OK, I’ll start, I haven’t posted in a while … Let’s just start with the US leagues for now. If you go to usahockey.com, click on Juniors, then click on Directory, there is a big .pdf file that lists all of the USA Hockey sanctioned leagues and teams for last year.<br><br>First, I want to start by saying that by ranking the leagues, this doesn’t mean that all of the teams & players within the leagues are ranked in this order. For example, in my opinion the Texas Tornadoes of the NAHL would have had no problem playing in the USHL the past two years. Second, the USHL has 11 teams with 23 player rosters. This doesn’t imply because I think the USHL is the best league, that those are all of the best 253 players then the next league starts with 254 and so on. There is a lot of talent overlap across the county. Similarly, all Jr. A players are not better than Jr. B players, and all D-I players are not better than D-III players, etc. I’ll post about that some other time.<br><br>These are my opinions based on the number of games I’ve seen in the past 4 years or so plus feedback that I’ve gotten from players who have played in the various leagues. I also have friends that have coached or scouted in different junior leagues who have helped provide feedback.<br><br><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Junior A – Tier I</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--><br>The top league in the US is the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>USHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, they have developed the best overall plan for attracting, developing, and marketing their players. Most players move on to D-I or good D-III leagues. The USHL covers all player expenses, including billet fees.<br><br><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Junior A – Tier II</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--><br>I would rank the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>NAHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> a much closer second than most would give them credit for. Their top 3-4 teams each year would be able to play in the USHL without a problem. Most of their teams in the top ten are about a one to one and a half line drop off from the USHL. The teams toward the bottom are not as strong. Some move to CCHA, many move on to Atlantic, ECAC, or CHA schools, quite a few move to top D-III schools. The team can cover any hockey expenses with the exception of skates. The player is responsible for paying billet costs (usually $200-250/month). <br><br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Note: Players looking to play in the NAHL, the 'perks' that a player recieves from team-to-team can vary greatly in the NAHL, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>do your research</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->.<br>Some teams have all the training equipment you need on hand... skate sharpener in locker room, plus a portable one for the road vs. no sharpener at all and player must get skates sharpened at a local pro-shop at his own cost. Some teams have better weight facilities, better meals on the road, stay in better hotels, better bus, 3 meals vs. 2 meals, team provided entertainment on the road, etc, etc, etc.</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Junior A – Tier III</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--><br>This is a proposed designation for two of the eastern leagues to acknowledge that their level of play is superior to that of their current designation (Junior C). The Junior C label is due to the fact that these teams are in saturated hockey areas that aren’t going to draw large crowds. These teams can charge a player fees to cover team expenses in addition to billet fees, ice time, meals, bus, uniforms, etc.<br><br>The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>EJHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> (Eastern) is about on par with the NAHL from top to bottom. Their top teams; Jr. Bruins, New Hampshire, maybe Baystate, are deep and talented enough to play at a USHL level. The next group could handle the NAHL middle of the pack. Their biggest problem is lack of depth. The top two lines for most of the teams as talented as any other league, but only the best teams have a 3rd line of talent. Not many have a 4th. Many players move to top Hockey East or ECAC schools or top D-III schools out east. The EJHL plays by NCAA rules instead of typical Jr. A rules; full masks, no 2-line pass or touch icing, game + 1 for fighting (using NCAA definition of fighting).<br><br>The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>AJHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> (Atlantic) is trying to compete with the EJHL. Most consider this a B+ league. They had some very talented players, but most were in the High Jr B, low Jr. A range. Most players move to eastern D-III schools. <br><br><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Jr. B</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--><br>The two Junior B leagues that are widely regarded as the best are the Central States Hockey League (CSHL) and the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MNJHL). <br><br>The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>CSHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> is mostly made up of younger players, 16-18 year olds, that don’t have strong High School or Midget AAA programs to play in. Most of these players are looking to move on to Junior A teams after a year or two. In another thread, someone stated that very few Jr. B players move to D-I. This isn’t true, it is just that they rarely go directly to college from here, they usually play Jr. A somewhere else first. <br><br>The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>MNJHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> is the league most of us are familiar with. This league has a better national reputation than it does in Minnesota. This is an older league for 18-20 year olds. Most players have finished High School and have had some level success. This isn’t the hack / goon league that it was reputed to be, the game is simply faster and more physical than HS hockey. Rochester & Dubuque are markets that once held USHL teams, but couldn’t make the transition to the Tier I rules. They are both run like Jr. A franchises. The Northern Lights have laid out a commitment to player & personal development that I think <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>all</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> teams should take a look at. The Owls and Lakers need to catch up a bit on and off the ice, but have done better the past couple of years. I personally wish that more MN players who want to continue playing competitive hockey would take a closer look at the league. <br><br>In the Southwest there is the Western States Hockey League. The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>WSHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> has been fairly weak, but has been expanding into Texas and getting more competitive. The main exception is the Phoenix Polar Bears. They have been one of the most dominant teams in Junior B hockey over the last 5-6 years. They have done a tremendous job moving players to the next level. <br><br>In the Northwest there is the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>NORPAC</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->. Some of their young players move to the BCHL or the WHL. It’s a weaker league, but a stepping stone for better players.<br><br>In the East, there is the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Empire League</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>MET</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, and the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>IJHL</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->. Who the better league is depends on who you talk to, but they all sound fairly even. The Empire League has direct ties to most EJHL teams, while the MET has some ties to some of the AJHL teams. <br><br>In Junior B, teams are allowed to charge players a 'tuition' in order to help cover team expenses. I believe the cap for Junior B is ~$3,000<br><br><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Jr. C</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--><br><br>I’m less familiar with the ‘true’ Jr. C teams. There is the CHA and the NEJDL. I think the CHA has been around longer and has more teams. In Junior C, teams are allowed to charge players a 'tuition' in order to help cover team expenses. I believe that there is no limit on the amount a teams can charge. This also applies to the EJHL & AJHL (for now).<br><br>That’s about all I know. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=
http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>Hope this helps!!<br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=
http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... lap>Reggie Dunlap</A> at: 7/18/05 4:13 pm<br></i>
