2016-17 NA3HL Season

This is the 2016-17  North American 3 Hockey League season.  This is the leagues' 7th season under the NA3HL moniker and its 19th overall dating back to its founding as the Central States Hockey League in 1998.
==Membership changes==
The league announced that it would add the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League en masse as full members for the 2016-17 season.
On May 22, 2016 a published report on the website indicated that the league had approved the addition of a team to be known as the Missoula Bruins. Missoula has been the home of the Missoula Maulers of the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League since 2007 (joining from the American West Hockey League in 2013 after being founded in the NorPac in 2007. Apparently, the Maulers organization had decided to disband earlier in the month due to a lease dispute with the Glacier Ice Rink's operators. 
On May 24, 2016 the NA3HL announced that the Minnesota Flying Aces franchise had been sold to the owners of the Brookings Blizzard and Alexandria Blizzard (Chris and Mitri Canavati). As part of the announcement of the sale, the team was relocating to the Willmar Civic Center Arena in Willmar, Minnesota for the 2016-17 season.  The team would take the name Willmar WarHawks
Also on May 24th, the league announced that the Sugar Land Imperials had been sold to the same group that purchased the Chicago Bulldogs a few days earlier, and would be relocated to College Station, Texas and would become known as the College Station Spirit.
On May 26, 2016 the Wilkes-Barre Miners announced they were returning to Binghamton, New York and would be relabeled as the Binghamton Jr Senators which is the name the team had from 2005 to 2010 when the team was a member of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League.
On March 18, 2017, the Lockport Express announced they would be relocating to the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion in Niagara Falls, New York for the 2017-18 season.  The release stated that the organization would also be developing lower level teams along with the ownership of the new arena.  The release stated that it was strictly a business decision and that there were no issues with the city or arena in Lockport.  The team was renamed the Niagara Falls PowerHawks on April 6th.
It was announced in April 2017, that the West Michigan Wolves were relocating to the The Summit Sports and Ice Complex in Dimondale, Michigan just outside of Lansing, Michigan and would be renamed the Lansing Wolves.
On April 26, 2017 it was announced that the league had approved the sale and relocation of the Chicago Jr. Bulldogs to Wausau, Wisconsin for the 2017-18 season.  The team was renamed the Wausau RiverWolves and will be based out of the Marathon Park Arena in Wausau.  The new owners are also the owners of the New Ulm Steel.
On May 4, 2017, the sale of the Lewiston/Auburn Fighting Spirit was announced.  The team was renamed the Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques as an homage to the former Maine Nordiques who played in the North American Hockey League (1973-1977) out of the same arena.
On, May 24, 2017 the Syracuse Stampede announced they were relocating to Oswego, New York and would be renamed the Oswego Stampede.  The team will be based out of the Anthony J Crisafulli Arena in Oswego.
On May 26, 2017, the league announced the sale and relocation of the Glacier Nationals from Havre, Montana to Butte, Montana  where they will be known as the Butte Cobras based out of the Butte Community Ice Center.  The Butte Amateur Hockey Association (BAHA) were the new owners of the team.  The BAHA had recently been given ownership of the Butte Cobras franchise that has played in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) since the 2014-15 season.  The WSHL team is being moved to the NA3HL with the acquired franchise rights from the Glacier Nationals.
On May 30, 2017, it was announced that the Euless Jr. Stars were sold and would be renamed the Mid-Cities Jr. Stars.
==Current Teams==
Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Chicago Jr. Bulldogs 	Romeoville, Illinois 	Canlan Ice Sports Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
La Crosse Freeze 	La Crosse, Wisconsin 	Green Island Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
North Iowa Bulls 	Mason City, Iowa 	North Iowa Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Rochester Ice Hawks 	Rochester, Minnesota 	Rochester Recreation Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wisconsin Whalers 	Oregon, Wisconsin 	
Oregon Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division 	East Division
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Metro Jets 	Waterford, Michigan 	Lakeland Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Pittsburgh Vengeance 	Harmarville, Pennsylvania 	Bladerunners- Harmarville 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Southern Tier Xpress 	Jamestown, New York 	Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Toledo Cherokee 	Toledo, Ohio 	Team Toledo Ice House 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
West Michigan Wolves 	Battle Creek, Michigan 	Revolution Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wooster Oilers 	Wooster, Ohio 	Alice Noble Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division 	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division	Frontier Division
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Billings Bulls 	Billings, Montana 	Centennial Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bozeman Icedogs 	Bozeman, Montana 	Haynes Pavilion 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gillette Wild 	Gillette, Wyoming 	Campbell County Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Glacier Nationals 	Havre, Montana 	Havre Ice Dome 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Great Falls Americans 	Great Falls, Montana 	Great Falls Ice Plex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Helena Bighorns 	Helena, Montana 	Helena Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Missoula Bruins 	Missoula, Montana 	Glacier Ice Rink 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Yellowstone Quake 	Cody, Wyoming 	Victor J. Riley Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cincinnati Thunder 	Centerville, Ohio 	South Metro Sports 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts	Evansville, Indiana 	Swonder Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nashville Jr. Predators 	Franklin, Tennessee 	A-Game SportsPlex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Peoria Mustangs 	Peoria, Illinois 	Owens Recreation Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	Affton, Missouri 	Affton Ice Rink 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division 	South Division
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Atlanta Capitals 	Sandy Springs, Georgia 	Center Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
College Station Spirit 	College Station, Texas 	Spirit Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Euless Jr. Stars 	Euless, Texas 	Dr. Pepper StarCenter (Euless) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Louisiana Drillers 	Lafayette, Louisiana 	Planet Ice 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Point Mallard Ducks 	Decatur, Alabama 	Point Mallard Ice Complex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Texas Jr. Brahmas 	North Richland Hills, Texas 	NYTEX Sports Centre 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division 	West Division
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Alexandria Blizzard 	Alexandria, Minnesota 	Runestone Community Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Breezy Point North Stars 	Breezy Point, Minnesota 	Breezy Point Hockey Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Granite City Lumberjacks 	Sauk Rapids, Minnesota 	Armadillo Deck Sports Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
New Ulm Steel 	New Ulm, Minnesota 	New Ulm Civic Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Willmar WarHawks 	Willmar, Minnesota 	Willmar Civic Center Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	Coastal Division 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cape Cod Islanders 	Dennis, Massachusetts, Falmouth, Massachusetts	Tony Kent Arena, Falmouth Ice Center	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
East Coast Minutemen 	Salem, New Hampshire 	Salem ICenter 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
L/A Fighting Spirit 	Lewiston-Auburn, Maine 	Androscoggin Bank Colisée 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Maine Wild 	Biddeford, Maine 	Biddeford Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
New England Stars 	Tyngsborough, Massachusetts 	Skate 3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Northeast Generals 	Canton, Massachusetts 	Canton Sportsplex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long Beach Sharks 	Long Beach, New York 	Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Northeast Division 	Northeast Division 	Northeast Division 	Northeast Division	Northeast Division	Northeast Division	Northeast Division	Northeast Division	Northeast Division	Northeast Division	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Binghamton Jr Senators 	Chenango, New York 	Ice House Sports Complex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jersey Shore Wildcats 	Wall, New Jersey 	Jersey Shore Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lockport Express 	Lockport, New York 	Cornerstone Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Roc City Royals 	Webster, New York 	Webster Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Skylands Kings 	Stockholm, New Jersey 	Skylands Ice World 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Syracuse Stampede 	Morrisville, New York 	Morrisville Iceplex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Standings==
===Central Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
North Iowa Bulls 	47	35	10	1 	1 	268	111	72
La Crosse Freeze 	47	23	22	2 	0 	199	169	48
Wisconsin Whalers 	47	19	23	5 	0 	172	194	43
Rochester Ice Hawks	47	10	36	0 	1 	101	250	21
Chicago Bulldogs 	47	1 	45	0 	1 	67 	505	3
===East Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Metro Jets 	47	47	0 	0 	0 	262	55 	94
Pittsburgh Vengeance	47	28	16	3 	0 	159	120	59
Toledo Cherokee 	47	24	21	2 	0 	126	165	50
West Michigan Wolves	47	22	22	1 	2 	152	147	47
Wooster Oilers 	47	15	27	4 	1 	125	172	35
Southern Tier Xpress	47	15	28	4 	0 	142	182	34
===Frontier Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Yellowstone Quake 	47	40	4 	0 	3 	291	100	83
Great Falls Americans	47	38	4 	2 	3 	258	96 	81
Gillette Wild 	47	35	11	1 	0 	261	134	71
Missoula Bruins 	47	27	16	3 	1 	224	137	58
Bozeman IceDogs 	47	24	21	2 	0 	174	168	50
Helena Bighorns 	47	15	31	1 	0 	130	202	31
Billings Bulls 	47	5 	41	0 	1 	104	356	11
Glacier Nationals 	47	2 	44	1 	0 	61 	326	5
===Midwest Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	47	36	9 	0 	2 	324	122	74
Peoria Mustangs 	47	28	16	3 	0 	207	139	59
Nashville Jr. Predators 	47	25	15	5 	2 	206	161	57
Cincinnati Thunder 	47	18	25	2 	2 	131	196	40
Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts	47	14	31	1 	1 	136	238	30
===South Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Texas Jr. Brahmas 	47	37	9 	1 	0 	184	83 	75
Atlanta Capitals 	47	36	10	0 	1 	243	111	73
Euless Jr. Stars 	47	23	20	4 	0 	195	191	50
Point Mallard Ducks 	47	23	22	1 	1 	150	166	48
Louisiana Drillers 	47	16	29	2 	0 	138	212	34
College Station Spirit	47	6 	38	2 	1 	98 	252	15
===West Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Granite City Lumberjacks	47	32	8 	5 	2 	188	111	71
Alexandria Blizzard 	47	32	12	0 	3 	215	116	67
New Ulm Steel 	47	26	18	0 	3 	183	163	55
Breezy Point North Stars	47	25	19	3 	0 	189	154	53
Willmar WarHawks 	47	22	22	2 	1 	148	175	47
===Coastal Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Long Beach Sharks 	47	35	10	1 	1 	260	161	72
New England Stars 	47	29	7 	7 	4 	176	127	69
Cape Cod Islanders 	47	27	17	2 	1 	184	169	57
Northeast Generals 	47	24	18	4 	1 	161	143	53
L/A Fighting Spirit 	47	23	21	3 	0 	163	184	49
Maine Wild 	47	16	28	3 	0 	147	201	35
East Coast Minutemen	47	10	33	4 	0 	122	253	24
===Northeast Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Binghamton Jr. Senators	47	45	1 	0 	1 	324	84 	91
Jersey Shore Wildcats 	47	26	20	1 	0 	165	165	53
Syracuse Stampede 	47	21	22	3 	1 	172	181	46
Roc City Royals 	47	17	27	2 	1 	154	243	37
Lockport Express 	47	18	29	0 	0 	173	206	36
Skylands Kings 	47	13	31	2 	1 	136	252	29
==Playoffs==
===Format===
With the exception of the Frontier Division, the top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs.  The top six teams qualify from the Frontier Division. All division based series are best of three.  The eight diivsion champions advance to the Silver Cup Championship Tournament which will be held March 29-April 2, 2017 at the Canlan Ice Sports Arena in Romeoville, Illinois.  The eight division winners will be paired off into two pools of four teams based on regular season point totals. Each team play the other teams in their pool once.  The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals with the first place team playing the second place team from the other pool on April 1st.  The semifinal winners meet in the championship game on April 2nd.
===Frontier Division Quarterfinals===
*Gillette Wild defeated Helena Bighorns 2 games to 1
*Bozeman IceDogs defeated Missoula Bruins 2 games to none
===Frontier Division Semifinals===
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Bozeman IceDogs 2 games to none
*Great Falls Americans defeated Gillette Wild 2 games to none
===Central Division Semifinals===
*North Iowa Bulls defeated Rochester Ice Hawks 2 games to none
*La Crosse Freeze defeated Wisconsin Whalers 2 games to 1
===Coastal Division Semifinals===
*Long Beach Sharks defeated Northeast Generals 2 games to none
*New England Stars defeated Cape Cod Islanders 2 games to 1
===East Division Semifinals===
*Metro Jets defeated West Michigan Wolves 2 games to 1
*Pittsburgh Vengeance defeated Toledo Cherokee 2 games to 1
===Midwest Division Semifinals===
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Cincinnati Thunder 2 games to none
*Peoria Mustangs defeated Nashville Jr. Predators 2 games to none
===Northeast Division Semifinals===
*Binghamton Jr. Senators defeated Roc City Royals 2 games to none
*Jersey Shore Wildcats defeated Syracuse Stampede 2 games to none
===South Division Semifinals===
*Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Point Mallard Ducks 2 games to 1
*Atlanta Capitals defeated Euless Jr. Stars 2 games to none
===West Division Semifinals===
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated Breezy Point North Stars 2 games to none
*New Ulm Steel defeated Alexandria Blizzard 2 games to 1
===Frontier Division Final===
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Great Falls Americans 2 games to 1
===Central Division Final===
*North Iowa Bulls defeated La Crosse Freeze 2 games to none
===Coastal Division Final===
*Long Beach Sharks defeated New England Stars 2 games to 1
===East Division Final===
*Metro Jets defeated Pittsburgh Vengeance 2 games to 1
===Midwest Division Final===
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Peoria Mustangs 2 games to 1
===Northeast Division Final===
*Binghamton Jr. Senators defeated Jersey Shore Wildcats 2 games to none
===South Division Final===
*Atlanta Capitals defeated Texas Jr. Brahmas 2 games to none
===West Division Final===
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated New Ulm Steel 2 games to 1
===Silver Cup Round Robin===
March 29th
*Metro Jets defeated Granite City Lumberjacks 3-0
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Atlanta Capitals 4-2
*Binghamton Jr. Senators defeated Long Beach Sharks 8-1
*Yellowstone Quake defeated North Iowa Bulls 4-2
March 30
*Atlanta Capitals defeated Metro Jets 3-2
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated St. Louis Jr. Blues 4-3
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Long Beach Sharks 5-2
*North Iowa Bulls defeated Binghamton Jr. Senators 3-2 (ot)
March 31
*Metro Jets defeated St. Louis Jr. Blues 5-3
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated Atlanta Capitals 5-2
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Binghamton Jr. Senators 3-2
*North Iowa Bulls defeated Long Beach Sharks 8-4
===Silver Cup Semifinals===
April 1
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated Binghamton Jr. Senators 3-2
*Metro Jets defeated Yellowstone Quake 6-1
===Silver Cup Final===
April 2
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated Metro Jets 2-1
==References==
Category:2017 in hockey
Category:NA3HL seasons