Junior Hockey in North America is full of talent, and the top leagues are the ultimate proving grounds for future stars! Let’s dive into the tier list so you have an idea as to which leagues you should focus on!
S Tier: OHL/WHL/QMJHL/USHL
- OHL & WHL are top tier leagues that have consistently produced the most high-end players overall.
- QMJHL has an excellent reputation for producing top-tier talent but falls slightly short compared to the OHL & WHL.
- USHL consistently produces numerous NCAA DI players and NHL players, although still not quite up to the same standard as the CHL leagues.
A Tier: BCHL/NAHL
- BCHL is a very skilled league but could see some changes this coming year in terms of calibre & advancement rate with top teams like Penticton Vees leaving to the WHL.
- NAHL: Very strong league, physical and structured that could experience a slight decline in NCAA D1 commits with the new rule change.
B Tier: AJHL/SJHL/CCHL/MJHL/NCDC/OJHL/MHL/QJr.AAA
- AJHL: Previously considered A tier, but still top of B tier league with strong calibre and good NCAA advancement rates.
- SJHL: Solid calibre, physical league, consistent rise in NCAA advancements in recent years, still slightly below the AJHL.
- CCHL & MJHL: MJHL more physical than CCHL, advancement rates very similar, but CCHL has slight advantage with proximity to more NCAA programs.
- NCDC & OJHL: Slight edge to NCDC over OJHL, strongest OJHL teams are stronger than NCDC, but OJHL is a huge league and weakest teams make it more watered down compared to the NCDC.
- MHL & Jr. AAA: Both dark horse leagues with very skilled players and strong overall calibre. With the new rule change, we expect more NCAA advancement focus with time.
C Tier: EHL/GOJHL/NOJHL/USPHL Premier/NA3HL
- EHL has the edge for NCAA D3 advancement rate, giving it the highest ranking on the C tier list.
- GOJHL is a league with strong calibre, but the focus on NCAA advancement is minimal.
- NOJHL is a good league with similar calibre to the EHL, but NCAA D3 advancement rates are lower.
- USPHL Premier & NA3HL are both large leagues, where it’s critical that you play for a good program if you want to develop well and advance to the college level.
D Tier: SIJHL/KIJHL/VIJHL/PJHL/EOJHL/Jr. B
- These leagues are ranked in D tier, with some potential for advancement, especially for younger players, but not among the best options.
- The KIJHL & VIJHL have underperformed in terms of player development and advancement, despite their somewhat recent announcement of being tier 2 leagues.
F Tier: EHL Premier/USPHL Elite/PJHL/CAJHL/MMJHL/NJHL/GMHL/Jr. C
- Considered lower end junior leagues in Canada & the US, with players typically entering for fun competition rather than serious progression to higher levels.
Check out our Youtube video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4D_ZrGet2I
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