2020-21 NAHL season

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This is the 2020-21 North American Hockey League season. This is the league's 36th season under this name and its 46th dating back to its founding as the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League in 1975 when the Michigan Junior Hockey League and the Wolverine Junior A Hockey League merged.
==Restart of Play==
On June 19th the league issued a release stating that it was intending to begin play in September as usual with the NAHL showcase in Blaine, Minnesota and play a full schedule and playoffs and that tryout camps would begin in July. However a delayed start of the season with a reduced schedule may be used if the circumstances warrant.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29653 On July 27th the league announced a planned start date of October 9th with a full schedule planning on being played.http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29749
On November 24th the Midwest Division had play halted until at least December 31st due to complication associated with the recently issued order by the state of Minnesota.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/midwest-division-play-paused/n-5653774
==Membership Changes==
On October 15, 2019 the league announced the addition of a team to be based in Wichita Falls, Texas for the 2020-21 season.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=27723On November 26, 2019 the league announced the team would be named the Wichita Falls Warriors.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=28162
On February 28, 2020 the Topeka Pilots were announced as relocating to Kansas City areahttp://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29100 and on May 6th announced the team would assume the Kansas City Scouts name.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29519 The team plans on playing at the Kansas City Ice Center in Shawnee, Kansas for the 2020-21 season pending the completion of a new arena.
On May 6, 2020 the league announced that effective immediately the St. Cloud Blizzard would be renamed the St. Cloud Norsemen.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29502 The team cited a lack of lead time to change the team identity for the 2019-20 season.
On May 11, 2020 the league announced the relocation of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights to Danbury, Connecticut where they will be renamed the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29523
On June 16, 2020 the El Paso Rhinos were added to the North American 3 Hockey League for the 2020-21 season from the Western States Hockey League. They will also join the league for the 2021-22 season.https://www.aberdeennews.com/sports/professional/wings/nahl-approves-el-paso-texas-team-for-2021-22/article_2b1ce9be-b00a-11ea-8401-6bcd813acc2e.html 
On August 24th the Corpus Christi IceRays announced they would be taking a one year leave of absence.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29793
On August 26th, the Kansas City Scouts announced they would be sitting out the 2020-21 season due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their operations.http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29801 On March 4, 2021 it was announced the team would also be inactive for the 2021-22 playing season, citing logistic issues with getting ready for 2021-22 and that they would focus on getting ready to begin play with the 2022-23 season.https://www.kcscouts.com/271-2
Also on August 26th, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs were reportedly relocating to Marshall, Minnesota for the 2020-21 season due to quarantine and testing restrictions in the state of Alaska making playing in Alaska not feasible.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/nahl-fairbanks-moves-to-marshall-minnesota/ The team will be based out of the Red Baron Arena and Expo for the season.https://marshsports.com/fairbanksicedogs/ The team would return to the Big Dipper Ice Arena on April 22nd for the balance of the season.http://nahl.com/game-center/#/game-summary/31188
A few days later it was reported that the Kenai River Brown Bears were also relocating to an undisclosed location in Minnesota. The New Mexico Ice Wolves also announced that they would be relocating to El Paso, Texas due to restrictions in place in the state of New Mexico.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/nahl-has-two-more-temporary-relocations/. They would end up using the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas as their home for part of the season. The Kenai River Brown Bears would later be announced as relocating operations to Anoka, Minnesota and would play their games at the Breezy Point Hockey Center in Breezy Point, Minnesota which lost their North American 3 Hockey League team after last season.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-5642224 The Ice Wolves would return to the Outpost Ice Arenas in Albuquerque with a game on April 8thhttp://nahl.com/game-center/#/game-summary/30956 and remain there for the balance of the season. The Brown Bears would return to the Soldotna Sports Center with a game on April 23rd and play the balance of their home games there.http://nahl.com/game-center/#/game-summary/31176
On September 16, 2020 the Springfield Jr. Blues announced they would be suspending operations for the 2020-21 season citing the state of Illinois not allowing gatherings of 50 or more.http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=29842
Over the weekend of September 19-20, 2020 word was announced that the Jamestown Rebels were going dormant for the 2020-21 season. Based on the state of New York not allowing spectators at events this year and that USA Hockey would not sanction play in the state meaning it would not cover insurance for the teams in the state.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/nahl-jamestown-goes-dark/ The Rebels announcement was being held off as the team owner was trying to find a temporary home in either South Dakota or Wisconsin.https://www.juniorhockey.com/news/news_detail.php?news_id=94040
On March 5, 2021, the league announced the Board of Governors approval of the relocation of the Amarillo Bulls to Mason City, Iowa to be based out of the Mason City MPA. The ownership of the team already operates a team in the North American 3 Hockey League out of the arena. The former Amarillo Bulls will also take the name North Iowa Bulls.http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=31228 On June 1st the NA3HL franchise was announced as being renamed the Mason City Toros.http://www.na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=32028
On March 22, 2021, the league announced the addition of the Anchorage Wolverines to the league for the 2021-22 playing season. The team will be a member of the Midwest Division. It appears the team is to be based out of the Sullivan Arena.http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=31385
On May 21, 2021, the league announced that the Kansas City Scouts (NAHL) had been sold and would be relocated to Amarillo, Texas taking the name Amarillo Wranglers as an homage to the former Amarillo Wranglers of the late 1960's and early 1970's and replacing the Amarillo Bulls who relocated to Mason City, Iowa for the 2021-22 season. The team will be based out of the Amarillo Civic Center.http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=31948 The team will take to the ice for the 2021-22 season. as opposed to the Scouts who were planning on returning to play with the 2022-23 season.
==Teams==
Division	Team 	Arena 	Location
Central 	Aberdeen Wings 	Odde Ice Center 	Aberdeen, South Dakota
Central 	Austin Bruins 	Riverside Arena 	Austin, Minnesota
Central 	Bismarck Bobcats 	V.F.W. Sports Center 	Bismarck, North Dakota
Central 	Minnesota Wilderness 	Northwoods Credit Union Arena 	Cloquet, Minnesota
Central 	Minot Minotauros 	Maysa Arena 	Minot, North Dakota
Central 	St. Cloud Blizzard 	Dave Torrey Arena 	St. Cloud, Minnesota
Midwest 	Chippewa Steel 	Chippewa Area Ice Arena 	Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Midwest 	Fairbanks Ice Dogs 	Big Dipper Ice Arena/Red Baron Arena and Expo 	Fairbanks, Alaska/Marshall, Minnesota
Midwest 	Janesville Jets 	Janesville Ice Arena 	Janesville, Wisconsin
Midwest 	Kenai River Brown Bears 	Soldotna Sports Center/Breezy Point Hockey Center	Soldotna, Alaska/Breezy Point, Minnesota
Midwest 	Minnesota Magicians 	Richfield Ice Arena 	Richfield, Minnesota
East 	 	 	
East 	Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks 	Danbury Ice Arena 	Danbury, Connecticut
East 	Johnstown Tomahawks 	Cambria County War Memorial Arena 	Johnstown, Pennsylvania
East 	Maine Nordiques 	Androscoggin Bank Colisée 	Lewiston, Maine
East 	Maryland Black Bears 	Piney Orchard Ice Arena/Ice World 	Odenton, Maryland/Abingdon, Maryland
East 	New Jersey Junior Titans	Middletown Ice World Arena 	Middletown, New Jersey
East 	Northeast Generals 	New England Sports Village 	Attleboro, Massachusetts
South 	 	 	
South 	Amarillo Bulls 	Amarillo Civic Center 	Amarillo, Texas
South 	Lone Star Brahmas 	NYTEX Sports Centre 	North Richland Hills, Texas
South 	New Mexico Ice Wolves 	Outpost Ice Arenas/NYTEX Sports Centre 	Albuquerque, New Mexico/North Richland Hills, Texas
South 	Odessa Jackalopes 	Ector County Coliseum 	Odessa, Texas
South 	Shreveport Mudbugs 	Hirsch Coliseum 	Shreveport, Louisiana
South 	Wichita Falls Warriors 	Kay Yeager Coliseum 	Wichita Falls, Texas
South 	 	 	
South 	 	 	
===Future and Dormant Teams===
Division	Team 	Arena 	Location
Midwest 	Anchorage Wolverines (2021-22 expansion) 	Sullivan Arena 	Anchorage, Alaska
South 	Corpus Christi IceRays (COVID-19 Restrictions) 	American Bank Center 	Corpus Christi, Texas
South 	El Paso Rhinos (2021-22 expansion) 	Sierra Providence Event Center	El Paso, Texas
East 	Jamestown Rebels (COVID-19 Restrictions) 	Northwest Arena 	Jamestown, New York
South 	Amarillo Wranglers relocation of the Kansas City Scouts	Amarillo Civic Center 	Amarillo, Texas
Central 	North Iowa Bulls (relocation of Amarillo Bulls) 	Mason City MPA 	Mason City, Iowa
Midwest 	Springfield Jr. Blues (COVID-19 Restrictions) 	Nelson Center 	Springfield, Illinois
==Standings==
===Central Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts	%
Aberdeen Wings 	56	51	4 	0 	1 	251	75 	103	.920
Bismarck Bobcats 	56	29	21	3 	3 	173	151	64 	.571
Minnesota Wilderness	56	25	27	1 	3 	136	168	54 	.482
Minot Minotauros 	56	23	25	6 	2 	150	199	54 	.482
Austin Bruins 	56	22	26	5 	3 	159	187	52 	.464
St. Cloud Blizzard 	56	22	33	0 	1 	151	206	45 	.402
===Midwest Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts	%
Janesville Jets 	48	31	13	4 	0 	183	144	66 	.688
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 	48	25	19	2 	2 	165	163	54 	.563
Minnesota Magicians 	48	24	21	3 	0 	144	153	51 	.531
Kenai River Brown Bears	48	22	24	1 	1 	155	168	46 	.479
Chippewa Steel 	48	14	29	2 	3 	116	169	33 	.344
===East Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts	%
Johnstown Tomahawks 	54	39	10	2 	3 	220	144	83 	.769
Maine Nordiques 	56	35	19	2 	0 	169	163	72 	.643
New Jersey Titans 	54	27	20	2 	5 	197	174	61 	.565
Maryland Black Bears 	54	25	21	6 	2 	146	159	58 	.537
Northeast Generals 	60	20	32	6 	2 	164	217	48 	.400
Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks	54	20	27	6 	1 	148	187	47 	.435
===South Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts	%
Shreveport Mudbugs 	56	38	11	2 	5 	205	139	83 	.741
Lone Star Brahmas 	56	38	16	2 	0 	172	132	78 	.696
Wichita Falls Warriors	56	30	19	1 	6 	171	161	67 	.598
Amarillo Bulls 	56	29	18	3 	6 	159	166	67 	.598
New Mexico Ice Wolves 	56	21	30	3 	2 	147	184	47 	.420
Odessa Jackalopes 	56	12	36	4 	4 	117	190	32 	.286
==Robertson Cup Playoffs==
===Format===
The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs. The first place team plays the fourth place team and the second place team plays the third place team in a best-of-five series over two weekends (May 18-31). The division semifinal winners meet in a best-of-five series over two weekends (June 3-14). The division winners advance to the Robertson Cup tournament. The event will be held at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota June 18 to 22, 2021. The teams are seeded 1 to 4 and are paired off 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 in best-of-three series. The semifinal winners meet in a single championship game on June 22nd. The NAHL Top Prospects tournament will also part of the championship weekend.
===Bracket===
;Legend
* C1, C2, C3, C4 – The teams from the Central Division
* E1, E2, E3, E4 – The teams from the East Division
* M1, M2, M3, M4 – The teams from the Midwest Division
* S1, S2, S3, S4 – The teams from the South Division
===Central Division Semifinals===
*Aberdeen Wings defeated Minot Minotauros 3 games to 2
*Bismarck Bobcats defeated Minnesota Wilderness 3 games to none
===Midwest Division Semifinals===
*Minnesota Magicians defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3 games to none 
*Kenai River Brown Bears defeated Janesville Jets 3 games to 1
===East Division Semifinals===
*Maryland Black Bears defeated Johnstown Tomahawks 3 games to 2
*Maine Nordiques defeated New Jersey Titans 3 games to 1
===South Division Semifinals===
*Shreveport Mudbugs defeated Amarillo Bulls 3 games to 1
*Wichita Falls Warriors defeated Lone Star Brahmas 3 games to none
===Central Division Final===
*Aberdeen Wings defeated Bismarck Bobcats 3 games to none
===Midwest Division Final===
*Minnesota Magicians defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3 games to 2
===East Division Final===
*Maine Nordiques defeated Maryland Black Bears 3 games to none
===South Division Final===
*Shreveport Mudbugs defeated Wichita Falls Warriors 3 games to none
==Robertson Cup==
The semifinal round and the championship game will be held June 18 to June 22 at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.
The semifinal pairings are based upon regular season point percentage with the teams matched up 1st (Aberdeen) vs 4th (Minnesota) and 2nd (Shreveport) vs 3rd (Maine).
===Semifinals===
(Best-of-three - June 18-20)
*Aberdeen Wings defeated Minnesota Magicians 2 games to none
*Shreveport Mudbugs defeated Maine Nordiques 2 games to none
===Championship Game===
(Single game - June 22nd)
*Shreveport Mudbugs defeated Aberdeen Wings 4-2
==References==
Category:2021 in hockey
Category:NAHL seasons