For the United States Hockey League that played from 1945-51 go here.
| United States Hockey League | |
| Unites States Hockey League | |
| Founded | 1972-1973 |
| Head Office | Grand Forks, North Dakota |
| Official Web site | U.S.H.L. |
| President | Gino Gasparini |
| Deputy Commissioner | Bill Bredin |
| Hockey Operations | Scott Brand |
The United States Hockey League (abbreviated USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in United States. As of the 2005-2006 season, it had 11 teams, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger. In 2006-2007, it will have 12 teams. The teams are located in Midwestern United States. The USHL is strictly amateur; players are not paid for playing. This allows former USHL players to compete in NCAA college hockey (which does not allow players who have been paid athletes before college).
The USHL was established in 1973. It was semi-professional for some time and became fully amateur in 1979.
Many USHL players have gone on to compete in professional and college hockey. In 2003-2004, the National Hockey League had 38 players with USHL experience.
On May 3, 2006, Columbus was awarded a new USHL franchise, to begin play in the 2006-2007 season. Even though the team did not yet have a nickname or logo, and many of the top management positions had yet to be filled, it participated in the league's entry draft on May 4. On June 21, the league released the 2006-2007 season schedule and announced that Columbus would compete in the East Division, with the Des Moines Buccaneers moving to the West Division. On June 27, the team announced that it would be called the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets.
List of USHL teams
East Division
- Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Chicago Steel
- Ohio Junior Blue Jackets
- Green Bay Gamblers
- Indiana Ice
- Waterloo Blackhawks
West Division
- Des Moines Buccaneers
- Lincoln Stars
- Omaha Lancers
- Sioux City Musketeers
- Sioux Falls Stampede
- Tri-City Storm
Defunct Teams
- St. Louis Heartland Eagles
- Topeka Scarecrows
- Fargo-Moorhead Bears
- Green Bay Bobcats
- Minneapolis Stars
- Wisconsin Capitols
- Thunder Bay Flyers
- Fargo-Moorhead Sharks
- Tulsa Crude
- Danville Wings
- Rochester Mustangs
- Austin Mavericks
- St. Paul/Twin Cites Vulcans
- Dubuque Fighting Saints
- North Iowa Huskies
- Hennepin Nordiques