NAHL announces 2015-16 teams and divisional alignment, confirming no teams in Michigan

By @MichaelCaples –

The North American Hockey League announced today their teams and the divisional alignments for the 2015-16 season, and there will not be a team skating out of Michigan.

The league is celebrating their 40th season in 2015-16, and while it announced a brand-new East Division showing great growth in the Pennsylvania to New Jersey area, the NAHL will officially have no representation in Michigan.

The Soo Eagles have moved to New Jersey, and while no relocation was officially announced for the Michigan Warriors, they were forced out of Perani Arena to make room for the new OHL franchise in Flint.

The league, which originally began as the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League with teams in Michigan and Ohio during the 1970s, features alumni like current NHLers Erik Condra, Brandon Saad, Ryan Miller and many others. The U.S. NTDP also used to compete in the league before moving to the USHL.

The 2016 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament will take place on Feb. 15-16 in Plymouth, however, as the NTDP will continue to work with the league for that event.