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located in non-traditional markets." Frankenfeld began his own tenure with the NAHL as an assistant coach, and later graduating to director of hockey operations before eventually taking the top job. He admitted that his coaching background still serves him well today. "I'm like the coach of a 28-team league," he chuckled. "I'm able to understand the coaches and players, and relay their needs to the governors, [and do] what's best for the players." The Houston native caught the attention of a number of college coaches after his stellar play with the Topeka Roadrunners. league feeder organizations in the 16-team Junior Tier III North American 3 Hockey League, and the 42-team Midget/ Bantam Tier I AAA level North American Prospects Hockey League. Part of the reason for the NAHL' The NAHL also fields two minor- growth and stability in recent years has been strong ownership. s own "They've made their money in other places, and now they're trying to provide opportunities," Frankenfeld said of his cur- rent crop of owners. He added that the business model is dif- ferent for Tier II leagues like the NAHL than it is for Tier I circuits like the United States Hockey League, which generally pays for all player equipment and housing. The NAHL, though, has a much larger geo- graphical footprint, but one that isn't expect- ed to get any bigger anytime soon. "The North American Hockey League has created a good niche," said former NHL goal- tender John Vanbiesbrouck, who chairs USA Hockey's Junior Council. "They've broken new ground in places like Texas and have solid- ified Junior hockey across the United States." The NAHL experienced its greatest expansion in 2003 with the absorption of the 10 teams from the America West Hockey League. That stretched its reach into the Dakotas, through the Rocky Mountains, and up into the Alaskan interior, home of the 2011 Robertson Cup champion Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The NAHL has sent scores of its former skaters on to the collegiate and professional levels during its tenure. It can boast sev- eral winners of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to college hockey's best player, including Kip Miller, Brian Holzinger and Ryan Miller. Among the many other NAHL alumni who have had prolonged National Hockey League careers include Mike Knuble, David Legwand, Andy Greene and Jim Slater. Then there are those who have also hoisted the Stanley Cup, like Danton Cole, Shawn Chambers, Brian Rolston, Kevyn Adams and Doug Weight. Over the years the NAHL has not only survived, but thrived. Former NAHL commissioner Michael Santos, who oversaw the merger with the AWHL, conceded it was no simple task. "We did a lot of things and took a lot of risks, and a good number of them paid off," he said. From its modest beginnings, the NAHL now boasts no less than five teams in Texas and three in Alaska, along with four clubs in its original Michigan cradle. "They place over 100 players a year into Division I and Division III programs," said Santos, now with the Florida Panthers. "It makes me proud to see how the league is flourishing now." "I think they do a nice job providing exactly what it is, which is non pay-to-play," Vanbiesbrouck said. "It's a great alterna- tive, and they have many teams strategically What makes the league such a success is that it continues to stick to a simple but effective formula. The reason it's a success is that play- ers such as Traber are able to say things like, "if you perform and play well you have a chance to move on and play college hockey. "It's great to be in a league that can defi- nitely move kids along." N Roman J. Uschak is a freelance writer in Union, N.J. Brian Holzinger (15), above, and Doug Weight, right, are just two of the many top American players who got their stellar careers off to a flying start in the North American Hockey League. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM APRIL/MAY.2012 33