Junior Hockey League Rankings (North America)

I hate ranking leagues. You can make almost any order true depending on the criteria you use. We are at a point in junior hockey though where you can’t take league’s titles/labels at face value. This must be so confusing to the new-to-junior player so here we go.

We will use a star meter since letters and numbers don't seem to mean much anymore in junior hockey. The criteria used is the average overall brand of the league(level of play, stability, player opportunity, financial affect on players, etc). Not every single league is accounted for- just the ones that have been most relevant in my world right now.

Remember, rankings are not the end all be all. Take these as a starting point to understanding the lay of the land and navigating your journey.

-Eric Swanick(@swancommander)

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5.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CHL

The CHL is the best junior league on this planet. They are the only league in North America that sends players directly to the National Hockey League(meaning player played in the CHL and the player’s next game is in the NHL). They have the highest level of coaching, standards, and player amenities that junior hockey has to offer.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

USHL

The USHL is the USA’s top junior league. Often compared to the CHL, the USHL  is a high end operation but lacks the top end talent and budget of the CHL. The lower budget obviously limits the spending on coaching, player amenities, etc. compared to the CHL. The 100-200 player "pay to play main camps" also weaken the pedigree of the USHL. What this league does provide, clearly separates it from the list below.

Note: USHL production numbers are skewed in the USHL's favor because of the NTDP. From a league perspective, the NTDP teams do play in the USHL so the league did play a part in their development schedule. From a prospective

player perspective, there is no where else in the USHL that you can go to get what the NTDP offers. If it wasn't different, it wouldn't exist.

*USHL Commissioner Glenn Hefferan appeared in Season 2 Episodes 13 & 14 of the Swan Hockey podcast. 🎧 Click here to stream now.

4.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NAHL

A leader in NCAA placement, the NAHL provides a high end environment and "tuition free" hockey. Through all of the change that junior hockey has endured over the years including many Jr. A Canadian teams going to a pay to play model, the NAHL has stayed true to the standards and in a way the NAHL is one of the "last men standing". The pedigree of this league would be even higher if they fixed the summer camp “tryout process”.

BCHL

With the NCAA rule change, the BCHL saw much of its top talent leave for the CHL along with arguably its top club the Penticton Vees. The BCHL is still a high end junior league providing a high end experience for players. 

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

CJHL

The CJHL is Hockey Canada’s Tier 2 system made up of 9 leagues. A mix between "tuition free" and "pay to play" has weakened some  parts of the CJHL. Nonetheless, the standards and regulations remain. 

3.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

NCDC

Some teams are "tuition free" while others are "pay to play". The league's mandate of 6 "tuition free" roster spots on every "pay to play" team combined with the league's NIL program separates them from the rest of the below list.

*NCDC/USPHL Commissioner Tony Zasowski appeared in Season 2 Episode 47 of the Swan Hockey podcast. 🎧 Click here to stream now.

2.5 ⭐️⭐️✨

NA3HL

The NA3HL is extremely inconsistent, just as other pay to play USA leagues are. They are separated on this list from the EHL via the NAHL’s new rule which locks out U.S. based unsanctioned leagues' players from progressing to the NAHL during the season.

2.0 ⭐️⭐️

EHL

It really sucks putting the EHL in this spot as the EHL was once probably the top Tier 3 league in the U.S. The EHL has been repeatedly taking it on the chin over the last couple of years between losing teams mid season and now being a part of the NAHL's "player ban". Losing teams mid season does not help gain trust in stability.

1.0 ⭐️

USPHL PREMIER

A shell of what the premier was, this league will lose much of its top talent to the "new" NCDC along with losing the “priority” many organizations showed towards their Premier teams.

0.5 ✨

EHLP

This league provides local player’s an experience before going to college or even while attending a local college. Players will also launch to a higher caliber Tier 3 league. 

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