Hockey players come mainly from North America, but also from all over the world, to experience the high-level competition that Northwood has to offer while building their game in hopes of advancing to the next level. With the path following Prep Hockey at Northwood being so extensive, players’ destinations can be in all different directions.
As of now, there are currently eight players affiliated with junior teams throughout North America, and the list is growing, with a majority of those players earning their teams’ rights within the last few weeks.
This past week at school, senior assistant captain Jacob Brunton ‘25 shared a more in-depth description of the teams, leagues, and next steps following junior hockey.
“Junior hockey is a level of Ice Hockey played by young athletes typically aged 16 to 21. It serves as a developmental stage for players who aspire to play at higher levels, such as college hockey or, ultimately, the NHL. It is operated like a professional league, but one of the biggest differences is that you don’t get paid. This is a prevalent route for many players to take after youth or prep hockey before continuing their career at the collegiate level or deciding not to play anymore. There are many different leagues across the continent where you can play junior hockey, all varying at different levels.”
“The highest level of junior hockey that you can play is Major Junior, which is under the blanket league of the CHL. In the CHL, you can play in the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, or the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. These are the only leagues where players receive a small stipend, but it is not enough to live off of. The most common junior hockey that is played, especially by Northwood players, is Junior hockey in leagues like the United States Hockey League (USHL) or the North American Hockey League(NAHL). These teams are all across the country, mainly in the Midwest. Then there’s also the Canadian junior hockey league, which is a blanket for many junior A hockey leagues where many Canadian Northwood players go to play.”
Unlike many other sports, the road to collegiate hockey on the guys’ side is not a direct shot. The Northwood community is now aware of where and why the boys are heading. Best of luck in Juniors!
