There are some things that can always be counted on in Junior Hockey in August and September. Player arrivals, and teams vanishing as if they were never existing or announced.
I wonder how it can be that a USA Hockey sanctioned team in the NAHL is allowed to fold its NA3HL team and take over operations of an EHL team outside of USA Hockey? Indeed this has happened. It has happened and in nearly every USA Hockey discussion on sactioning, this is not suppossed to be allowed to take place. Maybe its just another example of people making up the rules as they go because it benefits them. But of course, players and parents are not allowed to do this.
The Pay to Play leagues and a whole lot of expansion teams are in deep trouble. Based on a weekend of research, simply visiting websites and social media, teams who were looking for players in June, are still looking for players half way through August.
Gone is the said to be revived CAJHL. With only one team announced, and that team leaving for the USPHL Premier Alberta division, this league does not appear to have any life left in it. Slated to have six to eight teams, remove them from the player pressure group.
Speaking of Alberta, things get real interesting in this Canadian Province this year. Not only do you have the USPHL with their strong branding and operations, but you have the fairly well established NJHL fighting for players and arenas. Toss in the new Alberta Elite Junior Hockey League and the Province of Alberta becomes one to watch as pressure on the player pool will be very heavy.
Alberta does not have enough players at the junior level to support eighteen teams. Eleven of those teams will be new this year. Thats three hundred new players needed at the pay to play level in Alberta. The USPHL has the connections to deliver players to teams, and a much stronger brand than the other two. The NJHL though has a unique business model that is designed to service indiginous players in the area primarily.
The AEJHL looks like the long shot, no number of press releases will make a bad website look good. No number of social media posts, or announcements of tryout camps will substitute for actual scouting that took place over the last eight months by the competition.
The NA3HL is in an interesting postion this year as well. With massive expansion in the NCDC, hundreds of players were attending those camps this summer. Combined with NAHL teams holding on to as many as sixty players per team at this point, and you have extreme roster pressure. So much roster pressure that some teams “camps” were turned into small area games practices.
Lets not forget that the numbers of players continuing to pursue NCAA opportunities through Pay to Play leagues are dropping. While its not happening everywhere, yet, it is definitely happening.
An indication of players deciding to give up the dream this year can be found in USA Hockey registration numbers in Michigan. A steady decline is easy to see, and it is not due to a shortage of rinks, or ice availability. The “Three M’s” are a direct indication of the health of the game, Minnesota, Massachusets and Michigan have long been considered the bellwether for the health of hockey growth.
TJHN Death Pool fans need to be extra vigilant this summer as we move sloder to September. With a number of UFO sightings, there are sure to be some teams vanishing without any announcement. Please keep those tips coming in.
