I want to remind all readers that this series of articles rating the junior hockey leagues in North America is based upon independent opinions and analysis of scouts throughout the United States and Canada.
This rating is based upon the 2023-2024 season and nothing more. League history does not come into account in any way. What they did five or ten years ago has zero impact on todays ranking. It is a statement on development of players and how hard those leagues work to move players up to higher levels. This ranking IS NOT based on level of play, it is based on player upward movement.
The criteria that was used in rating these twenty leagues, was how do teams within the leagues compare when developing players who move on to the NHL, NCAA, Canadian University, USHL, NAHL, Canada Junior A and Major Junior hockey programs. Volume of player movement to their next levels is the most critical component in these rankings.
1. The United States Hockey League
The USHL continues to be the clear leader. NCAA commitments, and ten first round NHL draft picks tell the story. With more USHL alumni not only getting drafted, but signing NHL free agent contracts after playing NCAA hockey, no one else does it better.
2. The Ontario Hockey League
The OHL comes in at the number two position. A development powerhouse, the OHL is back to being Canada’s best development hockey league. More and more players are taking advantage of the OHL scholarship program and going to Canadian University after completing their OHL eligibility.
3. The Western Hockey League
The WHL falls a little to the number three position this year. The WHL is loaded with talent and continues to improve on development every year. The WHL looks to be committed to developing more players from western Canada then in the past with new development agreements with Tier II Junior A clubs that could see big returns in the future.
4. North American Hockey League
The NAHL leads all leagues in direct from junior to college NCAA D-1 placement. Yes, the NAHL has more direct from Junior to NCAA placements than the USHL. The advantage the NAHL has over all the rest is that there are no limits on the number of twenty year old players that can play on any team. They get the most physically mature athletes on the ice in this way, and that keep NCAA and professional scouts watching.
5. The Quebec Major Junior League
The QMJHL is much improved over the last few years. Talent depth is improving, and more players are moving on to Canadian University programs as well as minor pro leagues in Europe. Not producing the volume of players that the OHL and WHL does, it is still a very good development path for those who wish to play Major Junior.
6. NCDC
The NCDC is producing more NCAA athletes each year. More alumni are signing NHL contracts after their NCAA careers, and more still are moving on to minor pro leagues. With a limit of eight twenty year old skaters, and two twenty year old goaltenders on each roster, the league focusses on younger NCAA prospect development. With more expansion on the horizon in 2025 the NCDC continues to show why more players are chosing this option than ever before.
7. BCHL
The BCHL did very well in thier first full season outside of Hockey Canada and the second outside of the CJHL. It is the league that sees the greatest influx of NCAA committed players who are cut from the USHL and NAHL which make up most of the players listed as committed. Still a great league, but not nearly as well scouted as its USA based competitors.
8. EHL
The EHL is North America’s leader in NCAA D3 and D2 player commitments, and that is thier calling card. No other league on the continent does better with NCAA D-3 commitments. The EHL regularly out produces all of Canadian Junior A leagues combined for NCAA D3 commitments
9. USPHL Premier
The USPHL Premier, by volume moves more players up to the USHL, the NCDC, NAHL, Canadian Junior A, NCAA D-1 and NCAA D-3 than any other league. The largest organization in North America, with teams from coast to coast at every level continues to prove that being a member of USA Hockey is not an advantage like was once believed. The USPHL Premier is in a class of its own when looking at development from the pay to play models in North America.
10. Alberta Junior Hockey League
The AJHL is Hockey Canada’s best Junior A league when it comes to development. The loss of five teams to the BCHL raised the BCHL’s standing significantly. Failure to expand by more than one team was a tremendous error on the leagues part. The AJHL must meet the challenge of strengthening its hold in its footprint in order to stay within the top ten.
11. NOJHL
The NOJHL is tremendously under rated in Canada and the United States. An increased number of NCAA D3 commitments this year shows scouts are making the trek north. The NOJHL also regularly moves players to the OHL, QMJHL, and Canadian University hockey. As teams begin to take more of an initiative to promote their players moving on, the NOJHL could be poised to enter the top ten next year.
12. Manitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League does a great job at working with what they have. A lot of talent, and great ownership throughout the league, the MJHL does its best to move players on to NCAA and Canadian Universities. The league while well run and players well coached, just does not attract the scouts due to geography, a trend many are hopeful can be reversed.
13. Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The SJHL is in a similar position as the MJHL. Great talent and ownership make for a great product on the ice. Moving players on to Canadian University is something they do well. Geography is their nemisis, and greater outreach is needed to keep the talent coming to the league.
14. GOJHL
The GOJHL is loaded with young talent and young OHL draft picks. It is really the OHL’s main development league, and scouts don’t have to go far to watch future OHL players. The GOJHL is in a state of uncertainty though. With discussions taking place to potentially leave Hockey Canada, the OHL relationship is really the only thing keeping that from happening.
15. USPHL Elite
The USPHL Elite is a primary development league for the USPHL Premier and a secondary development pool for the NCDC. A young league by average age, the USPHL Elite does a great job at introducing players to Junior Hockey and preparing them for higher levels.
16. CCHL
The CCHL with a renewed focus on development is seeing more success. Moving more players on to NCAA D3 and Canadian Universities is the focus, and that focus is paying off. A great travel footprint gives the CCHL an environment that is easy on travel and easy on parents budgets.
17. Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
The KIJHL made the move to Junior A or Tier II this past season. While the talent level was not what many would expect at Tier II there were some improvements. Standards are being put in place that may allow the KIJHL to compete for players with the BCHL directly if they go to a free to play model, and if they learn how to better market their players and clubs.
18. EHLP
The EHLP took strides in 2024 to redefine itself and how it develops players for the EHL. More attention to detail, and improved communication has lead to more young players seeing the EHLP as a solid, less expensive option when compared to Academies or AAA programs.
19. NA3HL
The NA3HL continues to move along the tracks of development. Some players are moving on to NCAA D3 and ACHA programs. While expansion was controlled in 2023, they are adding a team in 2024 when they should be eliminating at least six teams that are simply not competitive. As the NA3HL hangs on to number 19, they may not hang on for much longer
20. SIJHL
The SIJHL is a league on the rise. New coaches, new leadership, and a new level of energy within the league are propelling it forward. More NCAA commitments, and Canadian University commitments is helping. One advantage in todays economy recognized by players is the SIJHL being a much more affordable pay to play model than many other leagues in Canada.
This concludes our rankings for 2024.
