CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
THE WORLD'S NO. 1 DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

The CHL is the leading supplier of NHL talent, with the majority of NHL players having first developed in the CHL. Ultimately, CHL players receive elite coaching, play a pro-style schedule, have unlimited access to facilities for training & on-ice development, get unparalleled exposure to NHL scouts, and play alongside the top players aged 16-20. All of these factors and more collectively help make the CHL the best pathway for any player with NHL ambitions. To help exemplify the latter, of the 1,000-plus players who played a game in the NHL during the 2023-24 season, over 430 came through the CHL — the most of any development league in the world.

The CHL is for players aged 16 to 20, with some 15-year-old players occasionally being granted early entry or the ability to play in the CHL. Annually, more than 200 drafted NHL players play in the CHL, while about 130+ players from across the CHL are identified every year by NHL Central Scouting as some of the most promising prospects ahead of an upcoming NHL Draft.

The CHL is the world’s leading development hockey league, producing more NHL players than any other development league in the world. Our Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) are home to the best players aged 16-20, a group that includes more than 200 NHL prospects annually. This strength in competition and nurturing environment helps make the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL the best place for any young hockey player with pro aspirations to develop. As a testament to that fact, at the most recent 2024 NHL Draft, a total of 88 CHL players were selected (accounting for nearly 40% of all draft picks), the most of any hockey development league in the world. The CHL has had the highest number of players drafted at an NHL Draft for over 50 years consecutively.

Host families, commonly known as “billet families”, provide players with a home-away-from-home during their time in the CHL and its Member Leagues (WHL, OHL, QMJHL). Specifically, a billet family accepts a player into their home as a member of their own family, providing them with housing, meals, and emotional support throughout a hockey season. Billet families create a positive and nurturing environment that helps support a player’s development.

In November 2024, the NCAA altered the eligibility of CHL players, now permitting them to play NCAA Division 1 Hockey starting with the 2025-26 season. This decision has allowed graduating CHL players another opportunity to continue their hockey and academic careers following their time in the CHL. It also has given young players and their families more options in choosing their development path, including opening up the CHL – the best development hockey league in the world for players aged 16-20 – to more players worldwide.

The CHL and its Member Leagues (Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League & Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) are the ultimate destination for young hockey players aspiring to reach their full potential. With world-class coaching, professional-level competition, and unmatched exposure to NHL scouts, our Member Leagues – the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL – give you the tools to succeed both on and off the ice. In addition to the elite on-ice development that we offer, our one-of-a-kind education programs ensure your future stays bright – no matter where your journey takes you.

The CHL and its Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) are committed to fostering the academic development of its players, whether they are completing high school or advancing to post-secondary education. Our clubs offer various supports to our players including academic advisors, tutors, and career counseling to ensure their success in the classroom. We also invest in our players’ futures by providing them with comprehensive scholarship programs that allow them to pursue post-secondary education while they chase their hockey dreams. For every year played in the CHL, players receive a full-year guaranteed scholarship, including tuition, textbooks, and compulsory fees, to a post-secondary institution of their choice.

Every CHL player is eligible for a scholarship from their respective team, administered through their Member League’s office, upon graduating from that Member League. For every season a player plays in the CHL and its Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL), they receive a full-year guaranteed scholarship, including tuition, textbooks, and compulsory fees, to a post-secondary institution of their choice. This allows players to focus on hockey during their playing years while maintaining the ability for players to pursue higher education on their own schedule. In total, more than 80% of players in the CHL will either access their scholarship or go on to play professional hockey.

The CHL’s Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJL) enforce strict policies regarding player safety, including concussion protocols, anti-hazing rules, drug education & anti-doping programs, and more to ensure players play in a proper environment that promotes their successful development on and off the ice. CHL Member Leagues and clubs also prioritize a player’s well-being. All teams have access to medical staff, including trainers and doctors, while mental health resources such as counseling and wellness programs are also available to players. This is all in addition to the educational support, including tutoring and academic advising, that players have at their disposal. They also have unlimited access to facilities at the arena, including ice and full-service gyms, to further develop their game.

Since the NCAA announced its decision on November 7, 2024, the rule change has had a big impact on the CHL and its Member Leagues as many drafted NHL players and top NHL Draft prospects have since left their former clubs and leagues to join a CHL team. The latter has helped elevate the level of competition across the CHL given the talent infusion. These players ultimately decided to come to the CHL and play here given the unique development opportunities offered by our clubs and our pedigree as the best development league in the world.