The Billings Bulls were a junior ice hockey organization based in Billings, Montana. They most recently played their home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena and due to the arena's small size, the Bulls frequently sold out their games. From their inception in 1993 until 2006, the Bulls played their home games in the First Interstate Arena at MetraPark which had a max capacity of 8,700 for hockey games, drawing an average of about 3,500 spectators during the peak of the Bulls popularity. However, a negotiating dispute with arena officials and local county commissioners resulted in the team losing its lease before the 2006 season began. The move to the smaller arena then prompted the Bulls to drop from the Tier II Junior A NAHL to the Tier III Junior B Northern Pacific Hockey League (which was later promoted to Tier III Junior A) before moving to the Tier III Junior A NA3HL. The losses in revenue associated with the smaller arena and lower-level leagues proved too much, and the Bulls ultimately folded in 2017 after 24 years.
History The Bulls joined the American Frontier Hockey League in 1993 which became the America West Hockey League (AWHL) in 1998. The Bulls joined the Tier II Jr. A North American Hockey League in 2003 when the AWHL merged with the NAHL (keeping the NAHL name). The team played in the NAHL from 2003 to 2006 until the team and their rivals, the Bozeman Icedogs and Helena Bighorns, left to join the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac), a regional league in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. When they joined the NorPac, the league was Tier III Junior B but promoted to Tier III Junior A by USA Hockey in 2007. In 2011, the Montana teams in the NorPac left the league to form the new regional American West Hockey League, made up of teams in Montana and Wyoming, including the Bulls. In March 2014, the new AWHL joined the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) as the Frontier Division.
On the opening weekend of the 2017–18 NA3HL season, the Bulls announced they would be going dormant due to lack of players. At the time, the Bulls were the second-oldest organization in the NA3HL, behind only the St. Louis Jr. Blues.
Previous leagues 1993–1998 American Frontier Hockey League 1998–2003 America West Hockey League 2003–2006 North American Hockey League 2006–2011 Northern Pacific Hockey League 2011–2014 American West Hockey League 2014–2017 North American 3 Hockey League
Season-by-season records Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Regular season finish PlayoffsNorth American 3 Hockey League 2014–15 47 25 16 6 56 161 140 610 4th of 7, Frontier Div.16th of 31, NA3HL Lost Div. Semifinal, 0–2 vs. Great Falls Americans 2015–16 47 9 32 6 24 121 237 686 6th of 7, Frontier Div.27th of 34, NA3HL Did not qualify 2016–17 47 5 41 1 11 104 356 1449 6th of 8, Frontier Div.46th of 48, NA3HL Did not qualify
NHL alumni The franchise developed a number of collegiate and professional players, but only two have played in the NHL
Chris Holt, G (University of Nebraska-Omaha, last with Braehead Clan of the EIHL), formerly of the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. Brian Lee, D retired, formerly of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators.
Other notable alumni with professional or major college/junior experience
Jon Booras, F (Lake Superior State University, last with MAC Budapest of the MOL Liga) Jacob Doty, F (currently with Braehead Clan of the EIHL) Brad Gorham, D (University of Alaska Anchorage, last with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL) Trevor Hammer, D (University of North Dakota, last played for Florida Seals) Jeff Hazelwood, F (last played for Las Vegas Wranglers) Jordan Hines, F (University of Findlay, last played for Fort Worth Fire) Dan Knapp, D (University of Nebraska-Omaha, last played for Ontario Reign) Mathias Lange, G (last played for the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga) Tom Reimann, D (University of Maine, last played for Colorado Eagles) Cam Strong, F (currently with Dartmouth, NCAA Division 1) Zach Tarkir, D (Northern Michigan University, last played for IF Troja/Ljungby of the HockeyAllsvenskan) Kevin Ulanski, C (University of Denver, last played for the Bentley Generals) Stormy Knight, LW last played for Seattle Totems of the NPHL (current commissioner of The Mad House fantasy football league)
References
External links Billings Bulls website NA3HL Website