The 2016–17 NAHL season was the 33rd season of the North American Hockey League. The regular season ran from September 2016 to April 2017 with a 60-game schedule for each team. The Aston Rebels won the regular season championship and advanced to the Championship game where they were defeated by the Lone Star Brahmas who captured the Robertson Cup.
Member changes On October 22, 2015, the NAHL approved the addition of the Shreveport Mudbugs as an expansion franchise. As the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum was undergoing renovations at the time to include an ice surface once more, the team would be ready to play for this season.
At the beginning of April, the Northeast Generals of the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League were permitted to found a separate Tier II team that would begin play in the NAHL 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 – Minot Minotauros 6038184080192156 x – Minnesota Wilderness 6032224270188179 x – Brookings Blizzard 6030254165192193 x – Aberdeen Wings 6029243465184185 Bismarck Bobcats 6028301158187209 Austin Bruins 6024274557185202
East Division
Team xyz – Aston Rebels 6046112195214106 x – Johnstown Tomahawks 6040163184209148 x – New Jersey Titans 6034221372228198 x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 6030251465201193 Northeast Generals 604533011116305
Midwest Division
Team xy – Janesville Jets 6042131489224153 x – Fairbanks Ice Dogs 6033242169185165 x – Minnesota Magicians 6031224369180169 x – Coulee Region Chill 6031272064220220 Springfield Jr. Blues 6027284159174189 Kenai River Brown Bears 6012462026121233
South Division
Team xy – Lone Star Brahmas 6044142090190135 x – Shreveport Mudbugs 6035193376189151 x – Corpus Christi IceRays 6032194573183155 x – Wichita Falls Wildcats 6029246265187203 Odessa Jackalopes 6026254361183200 Amarillo Bulls 6022288254173206 Topeka RoadRunners 6021344147176228
Statistics Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in regular season points at the completion of all regular season games.
Player Team Chase Thudium Odessa Jackalopes 59 27 43 70 111 George Mika Amarillo Bulls 60 30 39 69 34 Caleb Schroer Coulee Region Chill 59 26 41 67 66 Nick Bruce Johnstown Tomahawks 60 27 40 67 126 Dalton Hunter Johnstown Tomahawks 58 30 31 61 63 Paul Cotter Brookings Blizzard 59 28 32 60 103 Justin Misiak Austin Bruins 60 25 35 60 50 Kevin Dineen Coulee Region Chill 58 20 39 59 36 Kevin Fitzgerald Aberdeen Wings 60 22 37 59 62 Mitchel Slattery Minnesota Magicians 54 20 39 59 106 Matt Barry Bismarck Bobcats 59 23 36 59 26
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 Mareks Mitens Aston Rebels 41 2332:59 31 10 0 0 63 839 .925 1.62 Jack Leavy Aston Rebels 20 1122:40 13 1 2 1 34 425 .920 1.82 Erik Gordon Lone Star/Fairbanks 32 1752:39 24 3 0 0 55 753 .927 1.88 Jacob Barczewski Janesville Jets 35 1986:46 27 6 0 1 64 906 .929 1.93 Alec Calvaruso Lone Star Brahmas 36 1830:42 24 7 0 0 65 660 .902 2.13
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