2011–12 AWHL season

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.[2]

2011–12 AWHL season
LeagueAmerican West Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationSeptember 30, 2011 – March 10, 2012
Number of games144[1]
Number of teams6
Total attendance94,968[1]
Average attendance659[1]
Regular Season
Season championsMissoula Maulers (1st)
Lewis & Clark Cup
ChampionsHelena Bighorns (1st)
  Runners-upMissoula Maulers

Regular season
Place[3] Team GP W L OTL1 OTL2 SOL GF GA Pts
1 Missoula Maulers4841600125310283
2 Helena Bighorns483961112798579
3 Billings Bulls48261731120218753
4 Gillette Wild48232302019621846
5 Bozeman Icedogs48143400013120728
6 Great Falls Americans48146100973592

Playoffs

AWHL semifinals

Missoula defeated Gillette in six games and Helena defeated Billings in five games to advance to the AWHL championship.[4][5]

AWHL championship

Helena swept Missoula in four games in the AWHL championship to earn the first American West Hockey League championship.[6]

USA Hockey Tier III Junior National Championship

The Helena Bighorns, Missoula Maulers, and Billings Bulls won the right to represent the AWHL at the 2012 USA Hockey Tier III Junior National Tournament. Each team played three games in their pool, with the winners of each pool advancing to the national semifinals.[5][7]

Helena won two games and lost one in pool play and did not advance to the semifinals.[8] Missoula won two games and lost one in pool play and did not advance to the semifinals.[8][9] Billings won all three games in their pool and advanced to the semifinals. They lost their semifinal game 4–2 to the eventual national champion Atlanta Jr. Knights of the EJHL South.[5][8][10]

References
  1. "AWHL 2011-12 League Attendance". AWHL. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  2. Staff (June 14, 2011). "American West Hockey League Accepted As Newest Addition To USA Hockey Juniors". NBC Montana. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  3. "AWHL Standings 2011/2012". AWHL. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  4. "AWHL Playoff Bracket". AWHL. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  5. "Bulls lose in semifinals at national tournament". Billings Gazette. April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  6. "Bighorns Sweep the AWHL Championship". AWHL. April 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  7. "AWHL Teams Set for Nationals". AWHL. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  8. "AWHL Post Respectful Showing at 2012 National Tourney". AWHL. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  9. "Maulers come home empty from Nationals". KPAX.com. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  10. "Knights Dominate the 2012 Junior A Nationals". atlantajuniorknights.com. April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
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