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| The '''United States ice hockey structure''' is arguably the most complicated sporting structure in the world. It includes elements from traditional American scholastic ] and ] athletics, affiliated and independent ]s, academy teams of professional senior teams, and the unique "]" leagues. | The '''United States ice hockey structure''' is arguably the most complicated sporting structure in the world. It includes elements from traditional American scholastic ] and ] athletics, affiliated and independent ]s, academy teams of professional senior teams, and the unique "]" leagues. | ||
| == Minor |
== Minor hockey == | ||
| {{main|Minor ice hockey}} | {{main|Minor ice hockey}} | ||
| Minor hockey in the United States is played below the junior age level (16 years old). Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from class to class. Unlike most American sports, athletes participate as part of clubs as opposed to schools. | Minor hockey in the United States is played below the junior age level (16 years old). Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from class to class. Unlike most American sports, athletes participate as part of clubs as opposed to schools. | ||
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| Junior hockey is played by athletes between 16 and 20 years old. The leagues are normally organized on a franchise system, and can play many more games than are normally played at the ] or ] level. ] hockey is organized into three leagues run by the ] with most teams in Canada, but with teams in the states of ], ], ], ] and ]. Two "Junior A" leagues based in the United States, ] and ], are run in a similar fashion to the Major Junior teams except that the teams keep ] eligibility for their players. The majority of current ] players played Major Junior hockey. For a while, some NHL teams ran sports academy teams, but that practice has been discontinued. | Junior hockey is played by athletes between 16 and 20 years old. The leagues are normally organized on a franchise system, and can play many more games than are normally played at the ] or ] level. ] hockey is organized into three leagues run by the ] with most teams in Canada, but with teams in the states of ], ], ], ] and ]. Two "Junior A" leagues based in the United States, ] and ], are run in a similar fashion to the Major Junior teams except that the teams keep ] eligibility for their players. The majority of current ] players played Major Junior hockey. For a while, some NHL teams ran sports academy teams, but that practice has been discontinued. | ||
| == High |
== High school hockey == | ||
| ]s in some states compete in sanctioned ice hockey leagues, with the ] league most often cited as competition with Junior hockey. There are also leagues in ], ], ], ], ] (with teams in ]), and ]. These competitions are usually outside of the ], with Minnesota and New Jersey being notable exceptions. Other states are sanctioned directly by ]. Also, unlike most sports in ], some high school ice hockey organizations ] based on athletic performance. | ]s in some states compete in sanctioned ice hockey leagues, with the ] league most often cited as competition with Junior hockey. There are also leagues in ], ], ], ], ] (with teams in ]), and ]. These competitions are usually outside of the ], with Minnesota and New Jersey being notable exceptions. Other states are sanctioned directly by ]. Also, unlike most sports in ], some high school ice hockey organizations ] based on athletic performance. | ||
| == College |
== College hockey == | ||
| {{main|College ice hockey}} | {{main|College ice hockey}} | ||
| Ice hockey's role within the United States ] system is closest to ] in that most ] hockey players play ] hockey, and so aren't eligible for NCAA play. The ] currently has two divisions for ice hockey, Division I and Division III. There are multiple leagues, all of which sponsor only ice hockey. None of the traditional multi-sport conferences sponsor ice hockey, with only the ] coming close, with 6 of the 8 schools sponsoring a Division I ice hockey program. The separate ] was formed in 1991 in order to support uniform standards for college and university non-varsity club teams. | Ice hockey's role within the United States ] system is closest to ] in that most ] hockey players play ] hockey, and so aren't eligible for NCAA play. The ] currently has two divisions for ice hockey, Division I and Division III. There are multiple leagues, all of which sponsor only ice hockey. None of the traditional multi-sport conferences sponsor ice hockey, with only the ] coming close, with 6 of the 8 schools sponsoring a Division I ice hockey program. The separate ] was formed in 1991 in order to support uniform standards for college and university non-varsity club teams. | ||
| == Minor |
== Minor league professional hockey == | ||
| {{main|Minor league hockey#Minor professional}} | {{main|Minor league hockey#Minor professional}} | ||
| There have been professional ice hockey leagues of varying levels since the invention of the sport, and over time the leagues have settled into an informal hierarchy. Today, the 29 teams of the ] have affiliation agreements with ] teams, so it is considered to be the highest-level minor league. Most of the 20 teams of the ] have affiliation agreements with NHL and AHL teams, and some of the ] and ] are affiliated. Players are often sent from an NHL team to an AHL team, but teams are not normally ]. | There have been professional ice hockey leagues of varying levels since the invention of the sport, and over time the leagues have settled into an informal hierarchy. Today, the 29 teams of the ] have affiliation agreements with ] teams, so it is considered to be the highest-level minor league. Most of the 20 teams of the ] have affiliation agreements with NHL and AHL teams, and some of the ] and ] are affiliated. Players are often sent from an NHL team to an AHL team, but teams are not normally ]. | ||
Revision as of 21:58, 19 November 2009
The United States ice hockey structure is arguably the most complicated sporting structure in the world. It includes elements from traditional American scholastic high school and college athletics, affiliated and independent minor leagues, academy teams of professional senior teams, and the unique "Major Junior" leagues.
Minor hockey
Main article: Minor ice hockeyMinor hockey in the United States is played below the junior age level (16 years old). Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from class to class. Unlike most American sports, athletes participate as part of clubs as opposed to schools.
Junior and Major Junior Hockey
Main article: Junior ice hockeyJunior hockey is played by athletes between 16 and 20 years old. The leagues are normally organized on a franchise system, and can play many more games than are normally played at the high school or college level. Major Junior hockey is organized into three leagues run by the Canadian Hockey League with most teams in Canada, but with teams in the states of Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. Two "Junior A" leagues based in the United States, USHL and NAHL, are run in a similar fashion to the Major Junior teams except that the teams keep NCAA eligibility for their players. The majority of current NHL players played Major Junior hockey. For a while, some NHL teams ran sports academy teams, but that practice has been discontinued.
High school hockey
High schools in some states compete in sanctioned ice hockey leagues, with the Minnesota league most often cited as competition with Junior hockey. There are also leagues in Delaware, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (with teams in West Virginia), and Wisconsin. These competitions are usually outside of the State High School Association, with Minnesota and New Jersey being notable exceptions. Other states are sanctioned directly by USA Hockey. Also, unlike most sports in North America, some high school ice hockey organizations promote and relegate based on athletic performance.
College hockey
Main article: College ice hockeyIce hockey's role within the United States college athletics system is closest to college baseball in that most NHL hockey players play Major Junior hockey, and so aren't eligible for NCAA play. The NCAA currently has two divisions for ice hockey, Division I and Division III. There are multiple leagues, all of which sponsor only ice hockey. None of the traditional multi-sport conferences sponsor ice hockey, with only the Ivy League coming close, with 6 of the 8 schools sponsoring a Division I ice hockey program. The separate American Collegiate Hockey Association was formed in 1991 in order to support uniform standards for college and university non-varsity club teams.
Minor league professional hockey
Main article: Minor league hockey § Minor professionalThere have been professional ice hockey leagues of varying levels since the invention of the sport, and over time the leagues have settled into an informal hierarchy. Today, the 29 teams of the American Hockey League have affiliation agreements with NHL teams, so it is considered to be the highest-level minor league. Most of the 20 teams of the ECHL have affiliation agreements with NHL and AHL teams, and some of the Central Hockey League and International Hockey League are affiliated. Players are often sent from an NHL team to an AHL team, but teams are not normally promoted or relegated.
National Hockey League
Main article: NHLThe NHL is widely considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the North American major professional sports leagues. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season.
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