The Helena Bighorns are a Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) based in Helena, Montana United States. The team plays their home games at the 1,600-seat Helena Ice Arena.
The Bighorns were members of the NorPac from 2007 to 2011. In 2011, the American West Division of the NorPac league broke away to form the American West Hockey League. In March 2014, the NA3HL accepted the AWHL as a new Frontier Division.
History The original Helena Bighorns were members of the former Tier II America West Hockey League from 2001 to 2003 after replacing the departed Helena Gold Rush that had operated last in the 1999–2000 season (formerly known as the Helena Ice Pirates from 1994 to 1999). In 2003, the AWHL merged with the larger Tier II North American Hockey League and the Bighorns played in the NAHL until 2006.
In 2004, the Tier III Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac) expanded into Helena with the Queen City Cutthroats and were immediately successful, winning the Cascade Cup in their first year. In 2006, the NAHL Bighorns withdrew from the NAHL and the NorPac franchise would take the name of the formerly higher level team beginning with the 2006–07 season.
NorPac years (2004–11) The Helena Bighorns/Queen City Cutthroats won six straight NorPac America West Division Championships between 2005 and 2010. They also won the NorPac Cascade Cup six times, 2005, 2006 and four straight from 2008 to 2011.
American West years (2011–14) The Helena Bighorns have won three straight American West Hockey League Championships in the 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14 AWHL seasons prior to the league merging with the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) in 2014.
North American 3 Hockey League (2014–present) For many years, the team and the arena were owned by Oren Koules, president of Evolution Entertainment and former part-owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL). However, in 2017, he was looking to sell off the team or cease operations. In May 2017, he sold the team to local businessman Randy Rose. Koules remained the owner of Helena Ice Arena. In 2021, the team was sold to a local ownership group Treasure State Sports Group LTD, composed of Jedidiah Snyder and Michael Greene.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Regular season finish PlayoffsNorth American 3 Hockey League 2014–15 47 34 11 2 70 194 98 1,073 2nd of 7, Frontier Div.5th of 31, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Gillette WildLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Great Falls Americans 2015–16 47 26 21 0 52 174 155 1,136 5th of 7, Frontier Div.19th of 34, NA3HL Did not qualify 2016–17 47 15 31 1 31 130 202 929 6th of 8, Frontier Div.40th of 48, NA3HL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Gillette Wild 2017–18 47 30 13 4 64 205 143 874 3rd of 6, Frontier Div.15th of 42, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Great Falls AmericansLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Yellowstone Quake 2018–19 47 38 7 2 78 252 115 777 1st of 7, Frontier Div.4th of 36, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Missoula Jr. BruinsWon Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Great Falls AmericansAdvance to Fraser Cup 2019–20 47 17 26 4 38 145 192 855 6th of 8, Frontier Div.25th of 34, NA3HL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Great Falls Americans 2020–21 40 17 20 3 37 126 133 368 5th of 8, Frontier Div.19th of 31, NA3HL Did not qualify 2021–22 47 42 3 2 86 289 94 1,312 1st of 8, Frontier Div.3rd of 34, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 0-2 Great Falls AmericansWon Div. Finals, 2-0 Gillette WildAdvance to Fraser Cup 2022–23 47 36 8 3 75 187 84 1,252 1st of 8, Frontier Div.3rd of 34, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 Butte CobrasWon Div. FINALS, 2-1 Gillette WildAdvance to Fraser Cup 2023–24 47 44 2 1 89 278 95 1,433 1st of 8, Frontier Div.1st of 34, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 Great Falls AmericansWon Div. Finals, 2-0 Gillette WildAdvance to Fraser Cup 2024–25 47 41 4 2 84 227 94 994 1st of 8, Frontier Div.2nd of 35, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 Great Falls AmericansWon Div. Finals, 2-0 Gillette WildAdvance to Fraser Cup 2025–26 47 34 12 1 69 247 125 757 2nd of 8, Frontier Div.7th of 38, NA3HL Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 Great Falls AmericansWon Div. Finals, 2-0 Sheridan HawksAdvance to Fraser Cup
NA3HL FRASER CUP Championship Year Round Robin Record Place Semifinal Championship 2019 L, Nordiques 1-4L, Bulls) 2-8 0-2-0 3rd of 3PoolDid not advance 2022 W, Granite City Lumberjacks ?-?W, El Paso Rhinos) ?-? 2-0-0 1st of 3PoolLost Semi Final, 1-4 Rochester Grizzlies Did not advance 2023 W, Oregon Tradesmen ?-?L, (Northeast Generals) ?-? 2-0-0 1st of 3PoolLost Semi Final, 2-4 Granite City Lumberjacks Did not advance 2024 W, Louisiana Drillers 7-3W, Northeast Generals 4-1 2-0-0 1st of 3Pool BWon Semi Final, 3-1 Gillette Wild Won FINALS 2-1 Northeast GeneralsFraser Cup Champions 2025 L, West Bend Power 4-5L, New Mexico Ice Wolves 2-4 0-0-2 3rd of 3Pool ADid not advance 2026 L, Rochester Grizzlies 5-6L, Louisiana Drillers 0-6 0-0-2 3rd of 3Pool ADid not advance
Tier III Junior Hockey National Championship In 2005 and 2006, the Queen City Cutthroats participated in the USA Hockey Tier III Junior B National Tournament. In 2007, NorPac and its teams were promoted to Tier III Junior A status and the Bighorns competed in the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Junior A National Tournaments. In 2011, USA Hockey dropped the A and B designations but sometimes had the leagues split into different divisions during the tournament (American/National for 2012 or Div 1/Div 2 for 2015 with 2013 and 2014 having all leagues compete in one tournament). The Bighorns represented the American West Hockey League in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In 2011, the Helena Bighorns won the Tier III Junior A Hockey National Championships by defeating the El Paso Rhinos 5-1 in Rochester, Minnesota. The Helena Bighorns won the bronze medal at the 2014 USA Hockey Tier III National championships.
Round robin play in pool with top 4 teams advancing to semi-final. Year Round Robin Record Place Semifinal Championship 2006 W, Boston Jr. Bruins (EmJHL) 3-1L, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL) 4-8L, St. Louis Jr. Blues (CSHL) 1-5 1-2-0 3rd of 4Div. IDid not advance 2008 L, Northern Cyclones (AtJHL) 1-5W, Minnesota Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 4-2W, Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks (CSHL) 5-0 2-1-0 2nd of 4Div. IIDid not advance 2009 W, New York Bobcats (AtJHL) 3-1W, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 4-3L, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) 3-6 2-1-0 2nd of 4Div. IDid not advance 2010 L, Dubuque Thunderbirds (CSHL) 2-4W, Boulder Bison (WSHL) 5-0T, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) 3-3 1-1-1 3rd of 4Div. IDid not advance 2011 W, Rochester Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 6-1W, Queen City Steam (NA3HL) 4-0L, Walpole Express (AtJHL) 3-4 2-1-0 1st of 4Pool IIIW, Walpole Express (AtJHL) 4-3 W, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 5-1NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2012 L, Long Island Royals (MetJHL) 1-3L, Atlanta Junior Knights (EJHL South) 0-1W, Chicago Junior Bulldogs (NA3HL) 10-3 1-2-0 3rd of 4Pool I, National Div.Did not advance 2013 OTW, New Jersey Rockets (MetJHL) 2-1W, Boch Blazers (ESHL) 11-2L, Atlanta Junior Knights (EJHL South) 3-5 2-1-0 2nd of 4American Pool OTL, North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) 2-3 — 2014 W, Marquette Royales (MnJHL) 6-2L, Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL Premier) 0-6L, New Hampshire Jr Monarchs (EHL) 3-5 1-2-0 3rd of 4Red Pool Did not advance
Alumni The Bighorns have had a number of alumni move on to NCAA Division I, Division III, ACHA collegiate programs, higher levels of junior ice hockey, and professional ice hockey.
References
External links Official site NA3HL Official Website