AMERICAN WEST HOCKEY LEAGUE HISTORY
1997 - 2003
The American Frontier Hockey League was renamed the American West Hockey League in 1997. All seven franchises from the AFHL continued on in the renamed league. In 1998, the Central Wyoming franchise ceased operations.
In 1999, the league grew adding two Canadian teams from the recently defunct Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League, the Fernie Ghost Riders and Kimberley Dynamiters. Also that year, the Helena Ice Pirates were renamed the Gold Rush.
In 2000, the Butte team shortened its name to the Irish while the troubled Helena team moved to become the Minot Muskies.
In 2001, the Kimberley team moved into the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Minot team folded. The Helena Big Horns were added to the league along with the Tupelo T-Rex and Fairbanks Ice Dogs formerly of the Northern Pacific Junior Hockey League.
In 2002, the league revoked franchise rights in Butte and added the Central Texas Blackhawks and Wichita Falls Rustlers.
In 2003, the league was absorbed by the NAHL to become the dominant Tier II Junior 'A' league in the United States.