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44-667: Founded in 2011 when the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) announced its expansion from 12 teams to 16. The Twin City Steel were to be based in the new White Bear Lake Sports Center in White Bear Lake, Minnesota , starting for the 2011–12 season alongside the other three other new NA3HL teams: the Minnesota Junior Hockey League transfers, Granite City Lumberjacks and Minnesota Flying Aces , and an expansion team,

88-497: A small stipend for food expenses, and either continue school or work part-time jobs. Due to their schedules, more than 90% of games are on weekends, which many NHL and college scouts attend. Average attendance at regular season games for the 2014–15 season was 2,715 with 1,384,820 fans attending games during the season. Kyle Woodlief of Red Line Report stated in 2007 that the USHL's first line players are as good as their counterparts in

132-477: Is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league that consists of teams from Connecticut , Georgia , Illinois , Iowa , Louisiana , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Missouri , Montana , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Texas , Wisconsin , and Wyoming . Sanctioned by USA Hockey , for most of the league's existence, the winner of the NA3HL playoffs would advance to play for

176-663: The Anoka Nordiques , the Austin Mavericks , the Bloomington Junior Stars and the St. Paul Vulcans ). All seven teams were made up with players categorized as "Senior Amateur". Following the 1978–79 season the senior league teams in the U.S. Conference folded and the USHL became an all-junior league the following season. Championships from the semi-pro era of the USHL. Regular season champions from junior era of

220-569: The Canadian Hockey League 's (CHL) three member leagues, the USHL offers a schedule of high-level, competitive games for top players aged 16 to 20. Unlike the CHL, it does not pay a stipend to its players, who thus retain amateur status and are eligible to play in the NCAA . Teams are subject to strict roster rules. In 2017–18 they may have no more than four overage skaters (players who have turned 20 in

264-719: The Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques . The Cincinnati Thunder, which had already been playing out of Dayton, re-branded as the Dayton Falcons . The Butte Cobras, formerly of the Western States Hockey League (WSHL), purchased the Glacier Nationals franchise in order to join the NA3HL. The schedule was set with 47 teams, however, the Butte Cobras and Billings Bulls would both fold prior to playing a game, while

308-604: The North Iowa Bulls . The Twin City Steel played their first season out of the new Vadnais Sports Center, situated in the Twin Cities, which includes the suburbs of White Bear Lake, North St. Paul, Forest Lake, Roseville and Moundsview. The Twin City Steel lost their first game, 4–3, at the Granite City Lumberjacks on September 10, 2011, and would record their first win less than a week later at their home-opener. It

352-659: The St. Louis Blues ' organization. The league championship trophy is the Fraser Cup. It was originally called the Hurster Cup during the league's time as the Central States Hockey League. In 2012, the cup was then renamed to the Silver Cup. In 2017, the league again renamed the championship to the Fraser Cup after long-time NAHL, NA3HL, and NAPHL Director of Hockey Administration, Robert ‘Fraser’ Ritchie. The winner of

396-509: The Texas Jr. Brahmas would transfer from the Western States Hockey League and join the South Division. The expansion Nashville Junior Predators and Point Mallard Ducks (Decatur, AL) also joined the South Division bringing its total up to six teams. The American West Hockey League moved to the NA3HL to form new Frontier Division. The Battle Creek Revolution announced it was re-branding as

440-686: The West Michigan Wolves . The Michigan Mountain Cats were sold and relocated to Jamestown, NY, and called the Southern Tier Xpress. In April 2015, the NA3HL announced an expansion team in Evansville, Indiana , called the Thunderbolts, to play in the South Division beginning in the 2015–16 season. On May 21–22 of 2015, two additional expansion teams were announced: Rochester Ice Hawks , a member of

484-723: The 2013–14 season. Owned by Ken Kestas, the Bulldogs played home games out of Canlan Ice Sports in Romeoville, Illinois. Quad City Jr. Flames (Davenport, Iowa) relocated to Madison, Wisconsin , in May 2013 and were renamed the Wisconsin Whalers . In May 2014, the Flint Jr. Generals were purchased and relocated to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and renamed the La Crosse Freeze . The NA3HL announced that

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528-412: The 2020–21 season. The USHL Draft is an annual event conducted in two "phases" during the second week of May. The first phase is an eight-round draft of U-17 players for the upcoming season. The second phase of the draft is open to all players eligible to play junior hockey who are not already protected by a USHL team. The number of players drafted varies, as each team will draft until they have filled

572-495: The 45 spots available on their roster. Undrafted players are open to try out for any team as a try-out player. Each team must reduce their roster to 23 players for the start of the season, but may carry 18 additional players on an affiliate list. Precursors to this league were: The United States Hockey League was established as the American Amateur Hockey League in 1947 and began play for the 1947–48 season. When

616-671: The American Amateur Hockey League in 1951–52. Gone were the St. Paul 7-Up/Koppy's, Twin City Fords and the Minneapolis Jerseys, replaced by the St. Paul Saints, Hibbing Flyers, Minneapolis Millers, Eveleth Rangers and the first club based outside of the state of Minnesota, the Sioux City Iowa Sunhawks, which gave the league six clubs for 1951–52, its final season as the American Amateur Hockey League. The American Amateur Hockey League

660-565: The CHL—;historically an important producer of NHL players—but that the Canadian-based league has better third and fourth lines. In 2006, Trevor Lewis , the 17th pick in the NHL Entry Draft , was the first USHL player to sign an NHL contract immediately after playing in the league. At the conclusion of the 2014–15 regular season, the USHL has tallied 251 alumni that have played in

704-616: The Cup typically receives a bid to compete in the USA Hockey Tier III junior hockey National Championship Tournament, however, the tournament has not been held since 2015. United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey . The league consists of 16 active teams located in the Midwestern United States and Great Plains , for players between

748-694: The Dayton Falcons, Nashville Junior Predators , and Jersey Shore Wildcats were also removed from the schedules during the season. In April 2018, the NA3HL announced the entire East Division had left the league including the reigning champions, the Metro Jets , and joined the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The Butte Cobras were also announced as returning and the Point Mallard Ducks were purchased and relocated to become

792-799: The Des Moines Ice Hawks, marking the league's return to Iowa. For the fifth and final season of the USCHL the St Paul Capitols dropped out and the league expanded to five teams and into new territory with a team in Michigan with the addition of the Marquette Sentinels and into Wisconsin with the addition of the Green Bay Bobcats. The United States Hockey League (USHL) operated as a senior ice hockey league from 1961 to 1979. The USHL welcomed

836-632: The Milwaukee Power. In 2020, the WSHL's Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers purchased the dormant Coulee Region Chill franchise to join the league for 2020 and the El Paso Rhinos announced an agreement to add expansion teams to both the NA3HL in 2020 and the NAHL in 2021. The Coastal and Northeast divisions merged into a new East Division beginning with the 2020–21 season following several teams withdrawing. In 2023,

880-708: The NA3HL. On May 21, 2016, the Missoula Bruins youth hockey organization from Missoula, Montana , announced it had been approved as an expansion team in the Frontier Division of the NA3HL. The Missoula Junior Bruins replaced the Missoula Maulers of the Western States Hockey League after arena negotiations with the Maulers' owner fell through. Prior to the 2017–18 season, the Lockport Express relocated to become

924-516: The NHL and has 347 current players with NCAA college commitments. According to the league, approximately 95 percent of its players will eventually land a Division I college scholarship. On March 18, 2020, the USHL cancelled the rest of 2019–20 season and playoffs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic . The start of the following season was delayed to November 2020 and some teams had to suspend operations for

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968-760: The New Ulm Steel moved to Tomah, Wisconsin , becoming the Wisconsin Woodsmen . With the moved, they were transferred from the West Division to the Central Division. They hired head coach Jon Vaillancourt. In their first season, they placed 4th and made the playoffs, playing the Wausau Cyclones . They got swept, 2-0. In 2024, the Minnesota Loons were sold and moved to Eveleth, Minnesota , and went under

1012-925: The Niagara Falls PowerHawks, the Syracuse Stampede relocated to become the Oswego Stampede , and the West Michigan Wolves relocated to become the Lansing Wolves . The Chicago Jr. Bulldogs, Euless Jr. Stars, and L/A Fighting Spirit franchises were sold; the Bulldogs were relocated as the Wausau RiverWolves, the Jr. Stars re-branded as the Mid-Cities Jr. Stars, and the Fighting Spirit re-branded as

1056-642: The Pinnacle Hockey Group, LLC, consisting of owners Adam Keer and Ryan Egan, purchased and relocated the New Ulm Steel to Tomah, Wisconsin , as the Wisconsin Woodsmen. This American ice hockey team-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a sports team in Wisconsin is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . North American 3 Hockey League The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL)

1100-628: The Tier III National Championship, however, this has not been held since 2015. 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. The league was reclassified from Tier III Junior B to Tier III Junior A in

1144-588: The USCHL for the 1955–56 and 1956–57 seasons. For the 1957–58 season the St Paul Peters were replaced by a team called St. Paul K.S.T.P. The Rochester Mustangs were the only team to return for the 1958–59 season. Gone were St. Paul K.S.T.P. along with both Minneapolis clubs (the Culbersons and the Bungalows). The league returned to four teams when it replaced these clubs with the St. Paul Capitols, Minneapolis Millers and

1188-483: The USHL banner. League governors decided on a two-division format, with the junior-aged teams in the Midwest Division and the professionals in the U.S. Division. The teams played an interlocking schedule that was, predictably, dominated by the professionals. The USHL's split existence would last just two seasons. The minor-pro wing of the league folded following the 1978–79 season, providing junior hockey operators with

1232-593: The ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly amateur , allowing former players to compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college hockey . The Fargo Force won the Anderson Cup as the 2023–24 regular season champions, as well as the 2024 Clark Cup playoff championship , their second in franchise history. The USHL is the country's top sanctioned junior hockey league, classified as Tier I. Like comparable entities such as

1276-628: The eventual Silver Cup Champion North Iowa Bulls . On April 26, 2016, it was announced that the Twin City Steel would be relocating to New Ulm, Minnesota , to become the New Ulm Steel. In 2018, Steve Black also purchased a team in the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and relocated it as the Chippewa Steel . In March 2021, Steve Black sold both Steel teams to an ownership group led by Kelly Kasik. In April 2023,

1320-511: The first female professional hockey player in 1969–70, when the Marquette Iron Rangers signed Karen Koch . By the late 1970s, the USHL had fallen on hard times. In the summer of 1977, clubs from the recently folded Midwest Junior Hockey League contacted the USHL. A unique merger was formed, with the three junior teams ( Bloomington Junior Stars , Austin Mavericks , St. Paul Vulcans ) and three remaining pro teams ( Sioux City Musketeers , Waterloo Black Hawks , Green Bay Bobcats ) gathered under

1364-463: The first year of the season) and are limited to a maximum of five import players, three international players and two Canadian skaters. Starting in 2018–19, non-American goaltenders will count as two import players in a move designed to give more development time to American goalies, who are also exempt from the overage rule. USHL teams, typically located in mid-sized cities, pay for all uniforms and equipment. Players live with local families, who receive

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1408-459: The former Minnesota Junior Hockey League , was added the West Division, and the Louisiana Drillers playing out of Lafayette, Louisiana was added to the South Division. On March 4, 2016, it was formally announced that the North American Hockey League 's other Tier III league, the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL), would be added to the NA3HL beginning with the 2016–17 season. The former NA3EHL teams became two new divisions within

1452-439: The league became the United States Central Hockey League and would be called this for five years, 1956 to 1960. Only three of the four teams who had made up the Minnesota Hockey League for the 1954–55 season returned. Those teams were the Rochester Mustangs along with both Minneapolis clubs, the Culbersons and the Bungalows. Gone were the St. Paul Saints who replaced by a team called the St. Paul Peters. These four clubs would make up

1496-431: The league began operations it had five teams in and around the Twin Cities arena along with a team in Rochester. The league was made up three clubs from St. Paul which were 7-Up, Koppy's and Tally's, and two from Minneapolis, Jersey's and Bermans, along with a team from Rochester called the Rochester Mustangs. After the 1947–48 season the St. Paul Tally's dropped out of the league and left the five remaining members to make up

1540-411: The league for the 1948–49 and 1949–50 seasons. For the 1950–51 season the St. Paul 7-Up and St. Paul Koppy's merged and became St. Paul 7-Up/Koppy's. The Minneapolis Bermans dropped out of the league and new team called the Twin City Fords were added to give the American Amateur Hockey League four teams for 1950–51 season. The Rochester Mustangs were the only club to return for the fifth and final season of

1584-418: The league three teams for 1953–54 season. The Rochester Mustangs were the only team to return for the second and final season of the Minnesota Hockey League. Gone were Hibbing and Grand Forks. The league added two teams in Minneapolis called the Culbersons and Bungalows and a new team in St. Paul, again called the Saints, to give the league four teams for 1954–55. After two seasons as the Minnesota Hockey League

1628-409: The opportunity to redefine the circuit. The 1979–80 season was the league's first as an entirely junior arrangement. The league's last season as a senior hockey league was 1978–79. During this final season the league comprised seven teams in two conferences. The U.S. Conference (with the Green Bay Bobcats , the Sioux City Musketeers and the Waterloo Black Hawks ); while the Midwest Conference (with

1672-568: The same umbrella as the NAHL 's Minnesota Wilderness , taking the same name, logo, colors, and uniforms. Similarly, the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL added a NA3HL franchise as an expansion team. Also joining as an expansion team is the Tulsa Jr. Oilers. 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 ), St. Louis Blues forward and 2010 and 2014 U.S. Olympian Paul Stastny (St. Louis Jr. Blues) and Chris Butler (St. Louis Jr. Blues), now in

1716-408: The summer of 2007 by USA Hockey. During the 2008–09 season, it was announced that the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins would join the CSHL for the 2009–10 season, bringing the number of teams to 13. The league returned to 12 teams for 2010–11, as the Dubuque Thunderbirds franchise folded to make way for the return of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League . On November 1, 2010, it

1760-408: Was announced on April 23, 2013, that the Steel have been sold by Scott Wallin to the Black family. After a successful 30–13–4 record during the 2015–16 regular season, the Steel would go on to win their first West Division Championship by sweeping the defending league champions, Granite City Lumberjacks . The Steel then made their first NA3HL Silver Cup Playoff appearance but would lose in overtime to

1804-403: Was announced that the Granite City Lumberjacks , Minnesota Flying Aces , North Iowa Bulls and the Twin City Steel would join the league beginning with the 2011–12 season bringing the total number of teams in the NA3HL to 16. In March 2013, the NA3HL announced that its Board of Governors has accepted the membership application for the Chicago Jr. Bulldogs, which began play in the NA3HL during

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1848-423: Was announced that the North American Hockey League would take control of the CSHL. The NAHL-CSHL affiliation intends for a more structured junior hockey system to provide athletes with more opportunities to advance to college and professional hockey, including a draft of CSHL players into the NAHL. At the time of the take over, the league was renamed to the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). In May 2011, it

1892-405: Was renamed the Central Hockey League for the 1952–53 season. Only five of the clubs who had made up the American Amateur Hockey League for 1951–52 season returned. Those clubs were the Rochester Mustangs, St. Paul Saints, Minneapolis Millers, Hibbing Flyers and the now called Eveleth-Virginia Rangers. Gone were the Sioux City Sunhawks. After a year as the Central Hockey League the league

1936-430: Was renamed the Minnesota Hockey League and would be called this for the 1953–54 and 1954–55 seasons. Only two teams who had made up the Central Hockey League returned to make up the Minnesota Hockey League for the 1953–54 season. Those teams were the Rochester Mustangs and the Hibbing Flyers. Gone were the St. Paul Saints, Minneapolis Millers and the Eveleth-Virginia Rangers. The Grand Forks Red Wings were added and this gave

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