🏒North America

The second-highest league in North America and the NHL's development league. It has 32 teams in four divisions, and the Toronto Marlies won the Calder Cup in 2026.

A Canadian junior league with 20 teams from British Columbia and Alberta. The Brooks Bandits won the 2026 title.

The umbrella body for nine Canadian Junior A leagues, from Alberta and Manitoba to Ontario and Quebec.

A professional league one tier below the AHL. Founded in 1988-89 as the East Coast Hockey League, it now has 30 teams competing for the Kelly Cup.

A league that describes itself as single-A minor professional hockey. In the 2026-27 season it has 17 teams, including the Binghamton Black Bears and the Fresno Falcons.

A Quebec league of eight teams, founded in 1996 and fully professional since 2004. Pétroliers Laval won the 2026 Coupe Gilles-Rousseau with a 4-0 sweep.

An American junior league with 36 teams, one tier below the USHL, competing for the Robertson Cup.

NCAA Division I men's college hockey. The title is decided in a 16-team tournament whose finals have been branded the Frozen Four since 1999 — Denver won it in 2026 for an eleventh championship. It is played in six conferences — Hockey East, the NCHC, the Big Ten, ECAC Hockey, the CCHA and Atlantic Hockey America.

NCAA Division I women’s college hockey. The championship has been played since 2001, culminates in the Frozen Four, and Wisconsin successfully defended the title in 2026. The teams play in five conferences — ECAC Hockey, Hockey East, the WCHA, Atlantic Hockey America and the NEWHA.

The top junior level of the USPHL, with 63 teams. It describes itself as the most direct route to NCAA college hockey.

The best ice hockey league in the world. Founded in 1917, it has 32 clubs, and the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2026.

The junior league of Ontario, part of the CHL. Its club the Kitchener Rangers won the Memorial Cup by beating the Everett Silvertips, the club's third title.

The top professional women's league in North America. It played its first season in 2024, expanded to 12 teams for 2026-27, and Montréal Victoire won the 2026 Walter Cup as the first Canadian team to do so.

The Quebec junior league under the CHL, known in French as the Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec. It has 18 teams from Quebec and the Canadian Maritime provinces.

A professional league in the American South with 12 teams, from the Birmingham Bulls and Huntsville Havoc to the Peoria Rivermen.

The top junior league in the United States and the only one at Tier I level. Founded in 1947, it has 16 teams and plays for the Clark Cup.

One of the three junior leagues under the CHL, the top level of junior hockey in Canada. It has 23 teams from four Canadian provinces plus Washington and Oregon, competing for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.