As TJHN reported in June, Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Approved For 2015-2016, the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League is preparing to launch with the addition of the Breckenridge Bucks.
With founding members of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League being the Aspen Leafs, Colorado Rampage (Monument), Colorado Thunderbirds (Littleton), Grand Junction Coyotes and Pikes Peak Miners (Colorado Springs), and the addition of the Bucks, they have met USA Hockey’s mandate of having six teams to begin the season.
The RMJHL will offer a complete path through USA Hockey’s player development model. The founding member teams will have programing that has offerings for players starting at 8 years old through 20 years old.
When looking at the footprint, the RMJHL not only offers local players an opportunity to stay at home and play junior, but offers a very attractive selection of locations for recruiting purposes to attract out of area players.
While many are concerned that these additional teams will put more pressure on the Tier III player market, the pressure will most likely be felt by the WSHL, and not other USA Hockey markets outside of the western United States.
With a record number of Tier III teams failing or going dormant in 2014 due to over expansion throughout the United States and Canada at the pay to play level, the RMJHL has not only geographic advantages, but an existing player pool to draw from. Having highly successful Midget AAA programs already involved will provide an edge in both recruiting and scouting.
With ten months to go before the opening puck drop, it will be interesting to watch how many players choose the RMJHL over other Tier III leagues. I don’t know about you, but if I have to choose between Breckenridge or Butte, its an easy decision to go to Breckenridge.
The only question now is, when will some of the WSHL teams in Colorado look to make the jump to the RMJHL?
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
