Junior ice hockey facts for kids
Junior hockey is a special level of ice hockey for young players, usually between 16 and 21 years old. It's a step up from playing in youth leagues. In countries like Canada and the United States, junior hockey leagues are mostly for amateur players. This means players usually don't get paid a lot, if at all. These leagues are found in different parts of each country.
In Canada, the top level is called Major Junior. It's managed by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The CHL has three big leagues: the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League. Below Major Junior is Junior A, which is overseen by the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
In the United States, the top level is called Tier I, which is the United States Hockey League (USHL). The next level is Tier II, which is the North American Hockey League (NAHL). There are also other leagues called Tier III. Some teams from Canadian Major Junior leagues are actually located in the United States.
In Europe, junior hockey teams are often connected to professional teams. They help young players get better and prepare them to join the main professional team later on.
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Junior Hockey in Canada
In Canada, junior hockey has different levels, or "tiers." Players who are 16 to 20 years old at the start of the season can play. Hockey Canada, which runs hockey in Canada, has rules to make sure not too many 16-year-olds play junior hockey. They prefer most younger players stay in minor hockey leagues.
Major Junior Hockey
Major Junior hockey is the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. It is run by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The CHL has three main leagues:
- Quebec Major Major Junior Hockey League: This league has 18 teams in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
- Ontario Hockey League: This league has 20 teams in Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
- Western Hockey League: This league has 22 teams in Western Canada, Washington, and Oregon.
CHL teams can have only three players who are 20 years old or older. These are called "overage players." They can also have up to four 16-year-olds on their team. Very rarely, a 15-year-old player can join if they are considered "exceptional." Some famous players who did this include John Tavares, Connor McDavid, and Connor Bedard. CHL teams are also allowed to have two "import" players. These are players from outside Canada or the US, often from Europe.
Players who play in Major Junior leagues are considered professional by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the US. This means if you play in the CHL, you can't play for universities in the United States. However, you can still play for Canadian universities. The CHL leagues also offer scholarships to players who don't become professional after their junior career. Many top players who later join the National Hockey League (NHL) play in the CHL.
The champions from each of the three CHL leagues play in a special tournament called the Memorial Cup. This is Canada's national Major Junior championship.
Junior A Hockey
Junior A hockey is the level just below Major Junior. In Quebec, it's called Junior AAA. The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) manages Junior A hockey. It includes eleven different leagues across Canada. The national championship for Junior A teams is the Centennial Cup.
Junior A teams are considered amateur by the NCAA. This means players who want to go to American universities often choose to play Junior A instead of Major Junior. Junior A teams usually play in smaller towns and have smaller crowds than CHL teams.
Junior B, C, and D Hockey
Junior B hockey was created in 1933. It was a way to separate teams that could compete for the Memorial Cup from those that couldn't. There are big championships for Junior B teams across Canada, like the Sutherland Cup in Ontario and the Keystone Cup in Western Canada.
Junior C hockey usually involves local competitions. In some areas, it's very competitive and helps players get ready for Junior B teams. For example, in Ontario, Junior C teams play many playoff games for the Clarence Schmalz Cup. In other parts of Canada, Junior C is more like a local youth league.
Junior D hockey was popular in the 1960s and 1970s but became less common in the 1990s. In Quebec, Junior D is now called Junior B.
Junior Hockey in the United States
Like in Canada, junior hockey in the United States has different levels. Most of these leagues are approved by USA Hockey. There are also 13 American teams that play in the Canadian junior system. Eight of these are in the Canadian Hockey League and five are in Canadian Junior A leagues.
Tier I Hockey
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the only Tier I league in the US. Its teams are mostly in the central and midwestern parts of the country. The USHL is a great choice for players who want to play for a university in the NCAA before trying to join a professional league like the NHL.
When players are in the USHL, the team pays for all their expenses, like housing and equipment. Players don't have to pay membership or equipment fees. Many USHL players go on to play NCAA hockey. A good number of them also make it to the NHL.
Tier II Hockey
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is the only Tier II league approved by USA Hockey. NAHL teams are spread across the western and central US, but the league has also started to expand to the East Coast.
The NAHL, like the USHL, gives young players another option besides Major Junior hockey. The skill level in the NAHL is a bit lower than Major Junior. It's often for players who didn't make a Tier I team. Unlike Tier I, NAHL teams don't pay for all player expenses, like room and board. However, players don't have to pay tuition fees to play, which is different from Tier III.
Tier III Hockey
In Tier III junior hockey, players have to pay a fee or "tuition" to play. This usually costs between $4,000 and $9,500. This level is considered fully amateur. Some players from Tier III go directly to NCAA Division I schools. Most Tier III players hope to improve their skills enough to move up to Tier I or II. Others go on to play for NCAA Division III, ACHA, or CHF schools.
USA Hockey currently approves two Tier III leagues:
- Eastern Hockey League: This league has two divisions.
- North American 3 Hockey League
Independent Leagues in North America
Some junior hockey leagues in Canada and the US operate without being controlled by Hockey Canada or USA Hockey. This often happens because these leagues have different rules about how they recruit players or handle money. These leagues are sometimes called "outlaw" leagues because they don't have outside oversight.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) started approving ice hockey again in 2011. The Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was one of the first big junior leagues to leave USA Hockey and join the AAU. The AAU allows teams to have more international players than USA Hockey does. This means teams can recruit more players from Europe or other parts of the world. This can make teams more competitive, especially if it's hard to find local talent.
One example of a self-sanctioned league is the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League. It has been operating independently in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta since 2006. This league also brings in many players from outside North America.
Another example is the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). In 2016, they wanted to create a Tier II league but were denied by USA Hockey. So, the USPHL decided to run its new league, the National Collegiate Development Conference, and its other junior leagues independently, without USA Hockey's approval.
Junior Hockey in Europe
In Europe, junior teams are usually connected to a professional hockey team. These teams help young players develop their skills so they can eventually play for the professional club. Leagues like the J20 SuperElit in Sweden or the Minor Hockey League in Russia are good examples of this.
Europe doesn't have an "amateur draft" like North America. This means teams have to find and sign talented young players themselves. Having a junior team helps them develop these young players who aren't quite ready for professional games. However, not all players on a European junior team are guaranteed to join the professional club. They might choose to sign with a different team.
Some European hockey leaders are concerned that too many young players are leaving Europe to play junior hockey in North America. They believe this can hurt the development of players and the European hockey system. They want to make European junior leagues strong enough to keep their talented young players at home.
See also
In Spanish: Hockey sobre hielo juvenil para niños
