The Tier III Junior Hockey business is a competitive one. One where games are played and off the ice, and the competition between teams recruiting players is just as, if not more competitive.
A few years ago, USA Hockey placed a moratorium on Tier III expansion. When this move was made, I, among many others questioned the wisdom of such a moratorium.
Many of us in the business said let the expansion continue and let the strong survive. Weaker operators will be pushed out of business because the customers will find other operators that provide a better value. No different from the philosophy that built the United States, many of us felt that the economics of dollars paid to value received would set the market.
What many could not predict was the proliferation of AAU sanctioned hockey across the country.
Keep in mind that no one is blaming AAU or its member teams for the current lack of Tier III players available to all teams. They are, along with other league expansion to blame for a highly diluted or depleted player pool.
Over the last few weeks TJHN has received phone calls and emails from teams in the NA3HL, MNJHL, Met JHL, WSHL, NPHL, and MWJHL. A total of 18 teams could not put a team on the ice today if games had to be played. Most of these teams could not even put two full lines on the ice if games had to be played.
The first casualty of the 2013-2014 season has already come.
On September 4th, 2013, just twenty-two days later the NPHL said the team had pulled the plug on the season. Twenty two days! You would think that after gaining such late entry into the league through an appeal to USA Hockey that the NPHL would have had things ready to go for the Everett team. Turns out that the team was to be owned by the NPHL and they found there were not enough players to go around.
Who’s next?
Multiple WSHL teams are reporting dramatic player shortages, while four of the MWJHL teams are so low in numbers that you still couldn’t ice one team if you combined the four of them! Teams in the AAU Northern States League are also looking for players.
The problem is not only with AAU sanctioned teams but with USA Hockey teams as well. Multiple NA3HL, MNJHL, Met JHL and teams under the USPHL umbrella are also very short on players. Perennial powerhouse teams at the Tier III level that once never had a problem filling a roster are now struggling to get three full lines to compete as season openers approach.
By our count, there are at least 18 teams nationwide that could not compete right now if they had to play. You can probably double that number of teams who do not have full 25 man rosters.
The Tier III market correction is coming. Team owners that do not have full rosters are likely not going to enjoy having to shell out serious dollars to keep teams afloat this year. Some teams could fold before or during the current season. Some will likely fold or try the relocation idea next spring. Relocation does not solve an organization issue or recruiting weakness though.
Is there time left for these teams to right the ship? Certainly. But not all will be able to do so. With more Tier II opportunity in Canada for U. S. based players, there are simply not enough players to fill the rosters of Tier III teams.
All Tier III teams are not created equal. Parents and players still exploring Tier III opportunity need to be very careful when picking the team to play for at this time.
TJHN has several select teams that we are directing players to if they are looking for quality organizations. Feel free to contact us if you would like information on any teams before you commit. [email protected]
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
