Junior Council Report Executive Committee Meeting November 2020
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Junior Council Report Executive Committee Meeting November 2020 Current Junior Council Members. Donna Kaufman – Junior Council Chairperson Eric Ballard -- College Club Representative Jonathon Blum – Athlete Director Cheri Bonawitz – New England District Director Chris Clark – Athlete Director Mark Frankenfeld – Commissioner, North American Hockey League Tom Garrity – Commissioner, United States Hockey League Matt Keator -- NHLPA Agent John-Michael Liles – Athlete Director Tom Lenz – Southeastern District Director Blake Macnicol -- Hockey Operations, North American Hockey League Scott Monaghan – Senior Director, NTDP Maurice Rosales -- Commissioner, Eastern Hockey League Mike Snee – NCAA Director, College Hockey Inc. Marc Boxer - Staff Liaison, Director, Jr. Hockey Strategic Planning Currently the Junior Council is working on revising this plan due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I should note that the National Junior Development Program is still being worked on by Junior Council members. Currently a committee has been put together to look at a partial pay to play platform. One area of interest is the Northwest. More to come on this as we come out of this pandemic. Junior Officiating Development Program (JODP) Throughout the summer, Scott Zelkin and his leadership team worked with the various Jr. Leagues, medical advisors and senior officials to develop and implement a safety protocol for officials. This protocol involves guidelines for travel, scheduling, arena standards and safety measures. Additionally, work has been done to formulate rules change submissions for the upcoming 2021-2025 USA Hockey Jr. Rule Book. Game Comparison Leagues in North America USHL: Most teams are nearing 20+ games including preseason games. Started 11/6. NAHL: Range is 3‐23 games played, average in high‐teens. Season started 10/9. OHL/WHL: Zero games played QMJHL: Most hovering in 10‐18 games played range. Preseason started 9/1 NCAA games played range from 2‐14, earliest start was 11/13. USA Hockey Junior Leagues Tier I: United States Hockey League Schedule The USHL 2020-21 regular season schedule was finalized and released on September 29th. The 24-week, regionally-based schedule begins on Nov. 5 and concludes on Apr. 24. Each team will play a total of 54 games. The USHL is currently at 14 teams due to two teams having to go dormant for the 2020-21 Season. The two teams that waived operations for this season, the Cedar Rapids, Rough Riders and the Madison Capitols. Cedar Rapids Roughriders arena suffered major damage causing them not to operate whereas the Madison Capitols waived operations due to covid-19 complications in the Madison area. Both teams fully plan to reassemble for the 2021-22 season. A dispersal draft was held in order for players on those teams protected lists to find teams to play on for the current season. Covid-19 Return to Play The USHL has adopted a Return to Play Protocol. The main emphasis of the document is providing guidelines and recommendations for the safety of players, coaches, staff, billets and fans, as well as ensuring Clubs are taking all available precautions against the spread of COVID-19. Each Member Club is responsible for working directly with local health officials to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest information in their market. The league has instituted weekly calls with individual teams to address challenges, and provide teams with latest information and best practices from the USHL’s consulting physicians (Dr. Dev Anderson, an infectious disease expert, and cardiologist Dr. Matthew Martinez.) NHL Draft Overview The USHL had another strong showing at the 2020 NHL Draft with a total of 51 players selected. It was the third consecutive NHL Draft with more than 50 USHL players selected. All 16 USHL teams had a player selected this year. Tier I: North American Hockey League Covid-19 Return to Play for both NAHL and NA3HL: Players are required to arrive with a negative test (including affiliates). Individuals showing primary symptoms will self-isolate for 14 days. Individuals symptoms do not escalate or disappear within 48-72 hours may return if test negative. Individual team physicians and local guidance manages the response on the ground. NAHL Membership: The NAHL has 27 member teams, 23 members are active in 20-21. Four members waived operations due to complications of covid-19 but planning to come back in 21-22. Corpus Christi, Jamestown, Kansas City and Springfield. A dispersal draft was held in order for players on these teams protected lists to find a team to play on for the current season. The League will have one new expansion team for the 2021-22 season, El Paso, TX. El Paso won the Kraft Hockeyville 2020. (Johnstown won it 2015) NCAA Placement: The 2019-20 season saw NAHL with all time high NCAA Division I commitments Jon Cooper – Tampa Head Coach, coached in both the NAHL and NA3HL, Robertson Cup Champion Conner Hellenbuyck, Vezina Winner, Played in the NAHL, former Goaltender of the year, Rookie of the year Events: Showcase target is Feb 8/9/10 at Super Rink in Blaine, MN Top Prospect target is May 29/30 at Fogarty arena in Blaine, MN Robertson Cup target is May 28-June2 at Fogarty arena in Blaine, MN Tier III: North American 3 Hockey League Covid-19 Return to Play for both NAHL and NA3HL: Players are required to arrive with a negative test (including affiliates). Individuals showing primary symptoms will self-isolate for 14 days. Individuals symptoms do not escalate or disappear within 48-72 hours may return if test negative. Individual team physicians and local guidance manages the response on the ground. NA3HL Membership: 31 active member teams for the 2020-21 season. Two teams are currently inactive, Breezy Point, MN and Skylands, NY. College Hockey Placement: NCAA Division I - 7 NCAA Division III – 68 ACHA Division 1 (Club Hockey) – 78 Events: North American 3 Showcase cancelled Top Prospects target Feb 8/9/10 at Super Rink in Blaine, MN Fraser Cup target March 30-Apr 3 at the Edge in Bensenville, Il Tier III: The Eastern Junior Hockey League. League Return to Play Information: To assist Eastern Hockey League (EHL) Member teams with their planning and decision-making, the EHL has issued the following Protocol for Member teams to follow. The league recognizes and understands that local, county, state and federal governments may impose requirements, restrictions, limitations or other mandates which govern return to play. This protocol should be viewed as a supplement to local rules, which should always take precedent. Member teams must address jurisdictional requirements and may impose additional protocols governing return to play. EHL Membership The Eastern Junior Hockey league has two levels. The top level is the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) with 18 member teams. The lower level is the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) division that has 14 member teams. The Eastern Hockey League started the season on September 18th and are currently planning on ending the season with their Frozen Finals, which are scheduled for March 24th to 28th at Providence College. The EHL playoffs will follow the same format as last year with 14 of the 18 teams advancing and working our way down to the EHL's version of the Frozen Four. All 12 teams in the EHLP will make the playoffs and work down to a "Frozen Three". The Eastern Hockey League lost one member team, the New York Bridgemen, who had their membership terminated. The Eastern Hockey has two new expansion teams that will be announce in the near future. American based teams in Canadian leagues Independent Teams (7) Teams playing in Canadian Tier II Leagues) The four teams below have waived operations for 2020-21 o Buffalo Jr. Sabres: Grand Island, NY (Ontario Jr. Hockey League) o Buffalo Regals: Cheektowaga, NY (Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League) o Spokane Braves: Spokane, WA (Kootenay International Jr. Hockey League) o Wenatchee Wild: Wenatchee, WA (British Columbia Jr. Hockey League) The three teams below are currently on hold due to US/Canadian border issues o Northeast Wisconsin Lumberjacks: Spooner, WI (Superior International Jr. League) o Soo Eagles: Sault Ste Marie, MI (North Ontario Jr. Hockey League) o Thief River Falls: Thief River Falls, MN ((Superior International Jr. League) The nine Major Junior teams playing in the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League will start play in at some point in late winter/early spring. 15-Year-Old Waiver To date USA Hockey has not received any requests only questions pertaining to dates and timelines. Respectfully, Donna Kaufman, Junior Council Chairperson .