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2025 26 Junior Hockey Expansion Relocation Folding Thread

Barclay Donaldson

Barclay Donaldson

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Feb 4, 2018
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About time to begin the annual thread. Get out the clown shoes. Will be edited as updates come in. Please post links with confirmed news, no speculation

Major Junior/USHL
QMJHL | Titan de Acadie-Bathurst -> Newfoundland Infantry | QMJHL Returning to Newfoundland — Newfoundland Regiment Hockey Club
NAHL
Canadian Junior A
SJHL | Notre Dame Hounds -> Warman, SK | BREAKING NEWS: After 38 years, Jr Hounds set to move to Warman **still subject to approval based on successful season ticket sales, corporate sponsorship drive, and league vote this summer**
MJAHL | Fredericton Red Wings -> Bathurst, NB | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-...ng-to-replace-acadie-bathurst-titan-1.7477808
None
Canadian Junior B
USPHL NCDC
Addition:
Springfield Pics | Springfield Pics Announce NCDC Team For 2025-26
Universel Academy | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
Grand Junction River Hawks | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
Junior Bruins | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
Montana Buckaroos | Montana Buckaroos To Join Tuition-Free National Collegiate Development Conference In 2025-26
Relocation:
Seacoast Spartans -> NY Dynamo | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
USPHL Premier/Elite
Coral Springs Jr. Cats (Premier/Elite) | Coral Springs Jr. Cats Join USPHL For 2025-26 Season
Charleston Colonial (Premier/Elite) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
Universel Academy (Premier only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
NY Dynamo (Premier only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
New Jersey Renegades (Premier only) | New Jersey Renegades To Join USPHL Premier Conference In 2025-26
Red Bank Generals (Elite only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
Junior Bruins (Elite only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
EHL/EHLP
NA3HL
Carolina Rage | NA3HL Announces New Team in South Carolina
Pelham Prowlers | NA3HL Announces New Team in Pelham, AL
 
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Might as well pencil in "Yellowstone Quake (relocation, folding?)" under NA3HL, after a 2023-24 record of 0-44-3-0 and 2024-25 so far = 1-37-1-0. :help:
 
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JMCx4 said:
Might as well pencil in "Yellowstone Quake (relocation, folding?)" under NA3HL, after a 2023-24 record of 0-44-3-0 and 2024-25 so far = 1-37-1-0. :help:
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Well, they have as many wins as players the have sent to the NAHL.
 
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Barclay Donaldson said:
Canadian Junior A
None
Click to expand...
Still waiting for an update on how Junior A in BC is going to shake out. The Hockey Canada leagues were given last year and this to assess which in those two leagues would be categorized at Tier 1 and which would be Tier 2. There is certainly an upside from a business standpoint to delaying that, but they would want to give the Tier 1 teams a little time to recruit top players, and those discussions are ongoing. There's still an open question of whether some teams currently in the independent BCHL might reconsider that status, especially given the NCAA decision around CHL players. Those decisions won't come about until their season's end, if at all.

I'd expect more information to come out on all of this within the next eight weeks though.
 
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Barclay Donaldson said:
About time to begin the annual thread. Get out the clown shoes. Will be edited as updates come in. Please post links with confirmed news, no speculation

Major Junior/USHL
QMJHL | Titan de Acadie-Bathurst -> Newfoundland Infantry | QMJHL Returning to Newfoundland — Newfoundland Regiment Hockey Club
NAHL
Canadian Junior A
None
Canadian Junior B
USPHL NCDC
Addition:
Springfield Pics | Springfield Pics Announce NCDC Team For 2025-26
Universel Academy | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
NY Dynamo | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
Grand Junction River Hawks | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
Junior Bruins | NCDC Announces Four Teams Joining for 2025-26
Montana Buckaroos | Montana Buckaroos To Join Tuition-Free National Collegiate Development Conference In 2025-26
USPHL Premier/Elite
Universel Academy (Premier only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
NY Dynamo (Premier only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
Charleston Colonial (Premier/Elite) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
Red Bank Generals (Elite only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
Junior Bruins (Elite only) | Six Teams Joining Premier & Elite for 2025-26
EHL/EHLP
NA3HL
Click to expand...
Technically for NCDC: NY Dynamo is a relocation of Seacoast Spartans, rather than an addition.
 
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MeHateHe said:
Looks like the SJHL's Notre Dame Hounds will be moving to Warman, a city of 12,000 just north of Saskatoon. The Hounds had been playing in Wilcox, in southern Saskatchewan, since 1988.

Click to expand...

I'll add it with an asterix . The sale is contingent upon a successful season ticket drive and several other factors or else the sale will be disapproved at the league meeting this summer.
 
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Barclay Donaldson said:
I'll add it with an asterix . The sale is contingent upon a successful season ticket drive and several other factors or else the sale will be disapproved at the league meeting this summer.
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When I first read the team was moving to Warman, I was a bit shocked. When I lived in northern Saskatchewan 30 years ago, Warman was a very little town - about 2,000 people. But it's a very quickly growing city, with a lot of growth coming from relocation of young families, apparently. I'd be curious what the SJHL expects from a season ticket drive, given the rink only seats about 1,200.
 
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MeHateHe said:
Still waiting for an update on how Junior A in BC is going to shake out. The Hockey Canada leagues were given last year and this to assess which in those two leagues would be categorized at Tier 1 and which would be Tier 2. There is certainly an upside from a business standpoint to delaying that, but they would want to give the Tier 1 teams a little time to recruit top players, and those discussions are ongoing. There's still an open question of whether some teams currently in the independent BCHL might reconsider that status, especially given the NCAA decision around CHL players. Those decisions won't come about until their season's end, if at all.

I'd expect more information to come out on all of this within the next eight weeks though.
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Is it still gauche to quote oneself? And use the word "oneself"? Well, too bad.

BC has taken a step and a half toward resolving their Junior A Tier 1/Tier 2 issue. On the coast, the Pacific Junior Hockey League will see seven of its 15 teams classified Tier 1. In the Interior, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has baked half a cake, naming 11 of its 21 teams as Tier 1, three as Tier 2 and the remaining seven as to-be-determined.

BCHC AND BC HOCKEY ANNOUNCE ALIGNMENT OF JUNIOR A LEAGUES FOR THE 2025-26 SEASON | BC Hockey

www.bchockey.net

The where-do-we-go-from-here question is still a little up in the air. The KIJHL will operate as a single Tier 2 league next year and those seven teams in the to-be-determined file are apparently still being considered for Tier 1. The split into separate tiers will be done in time for the 2026-2027 season. For those unfamiliar, the travel and geography makes any split a challenge. If they were to include Quesnel only, for example, their closest game in such a format would be six hours away, but it's feasible that the two closest teams geographically might be better off in the different tier. So, business wise, it's not terrible to keep working if they're not entirely sure.

KIJHL league structure to change for 2026-27 season

www.kijhl.ca

The PJHL will play Tier 1 and Tier 2 seasons starting next year. There doesn't seem to be a decision on whether the PJHL champion would get invited to the national Junior A tournament. I suspect there's a concern they would get run out of the rink if they did, since they are still transitioning from being Junior B clubs.

FAQ – Junior ‘A’ Tier 1

www.pjhl.net
 
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CrazyEddie20 said:
Gotta keep the pay-to-play scam going, you know, because how else are these kids going to get full ride scholarships to Division 2 ACHA programs?
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There is something to this. I do know some colleges, including ACHA like there players older, a few years of JR's under there belt. That being said, is that really necessary? :huh:
 
Slowdive said:
That being said, is that really necessary? :huh:
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No. The kind of player that plays club hockey maxes their talent out in Tier 2 hockey. They don't really develop, they just get older. their parents have put hundreds of thousands of dollars into hockey, so they think they should keep playing at the "next level", but they don't realize that there are a lot of hucksters selling pay-to-play programs at the same level of play in the next age group as "the next level" with a the vague possibility of a "college scholarship" being the carrot on the stick. It's sad that the parents and players believe, it's dishonest on the part of the coaches and leagues, and unfortunately, it's reality.
 
CrazyEddie20 said:
No. The kind of player that plays club hockey maxes their talent out in Tier 2 hockey. They don't really develop, they just get older. their parents have put hundreds of thousands of dollars into hockey, so they think they should keep playing at the "next level", but they don't realize that there are a lot of hucksters selling pay-to-play programs at the same level of play in the next age group as "the next level" with a the vague possibility of a "college scholarship" being the carrot on the stick. It's sad that the parents and players believe, it's dishonest on the part of the coaches and leagues, and unfortunately, it's reality.
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Do you mean Tier 2 Juniors? NAHL kids only pay billet fees. 70% of NAHL kids go NCAA D1. I'm just trying to clarify.
 
Slowdive said:
Do you mean Tier 2 Juniors? NAHL kids only pay billet fees. 70% of NAHL kids go NCAA D1. I'm just trying to clarify.
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No, I mean Tier 2 youth hockey, U-16/U-18. Those kids rarely sniff the NAHL, much less NCAA hockey. But their parents are often convinced that their kid is going to play NCAA Division I puck with a full ride despite not being able to crossover backwards.
 
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CrazyEddie20 said:
No, I mean Tier 2 youth hockey, U-16/U-18. Those kids rarely sniff the NAHL, much less NCAA hockey.
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Oh, like AA kids? Yes, 100% However some super kids do play ACHA, especially at the D1 level. Using EP and looking at UNLV's roster among others has Teir 2 kids from the NAHL and BCHL. I do agree Tier 3 Juniors is getting way to big.
 
Slowdive said:
Oh, like AA kids? Yes, 100% However some super kids do play ACHA, especially at the D1 level. Using EP and looking at UNLV's roster among others has Teir 2 kids from the NAHL and BCHL. I do agree Tier 3 Juniors is getting way to big.
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AA, A, B - you name it. If the parents have money, they'll pay for them to play at the "next level."
 
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