A lot of misleading information exists in the Junior Hockey Landscape. Some Leagues position themselves as something they are not, and other leagues do not get the recognition they deserve.
Here are some interesting FACTS about the Eastern Hockey League (EHL)…
Just like other US & Canadian Tier II Leagues, the EHL has Hundreds of Alumni at all levels of Professional Hockey– The NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, and European Pro. Some of these Pro Players who got their start in the EHL include Cayden Primeau (Montreal), Alex Steeves (Toronto), Marc Del Gazio (Nashville), Cam Dineen (Edmonton) and others. See the EHL’s Pro Alumni List here- Pro Alumni
Check out this video:
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.
The EHL’s Operating Standards are some of the highest in all of North American Junior Hockey, with minimum and standardized practice hours, gym time, video sessions, equipment and apparel packages and travel/ bus mandates for all teams. These operating standards set the EHL apart from its competitors as many Tier II leagues in the US and Canada operate without the strict guidelines the EHL adheres to.
The EHL’s franchise stability is exemplary, never going below 16 teams. 40% of the current league has remained in the league for over 10 year s (8/20), and 11 of 20 teams ( 55%) have operated for at least 7 consecutive seasons. Only 7 of 22 NCDC teams have operated in the NCDC since their inception in 2017-18. 9 of the current 35 NAHL teams have operated for 5 years or less at the NAHL level.
Like other Tier II leagues in the US, the EHL has current Alumni playing at all levels of NCAA hockey including NCAA Division 1, 2, and 3. NCAA Alumni list here- NCAA Commitments
Each EHL teams Ownership and Coaching Staff’s have playing resumes that include former NHL players, AHL and ECHL players, NCAA Division 1, 2, and 3 and European Pro Players. Staffs of EHL programs include full time resources including Assistant Coaches and Goaltending Coaches, as well as Strength and Conditioning specialists and much more. Some of these notable names include:
- Ian Moran- Boston Jr Eagles- 489 NHL Games
- Chris Cerella- NH Avalanche- All time leading scorer at Quinnipiac University
- Tim Kunes- NE Wolves- NHL Draft pick (Carolina) and 3 time European Champion (8 Year Pro Career)
- Scott Drevitch- Bridgewater Bandits- 19 Year Pro Career
- Toby O’Brien- HC Rhode Island- NHL Scout with Buffalo Sabres, NY Islanders and Florida Panthers ( 11 years)
- Todd Stirling- Express HC- Scout Ottawa Senators
The EHL’s Frozen Finals is one of the Standout Events in All of Junior Hockey, and is held annually at Providence College in April. It takes the top teams from the EHL and EHLP, puts them in a Division 1 NCAA environment for nearly a week as they compete for their respective league championships.- Playoffs & Frozen Finals
The EHL’s Showcases during the regular season are ONLY in the NCAA footprint. No showcases in Vegas or Florida in front of empty houses. Well attended showcases right in the backyard of NCAA programs in the Northeast Region of the US- Showcase Series
The EHL’s All Star College Series takes some of the top players on EHL rosters and plays them directly against NCAA teams. This event has been held annually since the 2017-18 season, as the EHL has played programs such as UMass Boston, SUNY Brockport, Plymouth State, and Curry College. The EHL has scored wins against teams such as Salem State, Keene State and nationally ranked Elmira. All-Star Series
For more information on the Eastern Hockey League, check out their website here- Eastern Hockey League
By Andrew Trimble
To Purchase Andrew’s new book, The Hockey Planner, follow this link here- The Hockey Planner: A Year by Year Plan to Assist You on Your Hockey Coaching Journey: From Learn to Play to Junior Hockey: Trimble, Andrew: 9781963743395: Amazon.com: Books
