Here we go — Puck drops on 2016-17 regular seasons — Tier 2

Among the three Tier II junior leagues that include Midwest based teams, two begin regular season play this weekend (Sept. 9-11) with the other beginning pre-season play.

Following is a quick rundown on how things are going heading into the 2016-17 regular season.

NAHL

The lone all-American Tier II League, the North American Hockey League officially begins its regular season today (Friday, Sept. 9) but Midwest based teams remain out of action until next weekend.

The league enters the new season with 24 teams split into four divisions. One of the divisions — the Central is made up entirely of Midwest based teams from Minnesota along with North Dakota and South Dakota while the Midwest includes four teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois and two others from Alaska.

That leaves just one more team — the Topeka Roadrunners who play in the South Division along with five Texas-based teams and a newcomer from Louisiana. The East Division is the only one with no Midwest based teams included.

Most of the NAHL teams have begun exhibition play, but the league website doesn’t include game summaries from those contests. The pre-season creates many interesting games for the NAHL with teams often inviting or invited to provide competition for teams at the Tier I or Tier III level.

also, both the Minot Minotauros and Bismarck Bobcats will cross the border to faceoff against the Estevan Bruins from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for an interesting rivalry match.

Some teams from the South and East Divisions will get their respective regular seasons off of the ground this weekend while the first battle including Midwest teams will see the Roadrunners playing host to the defending league champion Fairbanks Ice Dogs in Topeka, Sept. 15-16.

The Janesville Jets will open its season on home ice with division games against the Minnesota Wilderness Sept. 16-17 and the Springfield Jr. Blues will hit the road to play in Minnesota against the Magicians on the same nights.

The remaining Midwest-based teams will open the regular season at the annual NAHL Showcase tournament at the Schwan Super Rink at Blaine, MN Sept. 21-24.

NOJHL

The Soo Eagles begin its second season in the 12-team Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League tonight (Sept. 9) playing host to the Rayside Balfour Canadians for a West Division battle. Tomorrow night the Eagles will welcome the Elliot Lake Wildcats.

The following weekend will see the team make its first road trip, albeit a short one, across the border to play the Soo Thunderbirds in the first of a home and home series.

SIJHL

After several seasons as the lone American-based squad in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, the Minnesota Iron Rangers will get an ally and likely a rival this season as the Thief River Falls Norskies begin play as an expansion team, bringing the membership to six teams.

The league is scheduled to begin exhibition play on Saturday but the first game for the Norskies will not be played until Sept. 16 when the team plays host to the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Norskies will cross into Manitoba for a return match the following evening.

As this is written, there are no pre-season games scheduled for the Iron Rangers on the league’s website.

The regular season begins on Sept. 23 with two games, including the Norskies traveling to Fort Frances for a tough opener against the defending champion Lakers. The Iron Rangers are scheduled to host the Thunder Bay North Stars the following night while the Norskies continue on to Dryden to play the Ice Dogs.