league . 2008 - 2009 season : The Southern Minnesota Express moved to Detroit and changed their name to the Motor City Machine . However , the Express ' home city of Owatonna was granted another NAHL team for 2008 - 09 , named the Owatonna Express . The Express are joined by another new Minnesota NAHL franschise , the Albert Lea Thunder . The Texas Tornado franchise will go dark for a year as they await renovations on their arena . Wenatchee , Washington has been awarded an expansion franchise for the 2008 - 09 season . The Fargo - Moorhead Jets are approved for dormancy . . 2009 - 2010 season : The Janesville Jets are awarded an expansion franchise . The Mahoning Valley Phantoms leave the league for the USHL . The USNTDP also leave the league . The Texas Tornado return to the league after taking a year off while their home arena was undergoing renovations . The Motor City franchise ' s new ownership changes the team ' s nickname from Machine to Metal Jackets . 2010 - 2011 season : The NAHL Board of Governors accepted membership of several new teams to play this season in the league . The Fresno Monsters are awarded an expansion franchise . The Monsters played in the Tier III A Western States Hockey League before getting switched over to the North American Hockey League for the 2010 - 2011 season . They will play at the Selland Arena in Fresno , California . The Corpus Christi IceRays are awarded an expansion franchise . The IceRays were known as the Alpena IceDiggers and Toledo in the North America Hockey League [ the same league , no new league change , just name change ] . They will play in the South Division at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi , Texas . The Chicago Hitmen joined the North Division and will play starting this season at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows , Illinois . The Marquette Rangers moved to Flint , Michigan and changed their name to Michigan Warriors . The Michigan Warriors will play in the North Division at the Perani Arena and Event Center . Port Huron joined the North Division and will play starting this season at McMorran Place in Port Huron , Michigan . The Coulee Region Chill joined the Central Division and will play at Onalaska OmniCenter in Onalaska , Wisconsin . The Aberdeen Wings joined the Central Division and will play at the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen , South Dakota . The Austin Bruins joined the Central Division and will play at the Riverside Arena in Austin , Minnesota . The Dawson Creek Rage joined the West Division and will play at EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek , British Columbia . The Amarillo Bulls joined the South Division and will play at Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo , Texas . The New Mexico Mustangs joined the South Division and will play at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho , New Mexico . 2014 - 2015 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 .