NAHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVE ADDITION OF FORMER NCDC TEAMS Billings, Idaho Falls, Ogden, and Grand Junction admitted. Chippewa Steel to relocate to Pueblo

The North American Hockey League's footprint is about to look very different.

Multiple sources have confirmed that the NAHL Board of Governors has approved the addition of four organizations from the United States Premier Hockey League's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC): Billings, Idaho Falls, Ogden, and Grand Junction. In a separate move, the Board has also approved the relocation of the Chippewa Steel franchise to Pueblo, Colorado.

While official announcements from the league are expected in the coming days, the decisions represent one of the most significant shifts in the western junior hockey landscape in recent years.

The addition of Billings, Idaho Falls, Ogden, and Grand Junction signals the NAHL's continued commitment to strengthening its presence throughout the Mountain West. Each market has demonstrated strong community support and a willingness to invest in player development, two characteristics the league has prioritized as it continues to evolve.

For Ogden, the move represents a return to familiar territory. The Mustangs organization has long been recognized as one of the strongest brands in western junior hockey, consistently drawing fans and producing competitive teams. Idaho Falls has quickly established itself as a hockey hotbed since entering the junior ranks, while Billings provides the league with a strategic foothold in Montana. Grand Junction, meanwhile, gives the NAHL another important piece in creating a more geographically sensible western alignment.

The transition of these clubs from the NCDC to the NAHL also reignites several regional rivalries that had previously disappeared through years of league restructuring. Fans throughout Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana can expect a renewed intensity as familiar opponents once again battle for divisional positioning.

Equally noteworthy is the relocation of the Chippewa Steel franchise to Pueblo.

Pueblo has maintained a passionate hockey following and a proven track record of supporting their junior program. 

The moves collectively highlight the increasingly competitive landscape within North American junior hockey. As leagues continue to position themselves for long-term stability and growth, organizations are making decisions based on geography, player advancement opportunities, operational efficiencies, and market viability.

For the NAHL, the approvals represent both expansion and consolidation. The league gains established operators in emerging western markets while simultaneously reinforcing its status as the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II junior league in the United States.

With the Board of Governors having reportedly given its blessing, attention now turns toward official league announcements, divisional realignment, scheduling considerations, and staffing decisions. Players, families, and fans across the western United States are anxiously awaiting the next round of details.

One thing, however, is already clear: the junior hockey map in the West is changing dramatically, and the NAHL is positioning itself at the center of that transformation.