Founded in 1964, the AJHL has 12 teams. 6 teams play in the AJHL North Division and 6 teams play in the AJHL South Division. League Champions are the Calgary Canucks. The newest team in the AJHL is the Devon Xtreme. The league is generally considered to be one of the top Junior A leagues in Canada. In 2017, Cale Makar was drafted fourth overall, and has since won the Calder Trophy, the Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup. NHL Players that played in the AJHL include Brayden Point, Adin Hill, Logan Thompson and Dylan Holloway. Of the leagues in the CJHL, the AJHL usually has the most players make NCAA Division 1 commitments, with a number of players making NCAA Division 3 commitments, USports and ACAC commitments. This year, the Camrose Kodiaks will be hosting the Junior A World Challenge (Dec 9-15, 2024) and the Calgary Canucks will be hosting the Centennial Cup (May 8-18, 2025).
In 2023/2024, 36 players in the AJHL committed to play NCAA Division 1. Each of the Bonnyville Pontiacs, the Calgary Canucks and the Drumheller Dragons had 7 players commit. In addition, there were a number of players that committed to NCAA Division 3, Usports, ACAC, BCIHL and ACHA.
Teams use Letters of Intent to recruit players. Once a Letter of Intent is signed, no other AJHL team can recruit that player. A player must be registered in the following season in which the AJHL Letter of Intent was signed. Teams are permitted to have 25 Hockey Canada Registration (HCR) Cards. Each Letter of Intent counts as an HCR Card. The majority of the players are from Alberta. However, there are players from other provinces. In the past couple of years, more players from the United States have signed to play in the AJHL. With the exception of maybe a few, players will have played U18 AAA or U18 Prep.
British Columbia Hockey LeagueFounded in 1961, the BCHL has 21 teams. 11 teams play in the Interior Division and 10 teams play in the Coastal Division. In 2023, the BCHL left Hockey Canada and is an independent league. In the 2023/2024 season, five teams (Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints) left the AJHL and joined the BCHL. League champions are the Surrey Eagles. Before leaving Hockey Canada, BCHL teams had won the National Championship 14 times. The Chilliwack Chiefs most recently won the National Championship in 2018. The league is generally considered to be the best Junior A league in Canada. In 2024, the BCHL had 6 players selected in the NHL Draft. The highest pick was Logan Sawyer, selected in the third round (78th overall). There are currently 19 BCHL alumni playing in the NHL. Of the Junior leagues in Canada, the BCHL has the most NCAA Division 1 commitments every year.
In 2023/2024, 292 players in the BCHL committed to play NCAA Division 1. The Brooks Bandits had 21 players commit; the Penticton Vees had 20 players commit; and Salmon Arm Silverbacks had 20 players commit. In addition, 14 players in the BCHL committed to play USports.
The BCHL does not have a player protected list. Players come from all over North America. The BCHL has the most out-of-province players playing in their league than any other league Junior A League in Canada. All players will have played U18 AAA or U18 Prep, and most will have been top players on their team. Teams must have a minimum of 5 players from BC and can have a maximum of 2 non-North American players. Many top players from other leagues that have already committed will transfer to the BCHL.
Manitoba Junior Hockey LeagueFounded in 1918, and the oldest junior league in Canada, the MJHL has 13 teams. 6 teams play in the West Division and 7 teams play in the East Division. League champions are the Winkler Flyers. The last player to be selected in the NHL Draft was Matthew Thiessen in the seventh round in the 2018 NHL Draft.
In 2023/2024, 17 players in the MJHL committed to play NCAA Division 1. The Winkler Flyers and the Steinbach Pistons each had 5 players commit. In addition to NCAA Division 1 commitments, a number of players in the MJHL committed to playing NCAA Division 3, ACHA, Usports and ACAC.
The MJHL recently voted to no longer have a Draft. Manitoba players born in 2007 who were drafted in the 2023 MJHL Draft (auto-protected/draft picks) who remain unsigned by the team they were drafted by will be eligible to sign with any other MJHL team as of August 1, 2024. Manitoba players born in 2008 who were drafted in the 2024 MJHL Draft (auto-protected/draft picks) who remain unsigned by the team they were drafted by will be eligible to sign with any other team as of August 1, 2025. Manitoba players born in 2009 are eligible to sign with any team in the MJHL beginning for the 2025/2026 season.
All teams have a 50 player protected list which includes active players and prospects. Between September 1 and May 31 of each season, team may sign players to a Letter of Intent for upcoming season. A player must be registered the following season in which an MJHL Letter of Intent was signed.
Teams are only allowed to roster a maximum of 8 twenty-year olds and are only allowed to roster a maximum of 6 imports.
Most players are from Manitoba, but there are players from other provinces and a few players from the United States. Most players will have played U18 AAA or U18 Prep, but there are a few players that will have played at a lower level.
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey LeagueFounded in 1962, the NOJHL has 12 teams. League champions are the Greater Sudbury Cubs. No player has been drafted in the NHL Entry Draft directly from the NOJHL. There are a few players that played in the NOJHL that went on to play in the NHL.
In 2023/2024, 2 players in the NOJHL committed to play NCAA Division 1. 21 players playing in the NOJHL committed to play NCAA Division 3. A number of other players in the NOJHL committed to play ACHA and Usports. Each year, a few players also move on to play Major Junior in either the OHL or QMJHL.
The NOJHL does not have a Draft and does not have a player protected list. Most players come from Ontario; however, there are a few players that come from Western Canada. Many players will have played at the U18 AAA or U18 Prep level, but there are players that will have played at lower levels. This is a good league to consider for players that maybe played U18 AA or U18 Varsity or players that maybe weren't a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenceman on their U18 AAA or U18 Prep team.
North American Hockey LeagueFounded in 1975, the NAHL has 35 teams in 20 States in the United States. 8 teams play in the Central Division; 10 teams play in the East Division; 8 teams play in the Midwest Division; and 9 teams play in the South Division. League champions are the Lonestar Brahmas. The NAHL is the top Tier II Junior League in the United States and would be comparable to the BCHL. 2 players with ties to the NAHL were selected in the 2024 NHL Draft. The highest pick was Patrick Geary selected in the sixth round (172nd overall). Over the last 7 years, 44 players with ties to the NAHL have been selected in the NHL Draft. There are currently 36 NAHL alumni playing in the NHL, including Connor Hellebuyck. The NAHL has the most NCAA Division 1 commitments of any Tier II or Tier III junior league in the States.
In 2023/2024, 262 players in the NAHL have committed to playing NCAA Division 1. The Bismarck Bobcats had18 players commit; the Janesville Jets had 16 players commit; the Wisconsin Windigo and New Jersey Titans each had 15 players commit; the Maine Nordiques had 14 players commit. Over 1,500 NAHL alumni are currently playing in the NCAA.
The NAHL has a tender process and a draft. Each team is granted 10 tenders. Once a player signs a tender, he is no longer eligible for the Entry Draft and no other teams can recruit that player. There is then a Entry Draft in June. Each team has a protected list of 30 players. Many Canadian players are selected in the Entry Draft, including players currently playing Junior A hockey in Canada. In the 2024 Entry Draft, three of the first four players selected were Canadians, including Harrison Boldt (3rd overall) who attended our camp. NAHL teams can select players from all age groups, including players going into their final year of junior hockey. Under the NAHL umbrella are three other leagues - NA3HL, T1ER and NAPHL. Some players play in these leagues as a step to playing in the NAHL. During the off-season, the NAHL also holds combines which gives players that haven't been tendered or drafted an opportunity to play in front of coaches and scouts from different teams. The NAHL does have an import rule. Each team can have up to 4 import players. An import player is a non-United States citizens. Because of the import rule, this is a tough league for young Canadians to play. Most teams use their import spot for older high-end players.
North American 3 Hockey LeagueEntering its 15th season, the NA3HL is a Division III Junior A League in the United States. Under the umbrella of the NAHL, the NA3HL acts as a feeder league to the NAHL. There are 35 teams in the NA3HL in 17 States. 6 teams in the Central Division; 7 teams in the East Division; 8 teams in the Frontier Division; 8 teams in the South Division; and 6 teams in the West Division. League champions are the Helena Bighorns. No players have been selected in the NHL Draft from the NA3HL. There have been players that started their junior careers in the NA3HL and then selected in the NHL Draft.
In 2023/2024, 31 players in the NA3HL committed to playing NCAA Division 3. The Mason City Toros had 6 players commit. A number of NA3HL alumni also committed to playing in the NCAA Division 3. In addition, 102 players in the NA3HL committed to playing ACAC. The Helena Bighorns had 7 players committed. Over 300 NA3HL alumni are currently playing in the NCAA.
The NA3HL has an Entry Draft in April. Like the NAHL, teams can select players from all ages, including players playing in their last year of junior hockey. NA3HL teams also attend the NAHL combines and will be at many of the exposure camps held throughout the United States and Canada. Because these teams don't have budgets, if you're interested in playing for a team in the NA3HL, it's recommended to contact the coach and provide the coach with video. The NA3HL has a similar import rule as the NAHL. This is a decent league to start your junior career. Players do move on to play in the USHL and the NAHL. In 2023/2024, 34 NA3HL players signed tenders to play in the NAHL.
Superior International Junior Hockey LeagueFounded in 2001, the SIJHL has 8 teams. 7 teams from Canada and 1 team from the United States. The only team from the United States is the Wisconsin Lumberjacks. League champions are the Sioux Lookout Bombers. No player has been drafted in the NHL Entry Draft directly from the SIJHL. However, there are a couple of alumni that are now playing in the NHL - Robert Bartuzzo and Carter Hutton. Both played for the Thunder Bay North Stars.
There are currently no players playing in the SIJHL that have made NCAA Division 1 commitments. However, in the past few years, the SIJHL has had players commit to NCAA Division 3, ACAC, BCIHL and ACHA.
The SIJHL does not have a Bantam Draft and does not have a protected player list. Players playing on the Canadian teams come from Western Canada and Eastern Ontario. Many teams have a large number of local players. Players playing on the American team mostly come from the Northern States. This a great league for players that may have been overlooked in U18 and are looking to play Junior A hockey.
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey LeagueFounded in 1968, the SJHL has 12 teams. 4 teams play in the Sherwood Division, 4 teams play in the Nutrien Division and 4 teams play in the Viterra Division. League champions are the Melfort Mustangs. It has been a few years since a player from the SJHL was drafted in the NHL Entry Draft. There are a number of current and former NHL players that played in the SJHL.
In 2023/2024, 13 players from the SJHL committed to playing NCAA Division 1. The Humboldt Broncos had 4 players commit and each of the Flin Flon Bombers and the Melfort Mustangs had 3 players commit. In addition, 20 players from the SJHL committed to playing NCAA Division 3 and 14 players committed to playing Usports.
The SJHL has a Bantam Draft for Saskatchewan players. Most players are from Saskatchewan, but there are players from other provinces, especially Alberta, and a handful of players from the United States. Most players will have played at the U18 AAA or U18 Prep level, but there are a few players that will have played at a lower level.
U.S. Premier Hockey LeagueFounded in 2012, the USPHL has teams from youth to junior. There are three junior levels - the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), Premier Division and Elite Division. The USPHL is the largest amateur hockey league in the United States with team in 24 States. The USPHL recently expanded into Ontario and Quebec.
The NCDC is tuition-free. The NCDC recently expanded in the West. 21 teams play in the NCDC. 8 teams in the New England Division; 7 teams in the Atlantic Division; and 6 teams in the Mountain Division. League champions are the South Shore Kings. There have been 18 NCDC players or NCDC alumni that have been drafted in the NHL Draft since the NCDC was founded in 2017/2018. There were 28 former NCDC players that took part in 2024 Development Camps.
The Premier Division is pay-to-play. 74 teams play in the Premier Division playing across the United States. This year, the Premier Division expanded into Canada. 11 teams in the Atlantic Division; 6 teams in the newly formed Canada Division; 6 teams in the Florida Division; 7 teams in the Great Lakes Division; 6 teams in the Midwest West Division; 9 teams in the New England Division; 9 teams in the North Division; 7 teams in the Northwest Division; 8 teams in the Pacific Division; and 5 teams in the Southeast Division. League champions are the Connecticut Jr. Rangers.
The Elite Division is pay-to-play. 34 teams play in the Elite Division, playing mostly in the Eastern United States. This year, the Elite Division expanded into Canada. 7 teams in the Atlantic Division; 6 teams in the Florida Division; 6 team in the Midwest Division; 5 teams in the New England Division; 4 teams in the Southeast Division; and 5 teams in the newly formed North Am Prep Hockey League. League champions are the Northern Cyclones.
According to the USPHL website, since 2012, the USPHL has sent more than 5,000 players to college hockey, and more than 3,300 into the NCAA realm of college hockey. The NCDC has put more than 200 players into NCAA Division 1 hockey and has seen seven players drafted by NHL teams directly from the NCDC.
