How to Play in the NAHL | North American Hockey League

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• published: 03 Mar 2014
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Get our full NAHL Guide here: http://www.juniorhockeytruth.com/nahl Below is our league guide to the NAHL. All information comes from interviews with executives in the league and the league's website. ABOUT THE NAHL The NAHL, or North American Hockey League, is the premiere Tier II, Junior A league in America. Players in this league regularly receive division I and division III scholarships or move up to the USHL. The "NA" is the equivalent tier to that of Canadian Junior A. It comes in beneath the top-tiered USHL and above the various tier III leagues littered throughout America. HOW TO PLAY IN THE NAHL Given that the NAHL spans such a wide territory, players from different parts of the country will take different routes. Most players entering the league will come from Midget AAA hockey. They will be seen during regular league play or get scouted during tournaments and showcases. Outside of the AAA systems, players from Minnesota (and Michigan) will jump to the league after playing high school hockey. Playing at that level is simply the standard way while a player is of school age in Minnesota and other states. Players can also come up through tier III junior after gaining some experience. Many future players also get noticed at the league's annual February Future Prospects Tournament. Players aged 14 to 16 register for this tournament through the league website. They then play in front of team scouts at the tournament, and also receive educational talks and information while there. Once a player is on a team's radar, he can become their property a couple of different ways. Sought-after players become property ("get 'tendered' ") by signing tenders, which are like letters of intent. (See 'Protected List' section.) Once he signs a tender, the play cannot play for any other team. He will attend his team's camp the next fall (or jump up immediately). The other common route is the NAHL draft. Any untendered player can be drafted, and from there they will attend their team's training camp in the fall. Players can also contact teams for tryouts. Every year, tendered and untendered players unexpectedly jump up to the USHL or Canadian leagues and this leaves spots open for walk-on players. Walk-ons are not unheard of in this league. Players who show up to camp and show they can play will get a shot. AVERAGE AGE TO BREAK INTO THE LEAGUE Like most Junior A leagues, the typical player begins at or by age 18. However, players do begin playing in this league at 16 and 17. More important than the player's age is their development and readiness to play in the league. If a young player is prepared to play in the league, a team may give him a shot in hopes that he grows into his role. The league is slowly morphing into a feeder league for the USHL, which is making its average age grow younger. On the flip side, the vast travel in this league can make keeping up with high school difficult, so a mature 16 or 17 year-old must really be ready to play. HOW THE NAHL DRAFT WORKS The NAHL holds a draft every June, after the USHL draft. Any player under the age of 21, i.e. still eligible to play junior, can be drafted. Players who sign tenders (see 'protected list') are no longer eligible for the draft. The number of rounds in the draft is not set in stone. Each team will continue to pick until their protected list is filled. Some teams will pick more than others. For our complete NAHL Guide, click here: http://www.juniorhockeytruth.com/nahl