2017-18 NA3HL Season

This is the 2017-18 North American 3 Hockey League season.  This is the league's 8th season under this name and its' 20th dating back to it founding as the Central States Hockey League in 1988.
==Membership Changes==
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 County 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.
As of July 13, 2017, the East Coast Minutemen had been removed from the North American 3 Hockey League's website as being listed as a member of the league.
The Butte Cobras  folded due to a lack of players around September 8, 2017.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-special-report-na3hls-butte-cobras-killed/
The Billings Bulls folded on September 9, 2017. https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-special-report-na3hls-billings-bulls-shot-in-the-head/
In mid-September the Cincinnati Thunder relocated to Dayton, Ohio and were renamed the Dayton Falconshttps://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-special-report-na3hls-cincinnati-thunder-become-dayton-falcons-in-unpublicised-move/ The team would fold shorltly after forfeiting an October 15th game.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-special-report-na3hls-dayton-falcons-are-dead/
In mid-November the Nashville Jr. Predators had apparently folded.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-special-report-na3hls-nashville-jr-predators-shot-in-the-head/ However, the league has tried to obtain new ownership to run the team to save the franchise and cancelled several of the team's games during November.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-na3hl-desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures/ By the time that Jersey Shore is removed from the league Nashville is not listed on the league website anymore.
On December 5, 2017 the league terminated the membership of the Jersey Shore Wildcats reportedly over the team owing the league money.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-special-report-na3hl-loses-jersey-shore-willdcats/
On April 30, 2018 the North American Hockey League announced that the Coulee Region Chill were sold and would be relocated about 90 miles (145km) north to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin playing out of the Chippewa Area Ice Arena.  The team is being renamed to the Chippewa Steel.  In a related move the La Crosse Freeze of the North American 3 Hockey League will have their membership transferred to nearby Onalaska, Wisconsin and would become the Coulee Region Chill to replace the NAHL team in that city.http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=24017
==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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wausau RiverWolves 	Wausau, Wisconsin 	Marathon Park Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wisconsin Whalers 	Oregon, Wisconsin 	
Oregon Ice 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 	Falmouth, Massachusetts 	Falmouth Ice Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques 	Lewiston-Auburn, Maine 	Androscoggin Bank Colisée 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long Beach Sharks 	Long Beach, New York 	Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Maine Wild 	Biddeford, Maine 	Biddeford Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
New England Stars 	Tyngsborough, Massachusetts	Skate 3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Northeast Generals 	Attleboro, Massachusetts 	New England Sports Village 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lansing Wolves 	Dimondale, Michigan 	The Summit Sports and Ice Complex	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Metro Jets 	Waterford, Michigan 	Lakeland Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Pittsburgh Vengeance 	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 	Alpha Ice Complex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Southern Tier Xpress 	Jamestown, New York 	Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Toledo Cherokee 	Toledo, Ohio 	Team Toledo Ice House 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bozeman Icedogs 	Bozeman, Montana 	Haynes Pavilion 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gillette Wild 	Gillette, Wyoming 	Campbell County Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts	Evansville, Indiana 	Swonder Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Peoria Mustangs 	Peoria, Illinois 	Owens Recreation Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	Affton, Missouri 	Affton Ice Rink 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	Binghamton, New York 	Ice House Sports Complex 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Niagara Falls PowerHawks 	Lockport, New York 	Hyde Park Ice Pavilion 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Oswego Stampede 	Oswego, New York 	Anthony J Crisafulli Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Roc City Royals 	Rochester, New York 	Lakeshore Hockey Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Skylands Kings 	Stockholm, New Jersey 	Skylands Ice World 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	Atlanta, Georgia 	Center Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
College Station Spirit 	College Station, Texas 	Spirit Ice Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Louisiana Drillers 	Lafayette, Louisiana 	Planet Ice 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mid-Cities Jr. Stars 	Euless, Texas 	Dr. Pepper StarCenter (Euless) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Fold during season 	Fold during season 	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season	Fold during season
Team 	Location 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dayton Falcons 	Dayton, Ohio 	South Metro Sports	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jersey Shore Wildcats 	Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey	Jersey Shore Arena	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nashville Jr. Predators	Nashville, Tennessee 	Ford Ice Center 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Standings==
===Central Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
North Iowa Bulls 	47	39	4 	2 	2 	304	92 	82
La Crosse Freeze 	47	34	12	1 	0 	240	124	69
Wisconsin Whalers 	47	18	27	1 	1 	176	227	38
Wausau RiverWolves 	47	11	35	1 	0 	127	283	23
Rochester Ice Hawks	47	6 	39	2 	0 	93 	328	14
===East Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Metro Jets 	47	40	6 	1 	0 	238	95 	81
Pittsburgh Vengeance	47	34	12	1 	0 	172	108	69
Lansing Wolves 	47	26	17	1 	3 	152	125	56
Southern Tier Xpress	47	23	24	0 	0 	162	164	46
Wooster Oilers 	47	21	22	3 	1 	136	145	46
Toledo Cherokee 	47	12	34	1 	0 	111	202	25
===Frontier Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Yellowstone Quake 	47	35	7 	3 	2 	263	104	75
Great Falls Americans	47	34	11	2 	0 	195	107	70
Helena Bighorns 	47	30	13	4 	0 	205	143	64
Gillette Wild 	47	21	21	3 	2 	188	219	47
Missoula Bruins 	47	17	28	2 	0 	149	235	36
Bozeman Icedogs 	47	5 	41	1 	0 	104	289	11
===Midwest Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	47	38	9 	0 	0 	280	117	76
Peoria Mustangs 	47	26	19	1 	1 	179	138	54
Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts	47	8 	38	1 	0 	110	309	17
Nashville Jr. Predators 	8 	1 	6 	1 	0 	18 	46 	3
Dayton Falcons 	12	1 	10	1 	0 	15 	73 	3
Dayton folded after forfeiting October 15th game; which is included in above stats.
===South Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Texas Jr. Brahmas 	47	40	7 	0 	0 	239	76 	80
Atlanta Capitals 	47	29	14	2 	2 	198	114	62
Mid-Cities Jr. Stars 	47	30	16	1 	0 	192	117	61
Point Mallard Ducks 	47	24	22	0 	1 	202	153	49
Louisiana Drillers 	46	17	27	1 	1 	140	169	36
College Station Spirit	47	2 	45	0 	0 	42 	334	4
===West Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Granite City Lumberjacks	47	33	14	0 	0 	225	107	66
New Ulm Steel 	47	30	11	4 	2 	204	133	66
Alexandria Blizzard 	47	31	14	1 	1 	226	151	64
Willmar WarHawks 	47	22	21	4 	0 	159	182	48
Breezy Point North Stars	47	15	30	2 	0 	142	239	32
===Coastal Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
New England Stars 	47	36	9 	2 	0 	185	97 	74
Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques	47	32	11	3 	1 	214	108	68
Northeast Generals 	47	27	17	2 	1 	199	164	57
Maine Wild 	47	20	21	4 	2 	177	191	46
Cape Cod Islanders 	46	12	32	1 	1 	124	207	26
Long Beach Sharks 	46	6 	39	1 	0 	93 	298	13
===Northeast Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Binghamton Jr Senators 	47	31	3 	0 	3 	364	67 	85
Niagara Falls PowerHawks	47	25	19	1 	2 	199	180	53
Skylands Kings 	47	18	26	3 	0 	176	263	39
Oswego Stampede 	47	15	29	3 	0 	108	202	33
Roc City Royals 	47	6 	40	1 	0 	120	350	13
==Playoffs==
===Format===
With the exception of the Midwest Division the top four teams qualify for the playoffs.  The Midwest Division was down to three teams by the start of the playoffs so all three qualified with the first place team earning a bye to the division final.
===Division Semifinals Series===
====East Division====
*Pittsburgh Vengeance defeated Lansing Wolves 2 games to none
*Metro Jets defeated Southern Tier Xpress 2 games to none
====Frontier Division====
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Gillette Wild 2 games to none
*Helena Bighorns defeated Great Falls Americans 2 games to none
====Midwest Division====
*Peoria Mustangs defeated Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts 2 games to 0
====Northeast Division====
*Niagara Falls PowerHawks defeated Skylands Kings 2 games to none
*Binghamton Jr. Senators defeated Oswego Stampede 2 games to none
====South Division====
*Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Point Mallard Ducks 2 games to 1
*Mid-Cities Jr. Stars defeated Atlanta Capitals 2 games to none
====West Division====
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated Willmar WarHawks  2 games to none
*New Ulm Steel defeated Alexandria Blizzard 2 games to 1
====Central Division====
*North Iowa Bulls defeated Wausau RiverWolves 2 games to none
*La Crosse Freeze defeated Wisconsin Whalers 2 games to none
====Coastal Division====
*Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques defeated Northeast Generals 2 games to 1
*New England Stars defeated Maine Wild 2 games to none
===Division Final Series===
====East Division====
*Metro Jets defeated Pittsburgh Vengeance 2 games to none
====Frontier Division====
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Helena Bighorns 2 games to none
====Midwest Division====
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Peoria Mustangs 2 games to none
====Northeast Division====
*Binghamton Jr Senators defeated Niagara Falls PowerHawks 2 games to none
====South Division====
*Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated Mid-Cities Jr. Stars 2 games to none
====West Division====
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated New Ulm Steel 2 games to none
====Central Division====
*La Crosse Freeze defeated North Iowa Bulls 2 games to none
====Coastal Division====
*New England Stars defeated Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques 2 games to none
==Fraser Cup Championship==
===Trophy Renamed===
The league renamed its' playoff championship trophy prior to the 2017-18 season in honor of Robert 'Fraser' Ritchie who was a long time staff member of the NAHL, NA3HL and the NAPHL who passed away from cancer on June 10, 2017
===Format===
Each of the Division winners advance to the tournament. The teams are paired off in two groups based on regular season records. Seeds 1,4,5,and 8 make up one pool and 2,3,6, and 7 make up the other. Each team plays a round robin within its own group on March 27-29. The first place finisher in one pool plays the second place finisher in the other pool in the single game semifinals on March 30. The semifinal winner meet in the championship game on March 31.
===Pool A===
* 1 seed Binghamton Jr Senators
* 4 seed St. Louis Jr. Blues
* 5 seed Yellowstone Quake
* 8 seed Granite City Lumberjacks
===Pool B===
* 2 seed Metro Jets
* 3 seed Texas Jr. Brahmas
* 6 seed New England Stars
* 7 seed La Crosse Freeze
===Round Robin Schedule/Results===
March 27
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated Binghamton Jr Senators 3-2
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Yellowstone Quake 4-0
*Metro Jets defeated La Crosse Freeze 4-1
*Texas Jr. Brahmas defeated New England Stars 5-2
March 28
*Granite City Lumberjacks defeated St. Louis Jr. Blues 3-2 (ot)
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Binghamton Jr Senators 4-3
*Metro Jets defeated New England Stars 2-1
*La Crosse Freeze defeated Texas Jr. Brahmas 3-2 (ot)
March 29
*Yellowstone Quake defeated Granite City Lumberjacks 2-1 (ot)
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated Binghamton Jr Senators 4-0
*La Crosse Freeze defeated New England Stars 4-3 (so)
*Metro Jets defeated Texas Jr. Brahmas 4-1
===Round Robin Standings===
====Pool A====
Team 	GP	W	L	OL	SL	GF	GA	Pts
St. Louis Jr. Blues 	3 	2	0	1 	0 	10	3 	7
Granite City Lumberjacks	3 	2	0	1 	0 	7 	6 	6
Yellowstone Quake 	3 	2	1	0 	0 	6 	8 	5
Binghamton Jr Senators 	3 	0	3	0 	0 	5 	11	0
====Pool B====
Team 	GP	W	L	OL	SL	GF	GA	Pts
Metro Jets 	3 	3	0	0 	0 	10	3 	9
La Crosse Freeze 	3 	2	1	0 	0 	8 	9 	4
Texas Jr. Brahmas	3 	1	1	1 	0 	8 	9 	4
New England Stars	3 	0	2	0 	1 	6 	11	1
Note: La Crosse finishes ahead of Texas based on winning the head-to-head matchup in the round robin.
===Semifinals===
March 30
*St. Louis Jr. Blues defeated La Crosse Freeze 5-0
*Metro Jets defeated Granite City Lumberjacks 3-2 (ot)
===Championship===
March 31
*Metro Jets defeated St. Louis Jr. Blues 3-2 (ot)
==References==
Category:2018 in hockey
Category:NA3HL seasons