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Q: What is Junior Hockey?
The USA Hockey Annual Guide states:
Junior hockey is the pinnacle of the skill development program of USA Hockey. It is available to male athletes who are 20-and-under as of the 31st day of December in the season of competition.
The program is available to high school students and graduates who seek a greater or difficult challenge than that which might be available through their Prep School team, High school varsity or club team, or area Midget teams. The principal purpose of this development program is to prepare the athlete for career advancement either in a collegiate or professional opportunity.
What is the purpose Junior hockey?
The purpose of Junior hockey is really twofold:
1.To provide an opportunity for players in this age group to play organized hockey;
and
2.To improve and develop the skills and abilities of the participants, including the players, coaches, and officials.
What are the goals of Junior hockey?
1.Skill Development
To provide talented young men with the opportunity to develop competitively in an organized, structured, and supervised environment.
2. Quality Coaching
To provide considerable training time, quality coaching, and concerned supervision
3. Social Maturity
To provide players with a healthy, constructive environment in which to develop socially.
4. Educational Advancement
To provide assistance and opportunities for the accomplishment of the participant's educational goals.
5. Recruiting Exposure
To provide players with exposure to collegiate and professional scouts and recruiters.
6. Advanced Competition
To provide players with exposure to national and international competition.
7. Protection of Amateur Status
To protect, most importantly, the amateur status of all participants under the rules and guidelines established by the International Ice Hockey Federation, USA Hockey, the Canadian Hockey Association, the NCAA, the NAIA, and the National Federation of High Schools.
Q: How is Junior Hockey in the United States structured?
A: USA Hockey is the governing body that establishes and enforces criteria and standards for Junior hockey in the United States. The are (14) sanctioned US Junior leagues competing in (6) different clasifications. Each Tier has specific criteria that a league must meet in order to qualify to compete at that particular classification.
Junior A Tier 1
o USHL - United States Hockey League
Junior A Tier 2
o NAHL - North American Hockey League
Junior A Tier 3
o AJHL - Atlantic Junior Hockey League
o CSHL - Central States Hockey League
o EJHL - Eastern Junior Hockey League
o MnJHL- Minnesota Junior Hockey League
o NORPAC- Northern Pacific Hockey League
o WSHL- Western States Hockey League
Junior B Tier 3
o EmJHL- Empire Junior Hockey League
o MJHL - Metropolitain Junior Hockey League
o CHA - Continental Hockey Association
o GLJHL - Great Lakes Junior Hockey League
Junior C Tier 3
o SEJHL - Southeastern Junior Hockey League
Q: Can I lose my NCAA Eligibility if I play Junior Hockey in Canada?
A: Only if you play Major Junior, which compensates players and is viewed as a profesional league by the NCAA.
To view the NCAA eligibility rules in more detail visit NCAA Eligibility and Recruiting Page.
Q: How is Junior Hockey in Canada structured?
A: Canadian Junior Hockey competes in (60) sanctioned Junior leagues at (4) classification levels.
Major Junior A Tier 1 (Governed by the Canadian Hockey League)
o OHL - Ontario Hockey League
o QMJHL - Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
o WHL - Western Hockey League
Junior A Tier 2 (Governed by Canadian Jr "A" Hockey League)
o AJHL - Alberta Junior Hockey League
o BCHL - British Columbia Hockey League
o CJHL - Central Junior Hockey League
o MJHL - Manitoba Junior Hockey League
o MJAHL - Maritime Junior A Hockey League
o NOJHL - Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
o OJHL - Ontario Junior Hockey League
o LHJAAAQ - Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
o SJHL - Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
o SIJHL - Superior International Junior Hockey League
Junior B
o Calgary Junior Hockey League
o Capital Junior Hockey League
o Central/West Junior Hockey League
o Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League
o Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
o Heritage Junior B Hockey League
o Island Junior Hockey League
o Keystone Junior Hockey League
o Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
o Ligue de Hockey de La Capitale
o Ligue de Hockey Junior de Montréal
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Bas St-Laurent
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Beauce-Frontenac
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Estrie-Mauricie
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Lac St-Louis
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Richelieu
o Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
o North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
o Northwest Junior Hockey League
o Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League
o Pacific International Junior Hockey League
o Prairie Junior Hockey League
o St. John's Junior B Hockey League
o Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
o Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
Junior C
o Calgary Junior C Hockey League
o Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League
o Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League
o Empire Junior C Hockey League
o Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League
o Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
o Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League
o Ligue de Hockey Junior A Bois Francs
o Ligue de Hockey Junior A Rive-Sud
o Ligue Interzone de hockey mineur BC Rive Nord
o Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League
o New Brunswick Junior Hockey League
o Niagara Junior C Hockey League
o Noralta Junior Hockey League
o Nova Scotia Junior C Hockey League
o Prince Edward Island Minor Junior Hockey League
o Saskatchewan Junior C Hockey League
o Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League
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