The America West Hockey League (AWHL) was a junior ice hockey

Junior ice hockey

Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...

 league. The AWHL was formed in 1992 to offer junior ice hockey to the Rocky Mountain region of USA Hockey

USA Hockey

USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...

. It originally was called the American Frontier Hockey League (AFHL), and the name change to AWHL came in 1998. The AWHL merged with the NAHL in 2003 and after the merger, the NAHL name was kept.

In the Summer of 2011, a new league, the American West Hockey League

American West Hockey League

The American West Hockey League is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league based in Montana and Wyoming. The league is a member of USA Hockey and was founded in 2011.-History:...

, was formed in the same region as the former AWHL. The new AWHL features 6 teams, including Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, and Helena.

Teams

Central Wyoming Outlaws → (during AFHL days) defunct

Billings Bulls

Billings Bulls

The Billings Bulls are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team currently playing in the American West Hockey League. The Bulls are based in Billings, Montana and play home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena, due to the size, the Bulls frequently sell out games and broadcast their games on...

 → currently in the new AWHL

Bismarck Bobcats

Bismarck Bobcats

The Bismarck Bobcats are a Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Central Division, and play out of Bismarck, North Dakota, in the V.F.W. Sports Center. Originally a part of the America West Hockey League, the Bobcats joined the NAHL in a merger of the two leagues in 2003...

 - currently in NAHL.

Bozeman ICEDOGS

Bozeman Icedogs

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

 → defunct, final season 2005-2006, a NORPAC team formerly known as the Bozeman Blackhawks is now playing under the Icedogs name

Alaska Avalanche

Alaska Avalanche

The Alaska Avalanche are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's West Division. The team plays their home games at the Palmer Ice Arena in Palmer, Alaska.-Franchise history:...

 - currently in NAHL (formerly Wasilla (AK) Spirit, and Springfield (MO) Spirit)

Central Texas Blackhawks - defunct, played final season as Central Texas Marshals in 2003-04.

Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Fairbanks Ice Dogs

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

 - currently playing in NAHL.

Fernie Ghostriders

Fernie Ghostriders

The Fernie Ghostriders are a Junior B Ice Hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Fernie Memorial Arena...

 → now play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the KIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League...

Great Falls Americans  → not the same as the defunct WHL

Western Hockey League

The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...

 team of the same name

Helena Bighorns

Helena Bighorns

The Helena Bighorns is a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the American West Hockey League based in Helena, Montana USA. The team plays their home games at the 1,600-seat Helena Ice Arena...

 → currently in the new AWHL. Merged with NORPAC's Queen City Cutthroats in 2006, keeping Bighorns identity.

Helena Ice PiratesAFHL & AWHL, Helena Harleys Helena Gold Rush switch ownership in 1999 (Harleys never played a game.)

Lone Star Cavalry - played one season in 2003-04, moved to Santa Fe (RoadRunners) from 2004-2007, then to Topeka KS. Currently in NAHL.

Tupelo T-Rex

Tupelo T-Rex

The Tupelo T-Rex was a professional ice hockey team, a member of the Western Professional Hockey League and played their home games at BancorpSouth Center from 1998 through 2001...

  → moved into South East Hockey League

South East Hockey League

The South East Hockey League was a minor ice hockey league formed in August 2003. It succeeded the short-lived Atlantic Coast Hockey League and had 4 teams for its first and only season. Jim Riggs was the commissioner....

, which is now defunct

Wichita Falls Rustlers - currently in NAHL, renamed Wildcats after sale in 2004.

Kimberley Dynamiters  → now play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the KIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League...

Minot Muskies  → defunct, only season 2000-2001

Butte Irish  → defunct, final season 2001-2002. Protected list awarded to expansion Wichita Falls Rustlers.

Pueblo Flames → (during AFHL days) 1993-1994

Pueblo Venom → (during AFHL days) 1994-1995

Vail Avalanche → (during AFHL days) 1993-1996. Relocated to Butte, MT as Butte Fighting Irish in 1996.

Pikes Peak Miners → (during AFHL days) 1993-1994

Casper Wranglers → (during AFHL days) 1993-1995

Jackson Hole Grizzlies → (during AFHL days) 1993-1997