2016–17 FHL season

The Watertown Wolves completed renovations to their ice rink and signed a new one-year lease agreement with the city of Watertown in order to return after one season off.{{cite web |url=http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/sports/wolves-city-ink-new-contract-for-watertown-arena-20160517 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160531150254/http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/sports/wolves-city-ink-new-contract-for-watertown-arena-20160517 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 31, 2016 |title=Wolves, city ink new contract for Watertown arena |publisher=Watertown Daily Times |date=May 17, 2016 }}

In May 2016, the league expanded to St. Clair Shores, Michigan (Metro Detroit), with the new St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints, playing out of the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena.{{cite web | url=http://fightingsaints.pointstreaksites.com/view/Fighting%20Saints/news/news_447292 | title=Pro Hockey coming to St. Clair Shores’ Civic Arena | publisher=St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints | work=scsfightingsaints.com | date=May 10, 2016 | accessdate=May 18, 2016}}{{cite news | url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/2016/05/18/federal-hockey-league/84542436/?hootPostID=7b65dd2c1e293346dffcf79d308c61a2 | title=New St. Clair Shores hockey team named ... Fighting Saints | newspaper=Detroit Free Press | date=May 18, 2016 | accessdate=May 18, 2016 | author=Brudenell, Mike}}

On July 13, 2016, the "Dayton Pro Hockey" team, formerly known as the Dayton Demolition before removing references to the Demolition name in March 2016, announced it would go dormant for the 2016–17 season. Owner Joe Pace, Sr. claimed that Hara Arena could not sign leases to tenants and he did not believe he could put together a team without a proper lead up time and secured arena. He also stated he would look to keep the team in Dayton in 2017 even if Hara Arena is still not available.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/dayton-pro-hockey-goes-dormant-for-2016-17-season/n-5181834 |title=Dayton Pro Hockey goes Dormant for 2016-17 season, planning return for 2017-18 |publisher=FHL |date=July 13, 2016}} Hara Arena would end up closing permanently in August 2016.

In June 2016, Brewster Bulldogs owner, Bruce Bennett mentioned to The News-Times that he would solely focus on his Danbury Titans team and would no longer be involved with the Bulldogs.{{cite web |url=http://www.newstimes.com/business/article/Danbury-Titans-renew-lease-with-Danbury-Ice-Arena-8315829.php |title=Danbury Titans renew lease with Danbury Ice Arena |publisher=The News-Times |date=June 21, 2016}} Without finding new ownership, Bennett decided to suspend Bulldogs operations on July 14, 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/brewster-bulldogs-pro-hockey-suspends-2016-17-season/n-5182094 |title=Brewster Bulldogs Pro Hockey Suspends 2016-17 Season |publisher=OurSports Central |date=July 14, 2016}}

On September 14, the city of Cornwall, Ontario, approved a team called the Cornwall Nationals to begin play for the 2016–17 season out of the Ed Lumley Arena.{{cite web |url=http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2016/09/14/cornwall-city-hall-inks-deal-with-fhl-nationals |title=Cornwall city hall inks deal with FHL Nationals |publisher=Standard-Freeholder |date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=2016-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917084122/http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2016/09/14/cornwall-city-hall-inks-deal-with-fhl-nationals |archive-date=2016-09-17 |url-status=dead }} On September 16, the FHL approved of the addition to the league for the upcoming season.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/fhl-formally-approves-expansion-to-cornwall-ontario-for-2016-17/n-5203968 |title=FHL Formally Approves Expansion to Cornwall, Ontario for 2016-17 |publisher=OurSports Central |date=September 16, 2016}} The new team replaced the recently folded Cornwall River Kings and led by Mitch Gagne and Rodney Rivette. Midway through their first season, Rivette bought out Gagne's share of the team and Gagne left his position of general manager on 18 December.{{cite web |url=http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2016/12/18/cornwall-nationals-gagnes-gone |title=Cornwall Nationals: Gagne's gone |publisher=Standard-Freeholder |date=18 December 2016 |access-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113136/http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2016/12/18/cornwall-nationals-gagnes-gone |archive-date=24 February 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} On December 21, the Nationals announced that it had secured another local investor, Will Beauvais, to help support the team, while Nationals forward, Basem Awwad, also took over general manager duties at that time.{{cite web |url=http://www.federalhockey.com/news/nationals-have-new-investor |title=NATIONALS HAVE NEW INVESTOR |publisher=FHL |date=21 December 2016 |access-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222084220/http://www.federalhockey.com/news/nationals-have-new-investor |archive-date=22 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Final standings{{cite web |url=http://www.federalhockey.com/stats#/182/standings?season_id=473 |title=League Standings |publisher=FHL |accessdate=September 21, 2016}}

:{{Color box|#CCFFCC|border=darkgray}} Advance to playoffs

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1= Semifinals
(Best of 3)

| RD2= Final
(Best of 5)

| team-width=200

| RD1-seed1= 1

| RD1-team1=Danville

| RD1-score1= 2

| RD1-seed2= 4

| RD1-team2= Watertown

| RD1-score2= 1

| RD1-seed3= 2

| RD1-team3= Berlin River

| RD1-score3= 2

| RD1-seed4= 3

| RD1-team4= Danbury

| RD1-score4= 0

| RD2-seed1= 1

| RD2-team1= Danville

| RD2-score1= 3

| RD2-seed2= 2

| RD2-team2= Berlin

| RD2-score2=2

}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.federalhockey.com/ Federal Hockey League website]

{{Federal Hockey League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016-17 FHL season}}

FHL

Category:Federal Prospects Hockey League seasons