About the CHL

Established in 1975, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the world’s largest development hockey league with 51 Canadian and nine American teams participating in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League (NHL) and U SPORTS than any other league. During the 2023-24 campaign, of the 1,000-plus players who played a game in the NHL, over 430 came through the CHL. At the 2024 NHL Draft, 88 CHL players were selected, including 14 in the first round.

As a leader in education, the CHL’s 60 clubs collectively invested over $7 million to support more than 930 CHL graduates pursuing post-secondary education during the 2023-24 season – once again making this scholarship program one of the most comprehensive of its kind in North America. When also considering the almost $3 million invested by CHL teams in the schooling of current players on their roster, the total invested by CHL clubs on education came close to $10 million in 2023-24.

On an annual basis, the CHL supports many community causes including Pink in the Rink in support of breast cancer and cancer research charities, Talk Today in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and local children’s charities with Teddy Bear Toss nights, among others. The CHL is also a major supporter of Canadian minor hockey with strong support at the league and club levels, and backing community hockey at the grassroots level via local and regional minor hockey programs, player development camps, officiating development camps, sponsorship programs, community fundraising events and engagement, and more.

Organizational Structure

Comprised of three member leagues – the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL) – the CHL counts 51 Canadian teams operating in nine provinces and nine American teams operating in four states.

OHL: Founded in 1980, the OHL comprises 17 Ontario-based clubs as well as two based in Michigan and one in Pennsylvania. Each season, OHL clubs compete for the J. Ross Robertson Cup. The OHL’s 20 member clubs include the Barrie Colts, Brampton Steelheads, Erie Otters, Flint Firebirds, Guelph Storm, Hamilton Bulldogs, Kingston Frontenacs, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Niagara IceDogs, North Bay Battalion, Oshawa Generals, Owen Sound Attack, Ottawa 67’s, Peterborough Petes, Saginaw Spirit, Sarnia Sting, Soo Greyhounds, Sudbury Wolves, and Windsor Spitfires.

QMJHL: Founded in 1969, the QMJHL comprises 12 Quebec-based clubs as well as six teams in Atlantic Canada (three in New Brunswick, two in Nova Scotia, and one in Prince Edward Island). Each season, QMJHL Clubs compete for the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. The QMJHL’s 18 member clubs include the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Cape Breton Eagles, Charlottetown Islanders, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Gatineau Olympiques, Halifax Mooseheads, Moncton Wildcats, Quebec Remparts, Rimouski Oceanic, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Saint John Sea Dogs, Shawinigan Cataractes, Sherbrooke Phoenix, Val-d’Or Foreurs, and Victoriaville Tigres.

WHL: Founded in 1966, the WHL comprises 22 franchises including five clubs in each of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, one in Manitoba, five in Washington, and one in Oregon. Each season, WHL Clubs compete for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The WHL’s 22 member clubs include the Brandon Wheat Kings, Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Everett Silvertips, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, Moose Jaw Warriors, Portland Winterhawks, Prince Albert Raiders, Prince George Cougars, Red Deer Rebels, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, Swift Current Broncos, Tri-City Americans, Vancouver Giants, Victoria Royals, and Wenatchee Wild.

Each year, the CHL hosts multiple national events including the CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada and the Memorial Cup at year’s end to determine a champion of the CHL.

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge sees the top first-year NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL’s three-member leagues – Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – face off against those from USA Hockey’s NTDP in a two-game series. During the series, players from both the CHL and NTDP competing in this event play before hundreds of NHL scouts and thousands of fans in an effort to improve their draft stock ahead of the upcoming NHL Draft.

Meanwhile, the Memorial Cup has developed a rich tradition that has shaped the way junior hockey is played in North America — becoming one of the most coveted trophies in the sport. Held annually in the spring, the Memorial Cup sees the host club of the tournament compete alongside the playoff champion from each of the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL for the right to become the champion of the CHL. The Memorial Cup was first presented in 1919 in remembrance of the many soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for Canada in the First World War. It was later rededicated in 2010 to the memory of all fallen Canadian Military Personnel.

Additionally, the league hosts a CHL Import Draft every year event in which every club in the CHL can draft players from outside of North America. The two-round CHL Import Draft took place online with the order of selection rotating between the clubs of each of the CHL’s three-member leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL). Each CHL team is permitted to dress a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.

In June 2019, Dan MacKenzie was announced as the CHL’s first full-time President. The three Member League Commissioners serve as CHL Vice-Presidents, including Mario Cecchini (QMJHL), Bryan Crawford (OHL), and Dan Near (WHL).

Playing before more than nine million ticket holders each season, the CHL and its clubs are the top-ranked sports property in 46 Canadian markets, drawing intimate connections with Canadians and their communities. On an annual basis, the CHL reaches more than one in three Canadians and has a strong, growing, and passionate fan base across Canada and in the United States. In all, nearly 10 million Canadians connect with the CHL each year. By the numbers, the CHL and its clubs also count more than 450 league officials, 1,000 staff members, 1,300 billet families, and 1,700 players.

Shane Wright of team Red. Luke Durda/OHL Images

CHL Alumni

The CHL continued to showcase why it is the best development league in the world. As the top supplier of talent to the NHL, the CHL saw 430 of its alumni play a game in the NHL this season, which is the most of any development hockey league in the world. At the 2024 NHL Draft, 88 CHL players were drafted, which accounted for nearly 40% of the 225 picks made by the NHL’s 32 clubs. According to the NHL, the 88 selections from the CHL were more than the combined 38 players chosen out of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP).

The 2024 NHL Draft represented the fourth year in a row that the CHL exceeded 80 draft picks and the 17th time in the last 20 years that it has achieved this feat. Additionally, there were 14 CHL skaters taken in the first round of this year’s draft, including six in the top 10. Over the last year, CHL players also showcased their world-class talent on the international stage, as together more than 85 of them won medals at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2023 U17 World Challenge, 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.