The 2025-2026 season may become more well known for its carnage and loss of teams at the pay to play level than it will be for its actual play.
The EHL as an organization is largely viewed as one of the strongest leagues in North America. Strong owners, good coaches, and well structured is how nearly everyone in hockey would describe it. Yet in todays hockey climate, even the EHL is seeing trouble within its ranks.
Seemingly overnight, the EHL and EHLP have lost three teams. Gone are the Bridgewater Jr Bandits and the Valley Jr Warriors from the EHLP. And the EHL has also lost the Boston Jr Eagles from their top league.
The news out of the EHL should surprise those outside of hockey operations and player management. Prior to this season, no one would have believed that this could happen. Everything changed in the summer of 2025, and things will continue to change moving forward.
The GMHL has also lost two teams this season. Gone are the Almaguin Spartans, and Le Becard De Senneterre teams. After cleaning up the league and instituting standards across the board, the GMHL is simply operating as professionally as any other league at this point. Gone are those that cant maintain standards.
Meanwhile in the AEJHL the Vulcan Rampage have finally folded. A nice little Facebook message to all three of their fans was all it took. Then the league followed up with a release that the team is going dormant and they look forward to their return. Interesting how you would call them a team when they had two players, and one acquired by trade for a bag of popcorn and a Costco hot dog.
Speaking of the AEJHL, the AEJHL’s Lac La Biche Islanders are playing games in a total disregard to a court order issued on September 28th in favor of the NJHL. One would think that if the NJHL seeks to enforce this court order, it could become a very messy afair in Lac La Biche moving forward.
Can you call a four team league a league? What happens when the Northern Alberta Lightning lose a few players from their glorious roster of twelve? Yes, that includes the one goalie they played with over the weekend. Makes me wonder just how many people are taking advantage of the marijuana laws in Alberta before they sign a contract.
The NJHL season got started with all six of their teams in action. Four of the six teams have full rosters or close to full rosters and only two look as though they are struggling. A message on Facebook Saturday morning tells me that those two teams will be adding players this week through trades for “future considerations or a player development fee”.
Meanwhile the NA3HL continues to roll out the Southeast division Carolina Rampage, Pelham Prowlers, Bayou State Rougarou and Atlanta Capitals. The only way to keep up appearances in the Southeast division is that these teams have to play each other. Otherwise none of them would win a game all season.
Sticking in the NA3HL, it is important to recognize the consistency of the Yellowstone Quake. A perfect zero and eight start to this season is just another example of the fine management and recruiting of this storied franchise. With one win in the prior two seasons combined, Yellowstone is the absolute definition of lowering your standards so that you never have to worry about meeting expectations. Way to go boys!
By our count thats tirty one teams down in Tier 3 and AAA for the 2025-2026 season. Stick around, this isnt over yet folks.
