NA3HL Weekend Preview
The NA3HL is back in action this weekend with 17 games on Friday and Saturday.
The action continues this weekend in the East and Frontier Divisions, while the Central and West Divisions get their 2023-24 seasons underway.
Some of the storylines this weekend include the debut of the Wisconsin Woodsmen, while the Granite City Lumberjacks open up their Fraser Cup title defense in a home-and-home series against the Rochester Grizzlies. Another team making their debut under their new name are the Butte Irish, who host Gillette, and the West Bend Power, who host Oregon on Saturday.
Watch all games live on NAHLTV
Friday, September 15
New Jersey Titans @ Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, 07:00 PM EDT
Granite City Lumberjacks @ Rochester Grizzlies, 07:05 PM EDT
Helena Bighorns @ Yellowstone Quake, 07:05 PM MDT
Oregon Tradesmen @ Wisconsin Woodsmen, 07:30 PM CDT
Gillette Wild @ Butte Irish, 07:30 PM MDT
Mason City Toros @ Minnesota Loons, 07:30 PM CDT
Sheridan Hawks @ Bozeman Icedogs, 07:30 PM MDT
Peoria Mustangs @ St. Louis Jr. Blues, 07:40 PM CDT
Saturday, September 16
St. Louis Jr. Blues @ Peoria Mustangs, 06:00 PM CDT
New Jersey Titans @ Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, 07:00 PM EDT
Helena Bighorns @ Yellowstone Quake, 07:05 PM MDT
Mason City Toros @ Minnesota Loons, 07:30 PM CDT
Rochester Grizzlies @ Granite City Lumberjacks, 07:30 PM CDT
Sheridan Hawks @ Bozeman Icedogs, 07:30 PM MDT
Oregon Tradesmen @ West Bend Power, 07:30 PM CDT
Wausau Cyclones @ Wisconsin Woodsmen, 07:30 PM CDT
Gillette Wild @ Butte Irish, 07:30 PM MDT
Celebrating its 14th season in 2023-24, the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), is the only USA Hockey-certified Tier III Junior league. The NA3HL serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes in its classification, boasting 34 teams in 16 states across America.
The primary mission of the NA3HL, which is managed organizationally by the NAHL, is to provide a structured developmental environment for student-athletes whose youth options are limited but are still reaching their potential and aspire to play in the NAHL or United States Hockey League (USHL) and eventually the NCAA or American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
The NA3HL hosts three league events each season including the NA3HL Showcase, the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament, and the Fraser Cup which attract hundreds of scouts annually. Certified scouts evaluate and promote NA3HL players to NAHL and NCAA coaches throughout the year. Players can also advance through an exclusive NAHL tendering system available only to NA3HL players. The league is also committed to player safety, employing a full-time department to player safety and officiating.
No other league has had more movement and advanced more players onto play in the 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. 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. In 2023, the NA3HL had over 140+ college commitments, with over half of those being NCAA commitments. In addition, over 300 former NA3HL players are currently playing in the NCAA, and 28 former NA3HL are currently playing NCAA Division I hockey.
The NA3HL not only saw 63 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 10 current or former players make NCAA Division 1 commitments this past season. The NA3HL is the only USA Hockey-certified Tier III junior hockey league and the only league that has an exclusive NAHL tendering system available only to NA3HL players. The tendering and draft pick process selections play a big part in the eventual advancement of players each season.
As part of the enhanced initiatives that have now been in place for multiple seasons, all NAHL teams engaged and worked in cooperation with NA3HL teams for increased access to players, including allowing NA3HL players to practice with NAHL teams during the season. The program created additional dialogue between NAHL and NA3HL teams to find prospects and provide them an in-season opportunity for NAHL experience and evaluation. Its direct benefits are resulted in one-of-a-kind opportunities not found anywhere else in USA Hockey-sanctioned junior hockey.
