The 2017–18 NAHL season was the 34th season of the North American Hockey League. The regular season ran from September 2017 to April 2018 with a 60-game schedule for each team. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs won the regular season championship. The Shreveport Mudbugs defeated the Minot Minotauros 2–1 in the Championship game to capture the Robertson Cup.
Member changes In May 2017, the Wichita Falls Wildcats applied for inactive status after their owner had failed to find anyone willing to purchase the franchise. Following this season, the team was formally dissolved.
On July 24, 2017, the Aston Rebels announced that they were moving to Philadelphia and would use the Class of 1923 Arena as their new home rink. The team would now be known as the Philadelphia Rebels.
Brown Bears saved Due to a persistent economic challenges in Alaska, the Kenai River Brown Bears announced that they would either be folding or relocating in 2017. After the team filed for dormancy after the '17 season, a fundraising effort was held that eventually raised $300,000 as well as secured 300 season ticket applications. By April 17, the team received approval from the NAHL to reactivate in time to compete in this season.
Regular season
The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:
Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched regular season title Standings Central Division
Team xy – Aberdeen Wings 6039164183194140 x – Austin Bruins 6033194474176160 x – Minnesota Wilderness 6033213372184181 x – Minot Minotauros 6028264262161168 Bismarck Bobcats 6024304254165184 Brookings Blizzard 6023302553169211
East Division
Team xy – Philadelphia Rebels 6041153186206134 x – New Jersey Titans 6029227267203183 x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 6030245166175196 x – Northeast Generals 6029264163184205 Johnstown Tomahawks 6023332250142195
Midwest Division
Team xyz – Fairbanks Ice Dogs 604584397223125 x – Janesville Jets 6038136385181140 x – Springfield Jr. Blues 6033215172169166 x – Minnesota Magicians 6028245364164183 Coulee Region Chill 6017344543162214 Kenai River Brown Bears 6018381340153238
South Division
Team xy – Shreveport Mudbugs 6041123489191112 x – Lone Star Brahmas 6038126486164111 x – Odessa Jackalopes 6033223271192263 x – Corpus Christi IceRays 6027235564160177 Amarillo Bulls 6023268357166193 Topeka RoadRunners 6017392238128233
Statistics Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in regular season points at the completion of all regular season games.
Player Team Jakov Novak Janesville Jets 56 32 41 73 131 Travis Kothenbeutel Austin Bruins 56 24 43 67 26 Hunter Wendt Fairbanks Ice Dogs 60 17 44 61 44 Kip Hoffmann Janesville Jets 58 24 36 60 78 Josh Boyer Brookings Blizzard 58 27 31 58 50 Sam Ruffin Fairbanks Ice Dogs 57 20 37 57 16 Nathan Burke Aberdeen Wings 60 32 24 56 18 Ricky Carballo Aberdeen/Odessa 59 20 36 56 79 Erkka Vänskä Fairbanks Ice Dogs 60 19 36 55 18 Miroslav Mucha Minot Minotauros 59 30 25 55 28
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage
Player Team GP Mins W L OTL SOL GA SV SV% GAA James Durham Shreveport Mudbugs 19 1122:42 14 2 1 1 40 497 .942 1.55 Mitch Gibson Lone Star Brahmas 43 2474:03 26 7 5 4 65 1,019 .936 1.58 Josh Benson Fairbanks Ice Dogs 37 2253:53 28 4 3 2 71 868 .918 1.89 Ryan Keane Philadelphia Rebels 33 1966:48 24 7 2 0 62 819 .924 1.89 Gustavs Dāvis Grigals Shreveport Mudbugs 26 1557:29 17 5 3 1 50 663 .925 1.93
Robertson Cup playoffs Teams are reseeded prior to the semifinal round based upon regular season records.
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
References
NAHL reference
External links Official website of the North American Hockey League