What Is Major Junior Hockey?

Major junior hockey is the highest level of competitive amateur hockey in Canada for players aged 16 to 20. It sits one step below pro hockey, and for many North American prospects it is the most direct route to the NHL.

The Canadian Hockey League, or CHL, is the umbrella organization for major junior. It is made up of three regional leagues that share rules, share a draft system for European players, and meet every spring at the Memorial Cup to crown a national champion.

Where it sits in the hockey ladder

Below major junior, players develop through minor hockey associations and U15 / U16 AAA programs in their home regions. Above major junior, players move on to professional leagues (NHL, AHL, ECHL, European pro) or to college hockey in the NCAA or USports.

Major junior teams play a full pro-style schedule: roughly 68 regular-season games plus playoffs, with bus travel, billet families, and on-ice work that mirrors a pro routine.

Why it matters

The CHL has produced the largest share of NHL Draft picks of any single development system for more than four decades. It is also a finishing school for coaches, scouts, officials, and broadcasters who move on to careers across the hockey world.