I want to remind all readers that this series of articles rating the junior hockey leagues in North America is based upon independent opinions and analysis of scouts throughout the United States and Canada.

This rating is based upon the 2018-2019 season and nothing more. League history does not come into account in any way. What they did five or ten years ago has zero impact on todays ranking. It is a statement on development of players and how hard those leagues work to move players up to higher levels.

The criteria that was used in rating these twenty leagues, was how do teams within the leagues compare when developing players who move on to the NHL, NCAA, Canadian University, USHL, NAHL, Canada Junior A and Major Junior hockey programs.

1. The United States Hockey League

The USHL is once again proving it is the dominant path for development. Anyone who wants to argue this point can simply look to last years NHL draft results. Now is when I look for our Canadian readers to chime in on things. The majority of NHL free agent signings also come through the USHL to NCAA path. The number of players looking at the USHL as a viable option to keep their NCAA opportunities open is continuously growing. Experts around the world expect this trend to continue.

2. The Ontario Hockey League

The OHL is still an incredible development option for those players who are on the fast track to the NHL, but it no longer dominates hockey development as it did ten or more years ago. A continued lack of depth is reducing its numbers of players moving on. Players have recognized the clear advantages of playing in the USHL and keeping their NCAA opportunity open until their draft year has passed.

3. The Western Hockey League

The WHL is raising its offensive game. Once known as a factory for physically dominating defensive prospects, the WHL is now producing some very talented offensive players. While still maintaining their reputation as a hard defensive minded league, the forwards playing and producing in this league are better prepared for the NHL because of it.

4. North American Hockey League

The NAHL is still the leader in direct to NCAA Division One placement. It is a league of players who tend to develop a little later, and trend a little older. The NAHL is a very hard league to play in. Fast and physical, the league is very difficult to break into and not one for younger players. The NAHL is developing a steady stream of players that now make it to the NHL after NCAA hockey.

5. British Columbia Hockey League

The BCHL continues to out produce the rest of Canada when it comes to NCAA and CIS placement. Many of those NCAA players are moving on to professional hockey. The BCHL simply recruits better, and develops more players because they have higher standards than the rest.

6. The Quebec Major Junior League

The QMJHL is still hanging on to the number six spot. The league while still producing some NHL talent has largely become an afterthought in Canada. Fewer players every year are choosing the QMJHL over Junior A, or heading south to the USA. The 2020 NHL draft may help shine the light back on the QMJHL for the next few seasons, and the hope is that with NHL draft success, the QMJHL can once again raise its game to what it once was.

7. NCDC

Once again the NCDC saw its numbers of players heading to NCAA D-1 and D-3 programs rise in the 2018-2019 season. The league in its first two years proven that its geography and free to play hockey can pay immediate dividends for players. The NAHL also recognized this as the number of NCDC players drafted and signed to NAHL rosters in the summer of 2019 rose dramatically. The NCDC should continue to raise its game as they continue to limit the number of 20 year old players and develop younger prospects close to home.

8. Eastern Hockey League

The EHL is simply a well oiled machine and continued to lead the United States in NCAA D-3 and D-2 placements. While also moving a number of players on to higher levels of junior hockey, the EHL is embracing a development ladder philosophy. Excellent coaching, administration, and marketing keep the EHL in the top ten every year.

9. USPHL Premier

The USPHL Premier proves every year is still one of the top development leagues in North America. Moving players to Tier II and NCAA programs is a daily occurrence. While the NCDC has taken the lead in the USPHL family, the Premier is still an excellent development league. The USPHL is clearly the development pool for the NCDC as many players are simply moved up through the organizations. Clearly the business model thought of three years ago is working.

10. Alberta Junior Hockey League

The AJHL continues to take advantage of its new found level of attention from NHL scouts. This attention has benefitted all players with increased exposure, and higher levels of scouts in the buildings on a regular basis. Better scouting, more scholarships, and an increased level of play keeps the AJHL in out top ten.

11. Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League

The GOJHL, based on the volume of players moving on to the OHL as well as other Canadian Junior A leagues continues to show why it is one of the top development leagues in the world.

12. Ontario Junior Hockey League

The OJHL continues to see a drop in NCAA commitments, and barely held on to the number twelve spot. Now many players and parents see the league as a cash cow for owners and the level of play has clearly fallen off.

13. USPHL – Elite

The USPHL – Elite moves up one spot this year simply based on the volume of players moved up to the USPHL – Premier. Many of these players are now getting NCAA opportunities as they take their time developing within USPHL development systems.

14. Central Canadian Hockey League

The CCHL is now falling. Many complaints about player fees. Misleading recruiting practices with non Canadian players, and gimmicks to get families to fork over more money every summer are not going over well. A continued decline in commitments is also not a good sign moving forward.

15. Kootenay International Junior Hockey League

The KIJHL moves up two spots this year. A noticeably increased effort to move players to Junior A has been working and the league talent level is on the rise because of it.

16. Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

The SJHL once again elevated their efforts to promote players this year and it paid off. While geography keeps scouting limited, the SJHL is trying to focus on developing quality players for NCAA and CIS programs.

17. Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League

The NOJHL is a fading a bit. Once on the fast track for leading Canada in NCAA D-3 player development, the NOJHL has not found a real identity. Too much major junior influence is now keeping the top players who are not ready for higher level Tier II leagues from going to the NOJHL.

18. Superior International Junior Hockey League

If not for bad league management, the SIJHL would have risen in the rankings this year. A greater emphasis from individual teams on player development is working, yet a lack of creative problem solving at the league level holds the SIJHL back from becoming a player destination.

19. Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League

Still a great BCHL player development league and very well run. It is a staple of the Canadian development system.

20. Eastern Hockey League Premier

The EHLP is a not as well known as the others, but is steadily developing many players for the EHL. The EHLP is kept younger by design in order to move players up through their own development systems and this is a model that is clearly working.

This concludes our rankings for 2019.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Do many 16/17 year old's participate in any of those leagues? I would imagine it is for the 18 and older groups.

Yes.

Yes, the good ones.

Really? How many 16/17 year olds from New England play in these leagues?
USHL, NAHL, BCHL? I can see a few playing NCDC or Premier but not more then 5-10, maybe?

The good ones do, if your thinking the pathway is NCDC or Premier prior to getting to one of the top leagues, your kid isn't very good.

Ok, so there are no "good ones" in New England based off your logic because 0 kids play in those leagues until 18.
Name me some 16 or 17 year olds from New England that play there. (USHL, BCHL, NAHL)

There were several 16 & 17 year-olds at my kids age playing in the USHL, including my kid a few years back. There are several every year.

Varies by league but last stats I saw were about 15% of the top four leagues were under 18 players.

USHL Average age last year was 18.8
NAHL Average age last year was 18.8
BCHL Average age last year was 18.7
NCDC Average age last year was 19.8

Not many 16/17 year olds from anywhere playing on these teams.

18%-19% is about 1 out of 5.5 players out of ages ranging from 16-21yo that's just about where it should be... 5 or 6 kids per roster of 25. Stay in your school and don't go until you're ready

The answer is Zero. 18-19 is the average age not the % of players. Not 1 team has 5 16/17 year old's and that's how it is supposed to be.

You keep on narrowing your question. You originally asked if 16/17 year olds play in the 20 leagues junior leagues shown. The answer is yes. The CHL holds Bantam drafts, so of course some of the best players do start in the CHL at 16/17. And several of those leagues listed are known for feeding 16 and 17 year olds to the CHL.

Then you started narrowing it down to New England. Yes, New England kids to tend to stay home, or close to home, and play Prep. The rest of the world - not so much.

Then you started narrowing it down to New England kids playing in the top three junior leagues.

If you keep using finer and finer sieves, you're going to force the answer that you're looking for. Meaning, you weren't ever asking a question, you were stating an opinion in the form of a question. You must watch a lot of Jeopardy.

But, it isn't "Zero." You absolutely find 16 or 17 year old New England kids that aren't interested in Prep going to the USHL or other leagues - if they're good enough. Outside of New England (an MN) it's much more likely.

And, of course, the entire NTDP is 16 / 17 year olds, playing in the USHL. They DO still count.

This post has me confused. To the guy who said "only the good 16-17 year olds" out of New England play in the leagues, do you have any names of kids currently playing because I also can find any.

16/17 year olds from New England should be playing Prep or high end U16/U18 and then move on to these other leagues. Its the right path.

Then you aren't looking in the right place. I looked at exactly one USHL team (Dubuque Fighting Saints) that rostered eight 2001s and one 2002 last season, including two from New England. 2001s would have been 16/17 when the season started, and in fact four of the 2001s still haven't reached the 18th birthday, so they were 16/17 for all of the games they played in. The 2002 is still 16 today (turns 17 later this week).

Great point. COMBINED they played 10 games for the Saints. The NY kid played 4. Does that really mean they "made" it? The 16 year old played 9 games last year. I dont think that is considered making it?

My kid played a full season in the USHL several years ago at 17.

What about the local kid who wants to play college hockey but not move. Does local NCDC work then?

Another, finer sieve. Poster said they "cant find any." Now, we're looking at how many games they played.

I'm done. Play by - or with - yourself.

What do you do with a very good 16/17 year old that doesn't want to leave home just yet?

You're overrating your kid. If he was "very good" he would have been contacted by an NHLPA certified advisor that would be helping you with that decision, he would already be playing Beast and Prep, and you would already know.

If he isn't in that category, August 20th is a hard time to start thinking about teams. But, if he isn't playing Prep, he should play on an age-specific full season team, the best he can make (look at last year's MHR), until he ages out. Then he should be ready to move away from home to play junior.

If he isn't playing Prep and can't make a good age-specific team, then Town is your answer.

If he isn't ready to leave the area when he's 19, then he isn't a hockey player. I'd check his scrotum at that point.

Thanks- He is playing EHF Selects and Prep as a day student. Was just wondering what others are doing if there kid is not ready to leave home at 17 or 18.

Then ask that. No reason for the subterfuge.

I thought I did. Didn't know you needed his background to answer the question.

oops , read it wrong, my bad. for the record though the first year NTDP is 100% 16 and 17year olds

Any from New England?

yes, 2 from Mass and 1 from Rhode island Actually one kid (MB) got called up to the '01 team

You really answered that? I thought it was asked rhetorically. Of ocurse there are kids form NE on the team.

People would have lost their MINDS here if there wasn't a single kid from NE selected for the NTDP.

just curious why NA3HL is not included. safe to assume it's no.21?

Safe to assume it's not in the top 20. There's a separate ranking of Tier III leagues.

But, the author is super-biased in favor of some leagues and against others. Loves USPHL, hates NA3HL. One of the biggest hypocrites out there. Called out someone for lying to families about scouts at camps when he does the same thing. He was forced to print a retraction because he was dead wrong in his accusations.

Called out another guy that he competes for parent's wallets with for tax fraud which, last I checked was a federal matter not a junior hockey matter, and NCAA violations that the NCAA never claimed were happening. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in court for libel. Also said classless things about the guy personally.

Everyone's connected so you always have to be careful what you say, but I genuinely hope this guy gets his comeuppance. He's an arrogant ****** on his website and in person.

Comical to look at these rankings written by someone who is clearly retarded and biased. The author won't even publish his name as he knows how stupid this is. Good for a laugh though. The USHL at 1? Hahaha! The QMJHL at 6? Hahahaha. The best team in the USHL wouldn't win a game in the QMJHL. Total joke written by a dummy with an agenda. You can read right through it.

You think the Q is good? All offense and not the most respected league. Yeah they win the championship but it's usually one / two stacked teams.

Huh? It's written by Joe Kolodziej, who owns The Junior Hockey News, which is where the article was pulled from. He doesn't hide (I wish he would), the poster failed to list the source.

Joe is absolutely biased. He over-hypes the USPHL to the point of nausea, and hates on the NA3 more than the league deserves (but some teams absolutely dfo deserve the criticism). I don't like him personally, he does things that are abusive of my moral compass, but he has to sleep with his own decisions. I'll just insulate my kid from him.

But, he is generally knowledgeable.

As for the USHL vs. the Q, I don't know of any Americans that are choosing to play in the CHL versus USNTDP (you know, the team with 8 draft picks this past June), the USNTDP is in the USHL, and they don't run roughshod through the league. So, would USHL teams not be able to win a game in the Q? I'd say that's hyperbole. Does the Q belong 6th? Subjective. One man's opinion. I don't know that it's below the NA or the BCHL, but if you read his criteria - one year assessment - it isn't far-fetched. He would know better than any of us whether French Canadians are choosing Junior A and NCAA over the Q. I also know the Q is in some really remote locations, so quality of life may be a contributing factor.

I do think some personal bias is probably evident there, as well.

Thanks for pointing out the dummy's name who pretends he knows something. Hey Joe, did you look at the end of year CHL rankings before putting your joke of a list together. In case you missed it... CHL teams ranked 1-10:

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (54-7-0-1)

Prince Albert Raiders (51-9-2-2)

Drummondville Voltigeurs (48-11-2-1)

Ottawa 67’s (46-11-3-2)

London Knights (44-12-6-1)

Halifax Mooseheads (46-14-2-1)

Everett Silvertips (45-14-2-2)

Baie-Comeau Drakkar (44-14-2-2)

Vancouver Giants (44-14-2-2)

Saginaw Spirit (42-15-2-3)

The QMJHL had 4 of the top 10, and 2 of the top 3 yet you rank the Q a distant 3rd? Even below some pretty weak leagues. Your agenda is pretty clear Joe. Publish whatever b.s. you can to try to make sure the top New England kids don't consider the Q. If you're going to pretend to be knowledgeable, why don't you at least try to be accurate and let people decide for themselves what is the best path to their own development. More fake news. Dummy!

And this isn't subjective as well? They don't play across leagues until finals so a record in one league is irrelevant to the others. What isn't subjective is the NHL Draft and by that standard the Q doesn't perform all that well.

Also comparing USHL to CHL is a little bit apples to oranges.

USHL top players leave earlier for NCAA, typically at 18/19 so the older players in the league are less skilled. Top CHL players who don't sign with NHL teams have to stay in CHL until they are 20 as they can't play in the AHL until they are 20. Based upon that alone means there is more talent in CHL in any given year but it's not a huge gap.

That's another one people post all the time which just spreads the ignorance, that the QMJHL is a much older league filled with 20 year olds. Here are the facts based on stats from last season:
13 of the 15 teams in the USHL have an average age over 18.
Only 8 of 18 teams in the QMJHL have an average age over 18.
There are a lot of misconceptions out there. The Q is by far the younger league.

Q teams can have a max of 3 twenty year olds. No such restriction in the USHL. This keeps the Q a you get league and moves the older players out for younger players. Good system

USHL allows 5.

Dude reading comprehension is not a strong suit of yours. I didn't say CHL was older. Both leagues are U20, and both allow I believe up to six 20 year olds which would make them the same age.

What I did say was that the top talent in the USHL leaves before age 20 to go play college hockey. CHL players have no where to go. It's NHL or bust.

Now go put down your CHL pom poms, take off the QMJHL footie pajamas and go find a job.

Q only allows 3 max

The guy is an idiot. If you want good commentary about junior hockey, try JuniorHockey.com. The guy who runs that site knows his stuff and is completely unbiased.

Boo hoo. No one wants to go to the Q. It's always been that way and always will. Get over it. NCAA is a better route. More options, more flexibilty, more time to develop.

You're doing yourself a disservice by not reading the article. He didn't say the Q teams weren't good or tha the league was 6th best on the ice. His ratings are based purely on advancement. It's stated, clear as day.

He didn't say Q teams aren't good?
"The QMJHL is still hanging on to the number six spot. The league while still producing some NHL talent has largely become an afterthought in Canada."
Nothing further from the truth!