The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Tier III Junior "A"

Junior ice hockey

Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...

 ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 league that consists of 16 teams from Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

, Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

, Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

, Missouri

Missouri

Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...

 and Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

.. The NA3HL is a member of USA Hockey

USA Hockey

USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...

, and the winner of the NA3HL's playoffs goes on to play for the National Championship against the champions of the five other Tier III leagues and a host city.

League History

The league began as the a Junior B-level league known as the Central States Hockey League (CSHL), during the early 1980s it was known as Metro Detroit Junior Hockey League. but returned to the CSHL name until 2010. The league moved up from Junior B to Tier III Junior A status in the summer of 2007 because it was considered to be one of the top Junior B leagues in the United States. The past four years, the St. Louis Jr. Blues proved their dominance on the national stage winning the national championship four years in a row. The Jr Blues made history during the 2006-2007 season. They were the first team to win four consecutive national titles, breaking a record that was set over 60 years ago.

During the 2008-2009 season, it was announced that the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins would be joining the CSHL for the 2009-2010 season, bringing the number of teams to 13. The league returned to 12 teams for 2010-11, as the Dubuque Thunderbirds

Dubuque Thunderbirds

The Dubuque Thunderbirds replaced the Dubuque Fighting Saints and prceeded the Dubuque Fighting Saints . The Thunderbirds played in the CSHL from 2001-2010. They won the Hurster Cup in 2007, 2008 and 2009....

 franchise folded making room for the return of the Dubuque Fighting Saints

Dubuque Fighting Saints

The Dubuque Fighting Saints joined the United States Hockey League for the 1980–1981 season. They rejoined the USHL in 2010.The Saints glory years lasted from 1980–1981 through to 1984–1985, when they played under the coaching supervision of Jack Barzee who left to become a central figure in the...

 in United States Hockey League

United States Hockey League

The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...

.

On November 1, 2010 it was announced that the North American Hockey League

North American Hockey League

The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...

 would take control of the CSHL immediately. The NAHL-CSHL affiliation allows for a more structured Jr. hockey system to provide athletes with more opportunities to advance to college and pro hockey. At the time of the take over the league was renamed to the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL).

In May, 2011 it was announced that the Granite City Lumberjacks

Granite City Lumberjacks

The Granite City Lumberjacks are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the North American 3 Hockey League .The team was founded in 2007 as a member of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . and plays their home games at the Sports Arena East, located in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota...

, Minnesota Flying Aces

Minnesota Flying Aces

The Minnesota Flying Aces are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the North American 3 Hockey League. The team plays their home games at the Exchange Arena, located in Little Falls, Minnesota. The Aces play a 48 game regular season games, in addition to showcase and post season tournament games...

, North Iowa Bulls and the Twin City Steel would be joining the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) beginning with the 2011-2012 season bringing the total number of teams in the NA3HL to 16.

Alumni

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

Metro Jets

The Metro Jets are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Lakeland Ice Arena in Waterford, Michigan...

), Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

 forward and 2010 U.S. Olympian Paul Stastny

Paul Stastny

Paul Stastny is an American professional ice hockey center, an alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Of Slovak lineage, Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Avalanche's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques...

 (St. Louis Jr. Blues) and Chris Butler

Chris Butler

Christopher John Butler, known as Chris Butler , is a former British Conservative Party politician.Butler was Member of Parliament for Warrington South from 1987 to 1992, when he lost his seat by 191 votes to Labour Party candidate Mike Hall.He is now a Partner at Butler Kelly; a cross-Party...

 (St. Louis Jr. Blues), now in the Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...

' organization.

Current Teams

West Division
Team	Location	Arena
Granite City Lumberjacks Granite City Lumberjacks The Granite City Lumberjacks are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the North American 3 Hockey League .The team was founded in 2007 as a member of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . and plays their home games at the Sports Arena East, located in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota...	St. Cloud, Minnesota St. Cloud, Minnesota St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...	Sports Arena East
Minnesota Flying Aces Minnesota Flying Aces The Minnesota Flying Aces are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey playing in the North American 3 Hockey League. The team plays their home games at the Exchange Arena, located in Little Falls, Minnesota. The Aces play a 48 game regular season games, in addition to showcase and post season tournament games...	Little Falls, Minnesota Little Falls, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 7,719 people , 3,197 households, and 1,899 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,232.5 people per square mile . There were 3,358 housing units at an average density of 536.2 per square mile...	Exchange Arena
North Iowa Bulls	Mason City, Iowa Mason City, Iowa Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....	North Iowa Ice Arena
Twin City Steel Twin City Steel Twin City Steel are a Tier III Jr. A ice hockey team based in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. They are members of the West Division of the North American 3 Hockey League ....	Vadnais Heights, Minnesota Vadnais Heights, Minnesota Vadnais Heights is a city in Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,302 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water. It borders the cities of Shoreview, Little Canada, White Bear...	Vadnais Sports Center
East Division
Team	Location	Arena
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks The Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Ice Land USA in Strongsville, Ohio...	Strongsville, Ohio Strongsville, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 43,858 people, 16,209 households, and 12,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,779.6 people per square mile . There were 16,863 housing units at an average density of 684.2 per square mile...	Ice Land USA
Flint Jr. Generals Flint Jr. Generals The Flint Jr. Generals are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Flint Iceland Arenas in Flint, Michigan...	Flint, Michigan Flint, Michigan Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...	Flint Iceland Arenas
Metro Jets Metro Jets The Metro Jets are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Lakeland Ice Arena in Waterford, Michigan...	Waterford, Michigan	Lakeland Ice Arena
Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins The Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The team plays in the North American 3 Hockey League beginning in the 2009-2010 season. The team plays home games at the Bladerunners Ice Complex in Harmarville, Pennsylvania. In addition to the Jr. A...	Harmarville, Pennsylvania Harmarville, Pennsylvania Harmarville, Pennsylvania is an unincorporated community located in Harmar Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Although it is not tracked by the U.S. Census, the population is estimated to be 1,200 residents....	Bladerunners- Harmarville Bladerunners Ice Complex Bladerunners Ice Complex is a group of a facilities located in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. There are three total facilities, with locations in Bethel Park, Cranberry, and Harmarville.-Leagues:...
North Division
Team	Location	Arena
Battle Creek Jr. Revolution Battle Creek Jr. Revolution The Battle Creek Jr. Revolution are a Tier III Junior ice hockey team which plays in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays its home games at Revolution Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Jr. Revolution began in 2010 and joined the independent Northern Junior Hockey League for the...	Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...	Revolution Arena
Michigan Mountain Cats	Burton, Michigan Burton, Michigan Burton is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Flint. The population was 30,308 at the 2000 census, making Burton the second largest city in Genesee County.- Neighorhoods :...	Ice Mountain Arena
Queen City Steam Queen City Steam The Queen City Steam is a USA Hockey sanctioned Tier III Jr. A ice hockey team that competes in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team is based in Evendale, Ohio a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio the team's home ice is the Sports Plus Arena....	Evendale, Ohio Evendale, Ohio Evendale is a village in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,090 at the 2000 census.Evendale was the home of John Van Zandt, a participant in the Underground Railroad....	Sports Plus Arena Sports Plus Arena Sports Plus Arena is a 1,200 seat multi-purpose arena in Evendale, Ohio, USA. The 1,200 seat ice arena also features a pro shop, arcade, cafe and two sheets of ice for ice hockey, figure skating and open skating....
Toledo Cherokee Toledo Cherokee The Toledo Cherokee are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Team Toledo Ice House in Toledo, Ohio...	Toledo, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...	Team Toledo Ice House
Central Division
Team	Location	Arena
Chicago Hitmen Chicago Hitmen The Chicago Hitmen are a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based out of Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The Hitmen play in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. The team plays in the 1,000 seat West Meadows Ice Arena...	Rolling Meadows, Illinois Rolling Meadows, Illinois Rolling Meadows is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 24,607 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rolling Meadows is located at ....	West Meadows Ice Arena West Meadows Ice Arena The West Meadows Ice Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Rolling Meadows, IL. It features ice for hockey, figure skating and open skating.The ice rink is owned and operated by the Rolling Meadows Park District. West Meadows is one of two ice rinks in Rolling Meadows.The arena is home to the Chicago...
Peoria Mustangs Peoria Mustangs The Peoria Mustangs are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Owens Center in Peoria, Illinois...	Peoria, Illinois Peoria, Illinois Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...	Owens Recreation Center
Quad City Jr. Flames Quad City Jr. Flames The Quad City Jr. Flames are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at The River's Edge in Davenport, Iowa.The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a spot on...	Davenport, Iowa Davenport, Iowa Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...	Quad City Sports Center
St. Louis Jr. Blues St. Louis Jr. Blues The St. Louis Jr. Blues are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Affton Ice Rink in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...	Affton, Missouri Affton, Missouri Affton is an unincorporated inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2010 census, the community had a total population of 20,307.-Geography:...	Affton Ice Rink