Junior Spotlight - North American Tier 3 Hockey Le

Junior Spotlight – North American Tier 3 Hockey League (NA3HL)

The North American Tier 3 Hockey League is a USA Hockey-sanctioned pay-to-play junior league that has an affiliation with the Tier 2 North American Hockey League. Some NA3HL teams have the same owners as their affiliated NAHL teams and may be used to develop players for the Tier 2 franchise.

Having just concluded its 10^th-anniversary season, the NA3HL is the only Tier 3 (pay to play) league that has a draft and a tender system. The league’s draft is held in April. Any player drafted is that team’s property in the NA3HL, but the player can explore other opportunities in different junior leagues. Likewise, a player who signs a tender with an NA3HL team is that team’s property in the NA3HL, but can pursue opportunities in different leagues.

For the 2020-21 season, with the addition of the New Jersey Titans – an affiliate with the NAHL franchise of the same name – 30 teams will compete in the NA3HL spread out across five divisions – the Central, East, Frontier, South and West.

The Central Division is based in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, while teams in the Northeast from Massachusetts south into New Jersey make up the East Division. In the South Division there are teams in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, while Minnesota and Iowa are represented in the West Division. The Frontier Division is made up of teams from Montana and Wyoming.

Overall, in terms of level of play, the NA3HL is widely considered to be below the EHL and USPHL Premier, but above the USHPL Elite and EHL Premier. Many would consider the level of play to be slightly above the Western States Hockey League, which may be in trouble now that most of its American-based teams were swallowed up by the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

Recently the NA3HL did produce its first NCAA Division I commit, although that was a player who spent time in the NAHL as well. For the 2019-20 college hockey season, the NA3HL sent 59 players directly to NCAA Division III hockey programs, the sixth-highest total of any North American junior league. Many of the NA3HL’s D3 commitments are to Midwest-based college programs. According to the league’s website, the NA3HL sent 130 total players to college if you include NCAA varsity and club or non-varsity programs.

In addition to moving players on to NCAA and ACHA/CHF college hockey programs, the NA3HL also had 26 players tender with NAHL teams for the 2019-20 season and 26 players drafted by NAHL organizations. Since the league actually is administered by the NAHL, rules have been established requiring each NAHL team to tender and draft at least one NA3HL player. The number of players who actually make NAHL final rosters out of training camp and advance to that level is much smaller.

Another advantage of being under the NAHL Umbrella is that NA3HL teams get to compete in showcases and other events at the same dates and locations as NAHL events that are highly scouted by college coaches. NAHL teams are required to send scouts to see the NA3HL games at these events as well.

Like any league, the NA3HL has some strong programs that advance a good number of players on to play NCAA Division III hockey almost every year and other franchises that struggle both on and off the ice. There is a fair amount of turnover each year, with teams folding or relocating under the same or new ownership.

Below the Division III and NA3HL commitment links are a listing of the top NA3HL programs in terms of NCAA advancement. Four of the top teams – Alexandria, Granit City, New Ulm and North Iowa – play in the West Division.

As far as NAHL tenders are concerned, the North Iowa Bulls had five players tendered, followed by the Rochester Grizzlies with three and the Peoria Mustangs and St. Louis Jr. Blues with two apiece.

CLICK HERE for a listing of all 2019-20 NCAA D3 commits

CLICK HERE for a listing of all 2019-20 NA3HL college commitments

Top NA3HL Organizations – 2019-20 NCAA D3 Commits

Alexandria Blizzard – 5

Coulee Region Chill – 5

Granite City Lumberjacks – 5

L-A Nordiques – 5

St. Louis Jr. Blues – 5

Binghamton Jr. Senators – 4

New Ulm Steel – 4

North Iowa Bulls – 4

Rochester Grizzlies – 3