NA3HL releases 2022-23 regular season schedule
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) has announced the release of the 2022-23 regular-season schedule. The NA3HL is entering its 13th season and serves as the only certified USA Hockey Tier III junior league. Each of the 34 teams in the league's five divisions will play 47 regular season games. The 2022-23 regular season will commence on September 4, 2022, and end on March 5, 2023.
This past season not only did 34 NA3HL players sign a tender to play in the NAHL for the upcoming 2022-23 season, but 27 more players were selected in the 2022 NAHL Entry Draft. The NA3HL not only saw 61 of its players tendered or drafted by NAHL teams, but over 60 NA3HL alumni played in the NAHL this past season. The NA3HL also saw five current or former players make NCAA Division 1 commitments this past season.
No other league has had more movement and advanced more players onto play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) than the NA3HL. Thanks to additional and enhanced initiatives that have been in place for the past few years in cooperation with the NAHL, more players from the NA3HL play, practice, and earn NCAA Division I scholarships with the NAHL than any other league.
View the 2022-23 NA3HL schedule here
“We are excited for another great season of NA3HL hockey and proud to be the only certified USA Hockey Tier III junior hockey league. The NA3HL has experienced record-breaking advancement as more and more players are getting called up, playing, affiliated, and practicing on a regular basis with NAHL teams. We have seen so much interaction with the two leagues that it has built momentum to lead into what took place during the NAHL Draft,” said NA3HL Commissioner Blake Macnicol. “We are also continuing to ensure that the competition and league-wide events remain at the highest level, while also maintaining a focus on educating our players about NCAA compliance and the importance of education.”
The NA3HL also continues to make its mark and is one of the leaders in junior hockey with the advancement of players onto the NCAA. So far in 2022, the NA3HL has over 80+ college commitments, with almost 70% of those being NCAA commitments. In addition, over 300 former NA3HL players are currently playing in the NCAA.
The 2022-23 season is an exciting time for the NA3HL, as the league will be at 34 teams for the season straight season. In addition to its regular-season schedule and playoffs, the NA3HL, which boasts a geographical footprint with 34 teams in 16 states (Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Texas, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming) allowing players to compete and excel academically at home, will participate in the NAHL's high-exposure events, which attract hundreds of college, junior and professional coaches and scouts.
The NA3HL will have three events during the 2022-23 season. All NA3HL teams will compete in a league-wide Showcase held from December 19-21, 2022, at the Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. The second event of the season will be the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament, which will take place alongside the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, will take place on February 6-7, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The NA3HL will then finish their season with the Fraser Cup Championship Tournament, which crowns the NA3HL's playoff champion. The event will be held from March 23-26, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri.
2022-23 NA3HL Divisional breakdown:
Central Division (6 teams): Milwaukee Power, Oregon Tradesmen, Peoria Mustangs, Rochester Grizzlies, St. Louis Jr. Blues, Wausau Cyclones
East Division (6 teams): Bay State Bobcats, Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, Long Beach Sharks, New Jersey Titans, Northeast Generals, Norwich Sea Captains
Frontier Division (8 teams): Badlands Sabres, Bozeman Icedogs, Butte Cobras, Gillette Wild, Great Falls Americans, Helena Bighorns, Sheridan Hawks, Yellowstone Quake
South Division (8 teams): Atlanta Capitals, Austin Ice Bats, El Paso Rhinos, Louisiana Drillers, Mid Cities Jr. Stars, New Mexico Ice Wolves, Texas Brahmas, Texas RoadRunners
West Division (6 teams): Alexandria Blizzard, Granite City Lumberjacks, Mason City Toros, Minnesota Loons, New Ulm Steel, Willmar WarHawks
