So yes, I’m back from the long journey of scouting for the past two weeks. See a lot of good players, it’s always a pleasure for me and I’m back on the ice in two weeks. And also this time I answer a question that I get in e-mails from all of North America.
All parents and players, it seems, wants to compare leagues. What better NAHL or BCHL, USHL or major junior hockey, or EJHL NA3HL, MNJHL or Metropolitan League. Now, today we have the added confusion of USPHL and everything there to confuse parents.
Let me answer this question;
Stop comparing leagues. It is no way to evaluate any team, or level of play. Falling into the league name trap will likely be the death of your career.
If you are one of the top junior players in the world you never have to ask which league is better. So, those of you asking should already know you are fighting for a spot on any team.
The way to evaluate where you want to play is a simple one. The leagues are not the ones who get players to the professional or college ranks. Individual teams move players up, the league has nothing to do with it. Now, no league will admit this because they all like to talk about their alumni, but it is the team and its staff that move players on.
Of course some leagues offer more exposure to scouts during games than others. A lot of that has to do with geography and not much else. Video is used just as much as live scouting.
So, if you are comparing one league to another, take away the league initials and look at the organization. Do they have people involved with a history of developing players and moving them on? When promoting their alumni list, look further to see if those players are actually playing at the level represented. Just because a team says a player went to a certain college does not mean they are actually playing hockey for that school.
If you insist on ranking leagues and comparing them, only do so as a way to measure the competition and not the opportunity. “In each of these “divisions” there are teams that could move up to the next level and compete, and some that could or should move down the the level below.
Most of the confusion it seems comes in Tier III hockey in the United States. I will not comment on the complete mess that this level is or who is to blame. When choosing a Tier III team, do not look at the league because leagues change all the time. Do not look at wins and losses from the year before. Do not look at size of home crowds. Look simply at how many players moved up during the season, and at the end of the season.
Which team puts the player in the school? If a higher league will call in the middle of the season that the Tier III team you can go without asking for compensation? Any team that is ready to keep a player hostage for clearing a higher level league, a team that you should never play for.
It is now officially trying season. I hope you will all know where to go for next year. It is often confused and coach you will sign agreements under early pressure. Do not sign anything unless you are absolutely sure, especially in the Tier III level.
A small piece of information for those in Tier III level, no binding contract at this level until Septermber, so if you change your mind about a team, you are free to do so.
This is where I see junior hockey in level of over all competition:
Major Junior Canada – USHL
Tier II Free To Play United States and Canada Sanctioned Leagues
Tier II Some Fee’s To Play – Hockey Canada
Tier III Pay to play
Non Sanctioned Leagues
