List of NAHL seasons

This is a list of seasons of the North American Hockey League since the foundation of its immediate predecessor, the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League, in 1975

List of seasons

GLJHL

No.	Season	No. of teams	Reg. season games	Regular Season Champion	Robertson Cup Champion
1	1975–76	5^[a]	48	Detroit Little Caesars (35–11–2)	Detroit Little Caesars
2	1976–77	5	48–46	Paddock Pool Saints (33–7–6)	Paddock Pool Saints
3	1977–78	5	49–46	Paddock Pool Saints (37–9–3)	Paddock Pool Saints
4	1978–79	6^[b]	50–29	Paddock Pool Saints (42–5–3)	Paddock Pool Saints
5	1979–80	5	46–45	Paddock Pool Saints (32–11–3)	Paddock Pool Saints
6	1980–81	3^[c]	53–54	Paddock Pool Saints (39–10–4)	Paddock Pool Saints
7	1981–82	5	46	Paddock Pool Saints (33–9–4)	Paddock Pool Saints
8	1982–83	5	45	Paddock Pool Saints (29–11–5)	Paddock Pool Saints
9	1983–84	5	50	Buffalo Jr. Sabres (29–13–8)	St. Clair Shores Falcons

NAJHL / NAHL

No.	Season	No. of teams	Reg. season games	Start (reg. season)	Finish (incl. playoffs)	Regular Season Champion	Robertson Cup Champion
10	1984–85	3^[d]	24			St. Clair Shores Falcons (11–7–6)	St. Clair Shores Falcons
11	1985–86	4^[e]	43–24			St. Clair Shores Falcons (28–12–3)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
12	1986–87	5*^[f]	37–3			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (24–8–6)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
13	1987–88	6	32			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (24–5–3)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
14	1988–89	8	40			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (30–8–2)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
15	1989–90	8	44			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (42–0–2)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
16	1990–91	8	40			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (30–5–5)	Kalamazoo Jr. Wings
17	1991–92	8	40			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (29–8–3–2)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
18	1992–93^[g]	8	40			Kalamazoo Jr. Wings (31–6–3–0)	Kalamazoo Jr. Wings
19	1993–94	10	46			Niagara Scenic (27–11–6–2)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
20	1994–95	9	44			Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (36–6–2–0)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
21	1995–96	8	46			Springfield Jr. Blues (34–7–4–1)	Springfield Jr. Blues
22	1996–97	8	46		April 27	Springfield Jr. Blues (35–10–1)	Springfield Jr. Blues
23	1997–98	8	56		April 24	Springfield Jr. Blues (42–12–2)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
24	1998–99	9	56		April 19	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (39–11–6)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
25	1999–2000	11	56		April 28	Texas Tornado (42–12–2)	Danville Wings
26	2000–01	10	56		April 27	Soo Indians (42–11–3)	Texas Tornado
27	2001–02	11	56		April 27	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (42–9–5)	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
28	2002–03	11	56		April 25	Pittsburgh Forge (43–9–4)	Pittsburgh Forge
29	2003–04	21^[h]	56, 24^[i]		May 2	Texas Tornado (48–6–2)	Texas Tornado
30	2004–05	19	56		April 30	Texas Tornado (42–13–1)	Texas Tornado
31	2005–06	20	58	September 9	May 13	Bozeman IceDogs (48–9–1)	Texas Tornado
32	2006–07	17	62	September 13	May 6	Mahoning Valley Phantoms (47–14–1)	St. Louis Bandits
33	2007–08	18	58	September 14	May 5	St. Louis Bandits (47–9–2)	St. Louis Bandits
34	2008–09	19	58	September 17	May 3	St. Louis Bandits (42–9–7)	St. Louis Bandits
35	2009–10	19	58	September 11	May 9	Wenatchee Wild (45–10–3)	Bismarck Bobcats
36	2010–11	26	58	September 10	May 7	Topeka RoadRunners (43–12–3)	Fairbanks Ice Dogs
37	2011–12	28	60	September 9	May 8	Amarillo Bulls (46–7–7)	Texas Tornado
38	2012–13	24	60	September 8	May 13	Amarillo Bulls (46–7–7)	Amarillo Bulls
39	2013–14	24	60	September 13	May 10	Fairbanks Ice Dogs (45–14–1)	Fairbanks Ice Dogs
40	2014–15	24	60	September 12	May 16	Janesville Jets (49–9–2)	Minnesota Wilderness
41	2015–16	22	60	September 11	May 15	Fairbanks Ice Dogs (49–8–3)	Fairbanks Ice Dogs
42	2016–17	24	60	September 9	May 14	Aston Rebels (46–11–2–1)	Lone Star Brahmas
43	2017–18	23	60	September 13	May 14	Fairbanks Ice Dogs (45–8–4–3)	Shreveport Mudbugs
44	2018–19	24	60	September 13	May 14	Johnstown Tomahawks (47–9–3–1)	Aberdeen Wings
45	2019–20	23	60^[j]	September 13	March 12	Lone Star Brahmas (42–9–1–1)	Postseason cancelled due to COVID-19
46	2020–21	23	60–48^[k]	October 9	June 22	Aberdeen Wings (51–4–0–1)	Shreveport Mudbugs
47	2021–22	29	60	September 8	May 24	Lone Star Brahmas (38–12–5–5)	New Jersey Titans
48	2022–23	29	60	September 9	May 21	Oklahoma Warriors (44–14–1–1)	Oklahoma Warriors
49	2023–24	32	60	September 8	May 21	Lone Star Brahmas (44–10–3–3)	Lone Star Brahmas
50	2024–25	35	59	September 13	May 20	Bismarck Bobcats (47–10–1–1)	Bismarck Bobcats

Notes

↑ The GLJHL was founded by the merger of the Michigan Junior Hockey League and the Wolverine Junior A Hockey League
↑ The Cleveland Jr. Barons withdrew from the league mid-season
↑ Games against non-member teams were included in league standings
↑ The GLJHL collapsed after three of its five member teams folded. The remaining clubs reformed as the North American Junior Hockey League
↑ The Buffalo Jr. Sabres, who were also members of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League, played a partial schedule of 24 games
↑ The Chicago Patriots and Chicago Cougars joined the league as affiliate members, neither team were active by the end of the season
↑ The league rebranded as the North American Hockey League
↑ The NAHL merged with the America West Hockey League, absorbing eight of the AWHL's members
↑ The Dayton Gems folded after 24 games
↑ The league suspended play on March 12 and later cancelled the entire postseason
↑ Due to the ongoing pandemic, the season began later than normal and finished with an unbalanced schedule

References

[1] The GLJHL was founded by the merger of the Michigan Junior Hockey League and the Wolverine Junior A Hockey League

[2] The Cleveland Jr. Barons withdrew from the league mid-season

[3] Games against non-member teams were included in league standings

[4] The GLJHL collapsed after three of its five member teams folded. The remaining clubs reformed as the North American Junior Hockey League

[5] The Buffalo Jr. Sabres, who were also members of the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League, played a partial schedule of 24 games

[6] The Chicago Patriots and Chicago Cougars joined the league as affiliate members, neither team were active by the end of the season

[7] The league rebranded as the North American Hockey League

[8] The NAHL merged with the America West Hockey League, absorbing eight of the AWHL's members

[9] The Dayton Gems folded after 24 games

[10] The league suspended play on March 12 and later cancelled the entire postseason

[11] Due to the ongoing pandemic, the season began later than normal and finished with an unbalanced schedule

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[f]

[g]

[h]

[i]

[j]

[k]

North American Hockey League
Central Division	Aberdeen Wings Austin Bruins Bismarck Bobcats Minnesota Mallards Minot Minotauros St. Cloud Norsemen Watertown Shamrocks
East Division	Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks Elmira Aviators Johnstown Tomahawks Maryland Black Bears New Hampshire Mountain Kings New Jersey Titans Northeast Generals Philadelphia Rebels
Midwest Division	Anchorage Wolverines Fairbanks Ice Dogs Janesville Jets Kenai River Brown Bears Minnesota Wilderness Springfield Jr. Blues Wisconsin Windigo
Mountain Division	Billings Cattle Punchers Grand Junction River Hawks Idaho Falls Spud Kings Ogden Mustangs Pueblo Peppers
South Division	Amarillo Wranglers Corpus Christi IceRays El Paso Rhinos Houston Bulls Lone Star Brahmas New Mexico Ice Wolves Odessa Jackalopes Oklahoma Warriors Shreveport Mudbugs
Inactive and future teams	Rochester Jr. Americans
Former teams	Alaska Avalanche Albert Lea Thunder Alexandria Blizzard Amarillo Bulls Aston Rebels Billings Bulls Bloomfield Jets Bozeman Icedogs Brookings Blizzard Buffalo Jr. Sabres C & H Piping Capital Centre Pride Central Texas Blackhawks Central Texas Marshals Chicago Cougars Chicago Freeze Chicago Hitmen Chicago Patriots Chicago Young Americans Chippewa Steel Cleveland Jr. Barons (1st) Cleveland Jr. Barons (2nd) Colorado Grit Coulee Region Chill Danville Wings Dawson Creek Rage Dayton Gems Dearborn Heights Nationals Dearborn Magic Detroit Compuware Ambassadors Detroit Falcons Detroit Freeze Detroit Jr. Wings Detroit Little Caesars Fargo-Moorhead Jets Fernie Ghostriders Fraser Flags Fraser Highlanders Fresno Monsters Gaylord Grizzlies Grand Rapids Bearcats Grand Rapids Rockets Helena Bighorns Hennessey Engineers Indianapolis Junior Ice Jamestown Ironmen Jamestown Rebels Kalamazoo Jr. Wings Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings Kansas City Scouts Keystone Ice Miners Lakeland Jets Lone Star Cavalry Lytes Rustlers Mahoning Valley Phantoms Maine Nordiques Marquette Rangers Melvindale Blades Melvindale Lakers Michigan Nationals Michigan Warriors Minnesota Blizzard Minnesota Magicians Motor City Machine Motor City Metal Jackets New Mexico Mustangs Niagara Scenic North Iowa Bulls North Iowa Outlaws Oakland Chiefs Owatonna Express Paddock Pool Saints Pittsburgh Forge Port Huron Fighting Falcons Port Huron Fogcutters Redford Royals Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Rochester Jr. Americans Saginaw Gears Santa Fe RoadRunners Soo Eagles Soo Indians Southern Minnesota Express Springfield Spirit St. Clair Shores Falcons St. Cloud Blizzard St. Louis Bandits St. Louis Sting Texarkana Bandits Texas Tornado Toledo IceDiggers Topeka Pilots Topeka RoadRunners Traverse City North Stars USNTDP Wasilla Spirit Waterford Lakers Wayne Chiefs Wenatchee Wild Western Michigan Wolves Wichita Falls Rustlers Wichita Falls Warriors Wichita Falls Wildcats Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights Youngstown Phantoms
Seasons	1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27