Hockey, the granddaddy of all sports, is making a comeback. More people are looking forward to the upcoming hockey season than ever before. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the difference between the various leagues when it comes to hockey. In today’s world of social media and 24-7 news coverage, it’s crucial that everyone knows the basics about the different hockey leagues. It will help ensure that you are watching the correct games and have no idea what’s going on in the world of hockey. Here are the basics on the various hockey leagues:
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NHL (National Hockey League)
The National Hockey League (NHL) is the top-level professional league in hockey, founded in 1926. The league has its headquarters in New York City, with nine teams in total. This year, each team will play 82 games, amounting to 507 games in total. The NHL is further classified into divisions based on geography and competitive balance. The Metropolitan Division is the second-largest division in terms of games played, with the Atlantic Division coming in third. The Central and Pacific Divisions are the smallest in size. The Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions are considered the “powerhouses” of the NHL. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers are currently the only teams that remain in the same city from year to year. The Los Angeles Kings were recently crowned the 2018-19 Stanley Cup champions. The 2019 NHL draft will be held on June 25th in New York City.
WHL (Western Hockey League)
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is the second-tier professional league in North America. The league was formed in 1924 and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. There are currently 19 teams in the WHL, with three of them—the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks—playing in the NHL arena. The WHL is divided into three divisions (Western, Midwest, and Pacific) based on geography and competitive balance. The Victoria Grizzlies were the last team to win the Turner Cup, the WHL’s highest honor. This year’s draft will be held on June 23rd in Calgary.
CHL (Canadian Hockey League)
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the junior-level professional league in Canada. It was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. There are currently five teams in the CHL, with the Toronto Maple Leafs the last team to win the Memorial Cup, Canada’s highest honor in hockey. The CHL is organized into three divisions based on geography and competitive balance. Each team plays a 48-game schedule, with the league finals culminating in a four-team, eight-game series. The London Knights were the first team to offer guaranteed junior contracts to drafted players, giving them an opportunity to develop their skills in a professional setting. Before the start of the season, the Knights also became the first team in the history of the CHL to make headlines when they signed 18-year-old phenom Jack Eichel to a three-year, $12.25 million contract. The 2019 CHL draft will be held on May 21st in Toronto.
QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is the highest level of junior hockey in Quebec. The league was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Montreal. There are currently 10 teams in the QMJHL, with the Montreal Junior Canadiens the last team to win the Cup (the “champion” of junior hockey in Canada). The QMJHL is also considered to be Canada’s “other” national hockey league, due to the fact that it is divided into two parts, with one part being played in the summer and the other in the winter. The QMJHL is classified into three divisions based on geography and competitive balance. Unlike the other four leagues, teams in the QMJHL only play a 42-game schedule, with the playoffs not culminating in a league championship. The draft for the 2019 QMJHL season will take place on May 19th in Montreal. This is also the case for the 2021 league, which will begin in the fall of 2020.
OHL (Ontario Hockey League)
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is the second-tier junior-level professional league in Canada, founded in 1909. The OHL is headquartered in Toronto, and is one of the oldest junior leagues in North America. There are currently 12 teams in the OHL, and each team plays a 48-game schedule, with playoffs and a chance to win the Calder Cup. It is the second-largest hockey league in the world, only behind the NHL. The OHL is divided into three divisions (Northern, Ontario, and Southern). The league is currently in a state of flux, with the Toronto Maple Leafs trying to recruit players to supplement their roster in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The OHL cancelled all of its 2020 games (including the all-star game) and will instead resume play in 2021. The draft for the 2021 OHL season will be held on June 23rd in Toronto.
Now you know the basic differences between the various hockey leagues. Be sure to keep up with all the news regarding your favorite team(s) and follow them on social media to get all the inside scoop on the NHL, WHL, CHL, and OHL. Furthermore, keep an eye out for the upcoming NHL draft in June, as there will be some exciting talent available for the taking. Best of luck this upcoming season!