Perception and reality are two different animals…
Here are some interesting facts about Junior Leagues in North America.
- The NCDC only has 6 Non- Alumni NCAA Division 1 commitments listed in the 2024-25 season. Some of these players are listed in the 2023-24 season as well. NCDC COMMITMENTS BY YEAR | NCDC
- The EHL’s 1901 NCAA Commitments since the 2013-14 season is more than Canadian Tier II leagues such as the NOJHL, QJAAAHL, SIJHL, and MHL.
- Only 7 of 22 NCDC teams have remained in operation in the NCDC since their inception in 2017-18.
- The NAHL grew from 19 teams (when it merged with the AWHL) in 2003 to its current number of 35 teams. 9 of the current 35 NAHL teams have operated for 5 years or less at the NAHL level.
- According the NCDC website 70% of the 2023-24 NCAA Division 1 Commitments were Alumni commitments, meaning those players at one point in their Junior or Youth Hockey careers played for NCDC organizations and then made their NCAA D1 commitment while playing for another Higher Level League. Such leagues include the BCHL and NAHL. Some of these numbers may be skewed however, as the NCDC has several of these players listed multiple times in multiple years on their website (see image below or visit website). NCDC COMMITMENTS BY YEAR | NCDC (ncdchockey.com)
- The NA3HL currently has ZERO college commitments (NCAA or ACHA) listed on their website for the 2024-25 season- College Commitments | North American Tier III Hockey League | NA3HL
- The CCHL has 3 Alumni Players in the Hockey Hall of Fame (Steve Yzerman, Billy Smith and Larry Robinson)- CCHL Alumni in Hockey Hall of Fame | CCHL- Central Canada Hockey League
- The BCHL has 16 Alumni players currently playing in the NHL- BCHL in the Pros (2024-25) | BCHL League Site
- The Boston Dogs, since joining the NCDC in October with the same roster they played with in the EHL, are 4-6 in their last 10 games. This is a better win percentage than 6 other members of the league which all joined prior to the season starting. NCDC Team Stats NCDC 2024-2025 | NCDC
- The NAHL only lists NCAA D1, DII, and DIII commitments- College Commitments | North American Hockey League | NAHL . The NA3HL (in a season when they commit kids to school) lists ACHA and NCAA with the bulk being ACHA commits.
- The Tier II Canadian NOJHL had 26 players commit to NCAA schools in 2023-24- Commitments 2023-2024 | NOJHL League Site
