Helena Bighorns

Last updated
Helena Bighorns
Helena Bighorns logo.png
City Helena, Montana
League NA3HL
DivisionFrontier
Founded2004 (In the NorPac)
Home arenaHelena Ice Arena
ColorsBlue, black and white
   
MascotBilly Bighorn
Owner(s)Treasure State Sports Group LTD [1]
Head coachDamon Hanson [2] [1]
Website www.helenabighorns.com
Franchise history
2004–2006Queen City Cutthroats
2006–presentHelena Bighorns

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.

Contents

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. [3]

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. [4]

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. [5] They also won the NorPac Cascade Cup six times, 2005, 2006 and four straight from 2008 to 2011. [6]

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 [7] 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. [8] In 2021, the team was sold to a local ownership group Treasure State Sports Group LTD, composed of Jedidiah Snyder and Michael Greene. [1]

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAPIMRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
North American 3 Hockey League
2014–15473411270194981,0732nd of 7, Frontier Div.
5th of 31, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Gillette Wild
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Great Falls Americans
2015–164726210521741551,1365th of 7, Frontier Div.
19th of 34, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2016–174715311311302029296th of 8, Frontier Div.
40th of 48, NA3HL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Gillette Wild
2017–184730134642051438743rd of 6, Frontier Div.
15th of 42, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Great Falls Americans
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Yellowstone Quake
2018–19473872782521157771st of 7, Frontier Div.
4th of 36, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Missoula Jr. Bruins
Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Great Falls Americans
Advance to Fraser Cup
2019–204717264381451928556th of 8, Frontier Div.
25th of 34, NA3HL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Great Falls Americans
2020–214017203371261333685th of 8, Frontier Div.
19th of 31, NA3HL		Did not qualify
2021–2247423286289941,3121st of 8, Frontier Div.
3rd of 34, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 0-2 Great Falls Americans
Won Div. Finals, 2-0 Gillette Wild
Advance to Fraser Cup
2022–2347368375187841,2521st of 8, Frontier Div.
3rd of 34, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 Butte Cobras
Won Div. FINALS, 2-1 Gillette Wild
Advance to Fraser Cup
2023–2447442189278951,4331st of 8, Frontier Div.
1st of 34, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 Great Falls Americans
Won Div. Finals, 2-0 Gillette Wild
Advance to Fraser Cup

NA3HL FRASER CUP Championship

YearRound RobinRecordPlaceSemifinalChampionship
2019L, Nordiques 1-4
L, Bulls) 2-8		0-2-03rd of 3
Pool		Did not advance
2022W, Granite City Lumberjacks  ?-?
W, El Paso Rhinos) ?-?		2-0-01st of 3
Pool		Lost Semi Final, 1-4 Rochester Grizzlies Did not advance
2023W, Oregon Tradesmen  ?-?
L, Northeast Generals) ?-?		2-0-01st of 3
Pool		Lost Semi Final, 2-4 Granite City Lumberjacks Did not advance
2024?, Louisiana Drillers  ?-?
?, Northeast Generals  ?-?		o-0-0tbd of 3
Pool B		tbdtbd

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. [9] 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.

YearRound RobinRecordPlaceSemifinalChampionship
2006 [10] W, Boston Jr. Bruins (EmJHL) 3-1
L, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL) 4-8
L, St. Louis Jr. Blues (CSHL) 1-5		1-2-03rd of 4
Div. I		Did not advance
2008 [11] L, Northern Cyclones (AtJHL) 1-5
W, Minnesota Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 4-2
W, Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks (CSHL) 5-0		2-1-02nd of 4
Div. II		Did not advance
2009 [12] W, New York Bobcats (AtJHL) 3-1
W, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 4-3
L, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) 3-6		2-1-02nd of 4
Div. I		Did not advance
2010 [13] L, Dubuque Thunderbirds (CSHL) 2-4
W, Boulder Bison (WSHL) 5-0
T, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) 3-3		1-1-13rd of 4
Div. I		Did not advance
2011 [14] W, Rochester Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 6-1
W, Queen City Steam (NA3HL) 4-0
L, Walpole Express (AtJHL) 3-4		2-1-01st of 4
Pool III		W, Walpole Express (AtJHL) 4-3W, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 5-1
NATIONAL
CHAMPIONS
2012 [15] L, Long Island Royals (MetJHL) 1-3
L, Atlanta Junior Knights (EJHL South) 0-1
W, Chicago Junior Bulldogs (NA3HL) 10-3		1-2-03rd of 4
Pool I, National Div.		Did not advance
2013 [16] OTW, New Jersey Rockets (MetJHL) 2-1
W, Boch Blazers (ESHL) 11-2
L, Atlanta Junior Knights (EJHL South) 3-5		2-1-02nd of 4
American Pool		OTL, North Iowa Bulls (NA3HL) 2-3—
2014 [17] W, Marquette Royales (MnJHL) 6-2
L, Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL Premier) 0-6
L, New Hampshire Jr Monarchs (EHL) 3-5		1-2-03rd of 4
Red 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. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Hockey League</span> US Tier II junior ice hockey league

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 49th season of operation in 2023–24. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bozeman Icedogs</span> Ice hockey team in Bozeman, Montana

The Bozeman Icedogs are a Tier III Junior ice hockey team located in Bozeman, Montana. The team is a member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The Icedogs play home games at the Haynes Pavilion located at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairbanks Ice Dogs</span> Professional ice hockey team in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. The Ice Dogs play home games at the 2,200-seat Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The America West Hockey League (AWHL) was a Tier II Junior A ice hockey league. The AWHL was formed in 1992 to offer junior ice hockey to the Rocky Mountain region of USA Hockey. It originally was called the American Frontier Hockey League (AFHL), and the name change to AWHL came in 1998. The AWHL merged with the North American Hockey League in 2003 and after the merger, the NAHL name was kept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Bulls</span> Ice hockey team in Billings, Montana

The Billings Bulls were a junior ice hockey organization based in Billings, Montana. They most recently played home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena and due to the arena's small size, the Bulls frequently sold-out games. They previously played their home games in the Metrapark which had a max capacity of 9,000 for hockey games. However, a negotiating dispute with arena officials and local county commissioners resulted in the team losing its lease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Paso Rhinos</span> Ice hockey team in El Paso, Texas

The El Paso Rhinos are a junior ice hockey organization based in El Paso, Texas. Their home games are played at the County Events Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex. The Rhinos are members of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League (NAHL) after adding the team as an expansion franchise in 2021. The organization also has a Tier III team that was originally a member of the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League from 2006 to 2020 before joining the North American 3 Hockey League for the 2020–21 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American 3 Hockey League</span> Tier III junior ice hockey league

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league that consists of teams from Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Sanctioned by USA Hockey, for most of the league's existence, the winner of the NA3HL playoffs would advance to play for the Tier III National Championship, however, this has not been held since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Pacific Hockey League</span>

The Northern Pacific Hockey League (NPHL) was an American Tier III junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. Its championship trophy was the Cascade Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Louis Jr. Blues</span> Ice hockey team in St. Louis, Missouri

The St. Louis Jr. Blues are a Tier III ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays their home games at the Affton Ice Rink in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granite City Lumberjacks</span> Ice hockey team in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

The Granite City Lumberjacks are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) and plays their home games at the Armadillo Deck Sports Arena, located in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. The Lumberjacks play 48 regular season games, in addition to showcase and post-season tournament games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowstone Quake</span> Ice hockey team in Cody, Wyoming

The Yellowstone Quake is a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays their home games at Victor Riley Arena in Cody, Wyoming. The franchise is a non-profit corporation operated by the Park County Junior A Hockey Program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights</span> Ice hockey team in Pittston, Pennsylvania

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are a junior ice hockey organization from Pittston, Pennsylvania. In 2015, the Knights' junior hockey organization purchased the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise in the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) and placed their Tier III franchise in the Eastern Hockey League into dormancy. The organization has reactivated and deactivated their Tier III level teams at various times, but plans to launch teams in the United States Premier Hockey League's Premier and Elite Divisions, non-USA Hockey sanctioned leagues that operate similar to the Tier III level. The organization also has several youth ice hockey teams in its development program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American West Hockey League</span> American ice hockey league

The American West Hockey League (AWHL) was an American Tier III Junior ice hockey league based in Montana and Wyoming. The league was a member of USA Hockey and was founded in 2011. The AWHL merged into the NA3HL in March 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Falls Americans</span> Ice hockey team in Great Falls, Montana


The Great Falls Americans are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Great Falls, Montana, playing at the Great Falls IcePlex in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a place on a Canadian major junior, collegiate or minor professional team.

The 2011–12 AWHL season was the first season for the newly formed American West Hockey League. The AWHL was formed in the summer of 2011 by teams breaking away from the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac). The league shared a similar area as the former America West Hockey League that merged into the North American Hockey League in 2003. Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, and Helena all had teams in the old AWHL.

The 2013–14 AWHL season was the third and final season of the American West Hockey League. The regular season schedule ran from September 19, 2013, to March 8, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey Titans (NAHL)</span> Ice hockey team in Middletown Township, New Jersey

The New Jersey Titans are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Based in Middletown Township, New Jersey, the Titans play home games at the Middletown Ice World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-Cities Junior Stars</span> Ice hockey team in Euless, Texas

The Mid-Cities Jr. Stars are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays their home games at Children’s Health StarCenter in Euless, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Iowa Bulls</span> Ice hockey team in Mason City, Iowa

The North Iowa Bulls are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). They play their home games at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena in Mason City, Iowa. The organization also operates a Tier III junior team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) that was known as the North Iowa Bulls from 2011 to 2021 before relocating the Tier II Amarillo Bulls' franchise to Mason City and rebranding the Tier III team as the Mason City Toros. The Bulls are coached by Todd Sanden, who has been with the North Iowa team since its inception in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Generals</span> Ice hockey team in Attleboro, Massachusetts


The Northeast Generals are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The team competes in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Helena Bighorns announce new ownership group". NA3HL. April 26, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Bighorns announce coaching change". NA3HL. November 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ "AWHL to join NA3HL in 2014-15". NA3HL. March 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ "47 in 24 series: Helena Bighorns". NA3HL. August 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Bighorns Capture Sixth Straight Division Championship". Helena Bighorns Hockey Club. 2010-03-08. Archived from the original on 2010-05-17. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  6. ↑ "Bighorns Storm Past Seattle for Third Straight Cascade Cup Championship". Helena Bighorns Hockey Club. 2010-03-14. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  7. ↑ "Bighorns complete sweep of Quake for 8th league title". Independent Record . March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Helena Bighorns announce new ownership". NA3HL. May 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Helena Bighorns capture hockey national championship". Independent Record . April 5, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ "2006 Tier III Jr. B Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ "2008 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  12. ↑ "2009 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ "2010 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  14. ↑ "2011 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2012 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  16. ↑ "2013 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  17. ↑ "2014 Tier III Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Alumni". Helena Bighorns Hockey Club. 2009-01-01. Archived from the original on 2010-07-31. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.