For the last few years, USA Hockey Tier III teams have been discussing and requesting that their import player allowances be expanded from two players to four players.
The USHL and NAHL have seen their import player allowance expand from two to four players over the last few years and Tier III teams and leagues have been wanting the same treatment.
While the import player allowance increase proposal was met with a “luke warm” reception, it does appear as though a resolution is on the way.
Approved for further discussion and implementation was a compromise on the import player increase for Tier III teams and leagues.
The current proposal would allow Tier III up to three import players per season using the formula of one returning import player, and two new import players would be allowed per season. This would essentially mean that each year, only one import player may be brought back while two new import players could be brought in, never exceeding a total of three import players per team per season.
While not completely leveling the import player field, this rule change would allow for those Tier III teams that are struggling for player numbers to get closer to their roster goals. This would also keep some import players on the free agent market for other Tier III teams to sign each year.
More importantly to some Tier III owners this would create a more level import player recruiting situation when recruiting against those teams outside of USA Hockey sanctioning.
This rule change is not expected to take immediate effect, but is most likely to be implemented for the 2015-2016 season.
TJHN will update this story as more information becomes available.
