Established in 1975, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the world’s largest development hockey league and top supplier of talent to the National Hockey League (NHL) and U SPORTS.
Just last year, at the 2023 NHL Draft, 80 CHL players were selected (accounting for nearly 36% of all draft picks), the most of any hockey development league in the world. According to the NHL, the CHL’s 80 selections were three times more than the next closest league (USHL – 26 players) and twice as many as the USHL and US NTDP combined (39). Dating back to 1969, the CHL has also seen 10 or more of its players taken in the first round of the NHL Draft – a streak that now runs at 55 consecutive drafts.
Comprised of three Member Leagues – the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – the CHL counts 52 Canadian teams operating in nine provinces and nine American teams operating in four states.
Western Hockey League (WHL)
Founded in 1966, the WHL comprises 22 Clubs counting five in each of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, one in Manitoba, five in the State of Washington, and one in the State of Oregon.
For more information about the WHL Draft, the WHL Scholarship Program, Standard Player Agreements, and more, please visit the following pages on the WHL’s website:
Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Founded in 1980, the OHL comprises 17 Ontario-based Clubs as well as two based in the State of Michigan and one in the State of Pennsylvania.
For more information about the OHL’s education services, player development, player supports, the OHL Draft, and more, please visit the following pages on the OHL’s website:
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (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).
For more information about the QMJHL’s education grant program, player support programs, the QMJHL Entry Draft, and more, please visit the following pages on the QMJHL’s website: