Pay to play teams and leagues are no longer considered for entry in this Tier II rating. All pay to play leagues, or leagues where a majority of players are paying to play will be covered in next weeks rating. Tier III ratings will be replaced by Pay To Play ratings.
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 2024-2025 season. The criteria that was used in rating these leagues, was how do teams within the leagues compare when developing players who move on to the NHL, NCAA, Canadian University, the USHL and Major Junior hockey programs. The size of the league as in number of teams was also taken into account for depth of player talent throughout the league.
1. The NAHL
The NAHL continues to lead in North America. With more than 300 NCAA D1, and D3 commitments in the 2024-2025 season, the NAHL sets itself apart by having an unlimited number of 20 yr old players, who represent the best, direct junior to college development path in the world.
Recent rule changes regarding an increased number of import players allowed and no cap on the number of players from Major Junior, the NAHL will stay just as relevant as the USHL and Major Junior when it comes to developing NCAA student athletes.
2 NCDC
The NCDC in very short order has become a powerhouse of NCAA development. With more than 200 NCAA D1 and D3 commitments, the NCDC is right on the heels of the NAHL. With limited 20 yr old player roster spots, the NCDC is making things happen for younger players as well as older ones.
Keeping a maximum number of twelve twenty year old players per team heading into the 2025 season, will keep the NCDC primed to develop players for the USHL, and Major Junior teams moving forward.
3. BCHL
The BCHL is a very good league. Major Junior teams did a lot of roster raiding of the BCHL this past season. Largely in part because the BCHL has no protections under Hockey Canada that would keep that from happening.
While still a very good league, it is not near the top of the scouting order any longer. NCAA programs heading to Western Canada are going to what the WHL, not the BCHL. The struggle to remain relevant in NCAA development is a real one, and the next season will be interesting.
4. AJHL
The AJHL had a number of NCAA D1 commitments as well as D3. They have reduced the number of American born players allowed in the league down to five. This is an attempt to be able to sign some Canadian players getting cut from Major Junior teams before they head to the NAHL and NCDC. While its an effort, no one in Western Canada has answered the question of why would players stay there when clearly the NAHL and NCDC produce more NCAA commitments than all of Canada Junior A combined.
5 SJHL
Like the AJHL, the SJHL has reduced the number of American born players allowed. Yet no answer has beem given as to how they will try to increase scouting when few scouts travel there during the season to begin with.
6. Manitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League continues to be a solid league. But like the SJHL, it is off the beaten track and not seeing the scouting it once had. Limiting American players is not likely to increase the numbers of players from Major Junior, and could have the opposite effect in making it even less scouted.
7. Maritime Junior Hockey League
The Maritimes is a high quality league for developing QMJHL talent, and for taking former QMJHL players who have aged out of those programs. It is now a much more viable option for players who want to continue toward NCAA hockey. MHL scouts were seen at several USPHL Premier, and NCDC events this past season as they will attempt to become more involved in NCAA development.
8. QJHLAAA
The QJHLAAA is a league that is in prime position to develop into a QMJHL feeder and NCAA development league. Before the 2024-2025 season, the league really was on the perimeter of the CJHL. While they had some nice players, they did very little to market them outside of Quebec. That now looks to be changing as more scouts have been seen in the New England area and players are exploring new paths to NCAA hockey.
Next week we will tackle Pay to Play hockey.
