Philosophy of Junior Hockey

What is Junior Hockey?

Junior hockey is the pinnacle of the skill development program of USA Hockey. It is available to male athletes who are 20-and-under as of the 31st day of December in the season of competition.

The program is available to high school students and graduates who seek a greater or different challenge than that which might be available through their Prep School team, High School varsity or club team, or area Midget teams. The principal purpose of this development program is to prepare the athlete for career advancement either in a collegiate or professional opportunity.

What is the Purpose of Junior Hockey?

The purpose of Junior Hockey is really twofold:

1. To provide an opportunity for players in this age group to play organized hockey; and
2. To improve and develop the skills and abilities of the participants, including the players, coaches, and officials.

   
   What are the Goals of Junior Hockey?

   1) Skill Development

   - To provide talented young men with the opportunity to develop competitively in an organized, structured, and supervised environment;

   2) Quality Coaching

   - To provide considerable training time, quality coaching, and concerned supervision;

   3) Social Maturity

   - To provide players with a healthy, constructive environment in which to develop socially;

   4) Educational Advancement

   - To provide assistance and opportunities for the accomplishment of the participant's educational goals;

   5) Recruiting Exposure

   - To provide players with exposure to collegiate and professional scouts and recruiters;

   6) Advanced Competition

   - To provide players with exposure to national and international competition;

   7) Protection of Amateur Status

   - To protect, most importantly, the amateur status of all participants under the rules and guidelines established by the International Ice Hockey Federation, USA Hockey, the Canadian Hockey Association, the NCAA, the NAIA, and the National Federation of High Schools.

A separate Rule Book is published by USA Hockey that is applicable for recognized Junior ``A'', Junior ``B'', and those Junior ``C'' leagues receiving approval from the USA Hockey Junior Council. However, both rulebooks are presented online in a combined format for easy understanding and comparison.