the.com/junior hockey
the nhl's farm system, minus the salary and plus the school bus.
means elite competitive ice hockey leagues for players roughly 16 to 20, the main pipeline between youth hockey and the pros.
from formalized in canada in the early 20th century as amateur town leagues sorted players by age, junior became the top tier below senior men's hockey and eventually the direct runway to the nhl draft.
draft eligibilitymost nhl draftees come straight from junior leagues
billet familiesteenage players live with host families, not dorms
amateur statuschl players got a stipend, not a salary, until 2024
trade deadlines16 year olds get traded like pro veterans