Central States Hockey League

The league is now known as the North American 3 Hockey League.
The Central States Hockey League (CSHL) was an American Tier III Junior "A" ice hockey league that consisted of thirteen teams from Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri. The CSHL was a member of USA Hockey. The winner of the CSHL's playoffs went on to play for the National Championship against the champions of the five other Tier III leagues and a host city. 
==League History==
Originally formed in the early 1970s as a Junior B-level league known as the Central States Hockey League (CSHL), the league evolved into the Metro Detroit Junior Hockey League in the early 1980s. The CSHL name was used again from 1994 until 2010.
For the 1997-98 season the league added the Grand Rapids Jr. Grizzlies to join existing league members Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks, (Detroit) Belle Tire, Metro Jets, Motor City Chiefs, St. Louis Jr. Blues, and Toledo Cherokee
The league moved up to Junior A in the summer of 2007 because it was considered to be one of the top Junior B leagues in the United States. The St. Louis Jr. Blues proved their dominance on the national stage winning the national championship four years in a row. The Jr Blues made history during the 2006-2007 season. They were the first team to win four consecutive national titles, breaking a record that was set over 60 years ago.
During the 2008-2009 season, it was announced that the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins would be joining the CSHL for the 2009-2010 season, bringing the number of teams to 13. The league was scheduled to return to 12 teams for 2010-11, as the Dubuque Thunderbirds' franchise left for the United States Hockey League, where they will be known as the Dubuque Fighting Saints. However, on November 10, 2010; the league became affiliated with the North American Hockey League and became known as the North American 3 Hockey League (with the 3 representing Tier-III). The NAHL took control of the league's operations immediately.
Many prominent college and pro hockey players have played in the CSHL at one point in their careers, including 2007 Hobey Baker finalist Eric Ehn (Metro Jets), Colorado Avalanche forward and 2010 U.S. Olympian Paul Stastny (St. Louis Jr. Blues) and Chris Butler (St. Louis Jr. Blues), now in the Buffalo Sabres' organization.
==Teams at time of merger==
Team 	Centre
Chicago Hitmen 	Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks	Strongsville, Ohio
Flint Jr. Generals 	Flint, Michigan
Grand Rapids Jr. Owls 	Byron Center, Michigan
Metro Jets 	Waterford, Michigan
Motor City Chiefs 	Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Peoria Mustangs 	Peoria, Illinois
Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins 	Harmarville, Pennsylvania
Quad City Jr. Flames 	Davenport, Iowa
Queen City Steam 	Evendale, Ohio
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	Affton, Missouri
Toledo Cherokee 	Toledo, Ohio
==Team Timeline==
Team 	Centre 	Arena 	Seasons 	Fate
Belle Tire 	Fraser, Michigan 	Great Lakes Ice Arena 	1997-1998	
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks 	Warrensville Heights, Ohio 	Cleveland Sports Plex 	1997-2010	
Metro Jets 	Waterford, Michigan 	Lakeland Ice Arena 	1997-2010	
Motor City Chiefs 	Dearborn Heights, Michigan 	Canfield Ice Arena 	1997-2010	
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	Affton, Missouri 	Affton Ice Rink 	1997-2010	
Toledo Cherokee 	Sylvania, Ohio 	Tam-O-Shanter 	1997-2010	
Columbus Crush 	Dublin, Ohio 	Chiller Arena 	1998-2003	
Grand Rapids Jr. Grizzlies 	Byron Center, Michigan 	Southside Ice Arena 	1998-2000	
Wayne Wheels 	Wayne, Michigan 	Wayne Ice Arena 	1998-2003	
Cincinnati Cobras 	Cincinnati, Ohio 	Northland Ice Center 	1999-2005	
Flint Jr. Generals 	Flint, Michigan 	Flint Iceland Arenas 	1999-2010	
Chicago Rush 	 	 	2000-2001	
Grand Rapids Jr. Owls 	Byron Center, Michigan 	Southside Ice Arena 	2000-2010	
Peoria Mustangs 	Peoria, Illinois 	Owens Recreation Center 	2000-2010	
Chicago Force 	Addison, Illinois,Vernon Hills, Illinois 	Addison Ice Arena,Glacier Ice Arena 	2003-2010	
Columbus Stars 	Evendale, Ohio 	Sports Plus Arena 	2003-2004	
Michigan Ice Dogs 	Farmington Hills, Michigan,Plymouth Township, Michigan	Farmington Hills Ice Arena,Arctic Pond Arena	2003-2008	
Quad City Express 	Davenport, Iowa 	Quad City Sports Center 	2004-2007	
Columbus Jr. B Blue Jackets	Dublin, Ohio 	Dublin Center 	2004-2007	
Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones 	Evendale, Ohio 	Sports Plus Arena 	2005-2007	
Dubuque Thunderbirds 	Dubuque, Iowa 	Five Flags Arena 	2006-2010	
Queen City Steam 	Evendale, Ohio 	Sports Plus Arena 	2007-2010	
Quad City Jr. Flames 	Davenport, Iowa 	Quad City Sports Center 	2007-2010	
Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins 	Harmarville, Pennsylvania 	Blade Runners Ice Complex 	2009-2010	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
==Franchise Timeline==
*Metro Jets (Waterford MI) Jets (1997-2010) see NA3HL
*St. Louis Jr. Blues (1997-2010) see NA3HL
*Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks Lumberjacks (1998-2010) see NA3HL
*Belle Tire (1997-1998)
*Toledo Cherokee (1997-2010) see NA3HL
*Motor City Chiefs (Dearborn Heights) (1997-2010)
*Wayne Wheels (1998-2003) become Michigan Ice Dogs
*Grand Rapids Jr. Grizzlies (1998-1999)
*Columbus Crush (1998-2003) become Stars
*Flint Jr. Generals (1999-2010) see NA3HL
*Cincinnati Cobras (1999-2006) reamed Jr. Cyclones
*Grand Rapids Jr. Owls (2000-2010) suspended operations
*Peoria Mustangs (2000-2010) see NA3HL
*Chicago Rush (2000-2001)
*Michigan Ice Dogs (Wayne/Plymouth) (2003-2008)
*Columbus Stars (2003-2004)Columbus Jr. "B" Blue Jackets
*Quad City Express (2003-2006) renamed Junior Flames
*Chicago Force (2004-2010) renamed Hitmen
*Columbus Jr “B” Blue Jackets (2004-2006)
*Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones (2006-2007) replaced by Queen City Steam
*Dubuque Thunderbirds (2006-2010) folded to make room for Dubuque Fighting Saints in USHL
*Quad City Jr. Flames (2006-2010) see NA3HL
*Queen City Steam (Cincinnati area) (2007-2010) see NA3HL
*Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins (2009-2010) see NA3HL
*Chicago Hitmen (2010-2010) see NA3HL
==Hurster Cup Champions (Playoff champions)==
*2010-St. Louis Jr. Blues
*2009-Dubuque Thunderbirds
*2008-Dubuque Thunderbirds
*2007-Dubuque Thunderbirds
*2006-St. Louis Jr. Blues
*2005-St. Louis Jr. Blues
*2004-St. Louis Jr. Blues
*2003-St. Louis Jr. Blues
*2002-Metro Jets
*2001-Metro Jets
*2000-St. Louis Jr. Blues
*1999-Toledo Cherokee
==See Also==
*List of American Junior Seasons
*North American 3 Hockey League
*List of CSHL Seasons
==References==
Category:Ice hockey leagues
Category:Central States Hockey League