I usually take heat from some people when I predict the future. It really is humorous in many respects when people simply wont believe what you tell them is going to happen before it happens. Then when it happens they forget to apologize.
The USA Hockey Annual Winter Meetings begin tomorrow, but before they begin we got an undercover preview of where USA Hockey is heading.
Months ago I told many people that USA Hockey would eventually move to reduce or completely eliminate the amount of import players in the United States. The first such move beginning with Goalies, can be found in the 2017 Junior Hockey Winter Meetings Report written by John Vanbiesbrouck Jr. Council Chairperson;
“Three years ago Hockey Canada adopted a rule blocking all European Goalies from playing in the CHL and CJHL. As a result of this many of these Europeans have made their way onto USHL and NAHL rosters. Many believe these imports are taking valuable ice time from US players development. Currently Jim Johannson and Marc Boxer are working with the USHL General Managers on some possible legislation regarding import players.”
This is only the beginning concerning the eventual elimination of import players across the board from the USHL and NAHL in my opinion.
The USPHL denial for Tier II status is also expected to be discussed again, along with the future of any USPHL organizations under USA Hockey.
In the annual report it states;
“The Junior Council held a meeting (USA Hockey Arena, Plymouth, MI) with the USPHL (Tier II) group on December 2nd. The USPHL presented to the Junior Council. The Junior Council deliberated and voted to deny this tier II submission. The USPHL Tier II group did not appeal this decision to the Junior Hockey Expansion Appeal Board. We assume this Tier II entity will most likely operate outside of USA Hockey this coming season.”
We are expecting a compromise offer to be made to the USPHL to keep them within USA Hockey. Whether it is accepted or not is anyone’s guess. USPHL owners across the country made their feelings known to league leadership this past weekend at league meetings in Boston and the majority of owners want to leave USA Hockey.
I have pointed out on several occasions in 2016 that the USHL and NAHL had become much closer and are beginning to work together whereas in the past they did not. It is now known that USA Hockey is having these leagues enter into a Development Agreement.
That Development Agreement is not yet signed but will soon be. Once complete, USA Hockey intends to make Tier III conform to some type of agreement with the USHL and NAHL.
The other option being explored for Tier III is to send management to the Youth Council and have it labeled officially as U-20 hockey. This way, there could be no forced compensation when players are “called up”.
The report stating;
“We believe we need to look at the overall structure of Junior Hockey and try and evaluate all aspects of the Tier III realm. We talk about 20U and maybe that is the answer but some discussion should happen as to how to handle Tier III hockey. Additionally, more conversations need to take place moving forward with regards to 20U/Tier III Junior to support the ladder of development and to create a ladder that our customers can understand. At this time, we have too much confusion in the market and our goal is to eliminate or at least minimize that misunderstanding.”
In theory this is great for the player, in practice it will devalue Tier III franchises, and would decimate teams that do the best job in recruiting.
Finally, USA Hockey would attempt to address AAU hockey in its report. Addressing AAU makes absolutely no sense for USA Hockey other than to show it has concern over competition.
The report states some AAU teams have reached out to discuss “moving back into the family”. The statement continues to mention AAU planning a Tier 1 league but that the WSHL does not meet USA Hockey Tier II standards.
This is either an admission of fear, or taking a swing at AAU. Two different governing bodies have two different standards. AAU could go on to say that the NAHL does not meet their standards. So what is the point?
The report mistakenly omits a new AAU league being formed in the Eastern United States as well. If addressing all of the junior hockey landscape in the country, it would make sense to make all people aware. That is unless USA Hockey does not know.
The report also mistakenly points out that there were no 15 year old players in junior hockey this season when in fact the Buffalo Regals did play more than one 15 year old player in season this year. In the past these “computer glitches” have been pointed out to USA Hockey and nothing has clearly been done to correct the problem.
While all of this may seem tedious and too detail oriented for some of you, it is very important information. The decisions and directions being taken will effect players for years to come. If you are not informed and you don’t understand, its not fair to blame the system later when things don’t go your way.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
