“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no NA3-evil.”
The annual spectacle known as the NA3HL Draft took place yesterday, and—true to form—it did not disappoint in delivering more confusion than clarity.
Let’s not pretend otherwise: this draft remains one of the more questionable traditions still hanging around junior hockey. A process that serves little real purpose continues largely out of habit, not necessity.
Players now find themselves tagged on platforms like Elite Prospects whether they asked for it or not. Labels get assigned—“Tier 3,” drafted, ranked—regardless of context, communication, or consent. When players are selected without prior contact, it opens the door to misinterpretation and, in some cases, unnecessary damage to a player’s reputation simply for being listed.
But buried in the chaos was a notable development.
The two NA3HL teams operated by Darren Anderson did not make a single selection. Nor was there any indication those picks were moved or traded.
It’s hard to believe that the Carolina Rage suddenly felt so secure in their roster that participation was optional. As for the Maine Nordiques NA3 operation—while often competitive on the ice—the direction off it has been far less convincing.
Reading between the lines, it’s difficult not to draw a conclusion: this may be less about strategy and more about survival. And if that’s the case, we could be watching the final chapter of a long-running sideshow.
A year overdue, perhaps—but as they say, sometimes you have to let things unravel completely before anyone reaches for the guillotine.
