USA Hockey approved the addition of the New Hampshire Avalanche as an expansion franchise for the 2017-18 season. The organization has a history of running teams from mite to U-18. The team is apparently a replacement for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs who announced they were joining the USPHL for the 2017-18 season. The team will be based out of the Ice Den Arena in Hooksett, NH.
The league has scheduled 4 league-wide showcase events which will freature all 16 teams playing two games each over two days at one location to give college coaches and scouts and opportunity to view the league's players.
The top six teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The two division champions earn the 1 and 2 seeds plus a first round bye. The three seed plays the six seed and the four seed plays the five seed in a best-of-three series. Teams will be re-seeded and the one seed will play the four seed and the two seed will play the three seed in a best-of-three series. The four second round winners will advance to the Frozen Finals.
The Frozen Finals will be held March 22nd through 25th at Schneider Arena on the campus of Providence College. The last four teams will participate in a round robin tournament with a title game being held on March 25th.