Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey

: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)RDS (LNAH's broadcaster) article.Le procès de Éric Haley aura lieu en décembre, La Tribune. (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.
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.
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)==
Team 	City 	Arena 	Joined
Les Pétroliers du Nord 	Laval, Quebec 	Colisée de Laval 	2018*
Jonquière Marquis 	Saguenay, Quebec 	Palais des Sports de Saguenay	1996*/2009
Rivière-du-Loup 3L 	Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec	Centre Premier Tech 	2008*/2010
Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5	Saint-Georges, Quebec 	Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil 	1996*/2010
Sorel-Tracy Éperviers 	Sorel-Tracy, Quebec 	Colisée Cardin 	1996*/2013
Thetford Mines Assurancia 	Thetford Mines, Quebec 	Centre Mario Gosselin 	1996*/2015
; 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==
Season 	Champion 	Season 	Champion 	Season 	Champion
1996-97	Saint-Gabriel Blizzard 	1997-98	Lachute Rapides 	1998-99	Joliette Blizzard
1999-00	LaSalle Rapides 	2000-01	Joliette Mission 	2001-02	Laval Chiefs
2002-03	Laval Chiefs 	2003-04	Verdun Dragons 	2004-05	Québec Radio X
2005-06	Sherbrooke Saint-François	2006-07	Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs	2007-08	Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay
2008-09	Pont Rouge Lois Jeans 	2009-10	Saint-Georges CRS Express 	2010-11	Sherbrooke Saint-François
2011-12	Thetford Mines Isothermic	2012-13	Jonquiere Marquis 	2013-14	Jonquiere Marquis
2014-15	Thetford Mines Isothermic	2015-16	Rivière-du-Loup 3L 	2016-17	Jonquiere Marquis
2017-18	Sorel-Tracy Éperviers 	2018-19	Sorel-Tracy Éperviers 	2019-20	Playoffs Cancelled
2020-21	Season Cancelled 	2021-22	Thetford Mines Assurancia 	2022-23	Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5
2023-24	Thetford Mines Assurancia	2024-25	TBD 	2025-26	TBD
==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 1998–1999became 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-NordColisée 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==
* Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey 
* RDS coverage of the LNAH 
 
Category:Ice hockey leagues