It is now the end of the season for nearly everyone. It has been long, and we all ride the up and down of the game we win and lost. Soon the cycle begin again.
This year I took on the assignment of watching the Tier III hockey more closely. I like the level of play actually. Small arena, seat close to ice, intimate surrounding. It really is feel like back to basic when I first begin coaching and the junior hockey world much smaller.
Tier III though is very big. Hundreds of teams with thousands of player. So many league it hard to keep track of them all. So, for purpose of my experiment, I pick three league to watch. A total of 16 player I know very well from watching in the two year before they go to Tier III. No goalie included in my watching.
I watch the USPHL Premiere, The EHL Premiere, and the NA3HL.
I hear a lot of people talk about how much “better” one league is over another. It happen in every league. Truth is, every league have very bad team and every league have very good team. So my experiment focus on 16 individual player, all with very evenly matched skill set and ability at their position who play in these league.
What I learn is interesting when looking back at the notes I take.
Most important thing is that all three league are very good. They are not Tier II, but each league easy have many player that could play the Tier II.
The style of play in each league was different. The USPHL Premiere was skilled and fast, but not very physical. The EHL was skilled, with some smaller sized players, while being a little more physical than the USPHL. The NA3HL was very big, very physical, and perhaps not as skilled as the others, but just as fast.
Over all though, looking at 16 similar player, I see no dramatic difference between the leagues.
These player I watch, I chose to watch only when they play the top level team in the respective league. No sense in watching point padding night against weaker team.
In every case, each player have similar point production and similar plus minus. Each player adjust to the different style of play regardless of the league.
Every player also seem to continue on his individual projected development curve. None make tremendous strides in development, but all improve as they should have with more ice time.
I continue the observation as all 16 have 2 year of junior eligibility left. I continue to watch to see who move up to Tier II, who go to NCAA, and who continue to develop. It will interest me to see who, if anyone, switch league based on league marketing and propaganda.
So, when you player making the decision this year if you play the Tier III. Do not think that one “league” better than the other. League do not make better or worse. Look at the individual team and what they have to offer you, that should be the decision maker.
Coach
