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2020-21 American Junior Hockey Season

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This is a list of the 2020-21 American Junior hockey season by leagues.

COVID-19 Pandemic[]

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has had major affects on junior hockey in the US as

  • the Western States Hockey League suspended operations for the 2020-21 season in May of 2020.
  • many leagues are writing schedules that are starting later
  • many leagues are being more restrictive with the number of games or teams that each team plays.
  • Teams and leagues have traditionally held tryout camps in the late spring and early summer as a way of bringing in income to keep the organization solvent. The free-to-play USHL and NAHL are in a situation that spectators are needed to make playing economically viable. Many states have severe restrictions on the number of people allowed in one place at a time and in some cases the two teams, staff and game officials are more than are allowed in some states. The NCDC is somewhat in a better position than the other free-to-play leagues as the USPHL has multiple lower level leagues that help foot the bill for the higher level league (by way of higher player fees in the lower levels to offset the free-to-play league).
  • Tier-III leagues are somewhat insulated from the financial effects of the pandemic as they are pay-to-play leagues where the leagues get some of their operating income without the need for spectators, but may were still hurt by the lack of spring and summer camps. Due to gathering restrictions and quarantine periods some teams may be forced to play all road games or use another team's rink for the season.
  • Local requirements may force some teams to pull the plug on a season before it starts.
  • The border closure is less of an issue at the junior level than the collegiate level in the US; unless, players are trying to make major junior or junior A team rosters in Canada as the border is likely to be closed into 2021 and the US has stopped issuing visas for European players to play in the US.

Announced New Leagues for 2020-21[]

  • None

Former Leagues Folding after 2019-20 season[]

  • None, but in late May the Western States Hockey League would announce due to the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical changes required due to preventing the spread of the virus; the league would be dormant for the 2020-21 season with plans on returning for the 2021-22 season.[1]

Inter-league transfers[]

For more changes within leagues; please see each league's season page listed below.

Leagues[]

USA Hockey Sanctioned Tier-I[]

USA Hockey Sanctioned Tier-II[]

USA Hockey Sanctioned Tier-III[]

AAU Sanctioned Leagues[]

Tier-II[]

Tier-III[]

  • 2020-21 CPJHL Season (League unable to draft a schedule due to restrictions in both Ontario and Quebec)

Independent[]

Tier-II[]

Tier-III[]

Canadian Leagues with US-Based Teams[]

See Also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ http://www.wshl.org/news/2020-2021-wshl-season
  2. ↑ https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1101391
  3. ↑ https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/1101884
  4. ↑ https://www.aberdeennews.com/sports/professional/wings/nahl-approves-el-paso-texas-team-for-2021-22/article_2b1ce9be-b00a-11ea-8401-6bcd813acc2e.html
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