Hockey Nerd

In late April the Tier 1 Elite League announced an updated set of Midget 18U divisions. They expanded from an original 10 programs to 20 at the Midget level for the 2008-09 season. For the 2009-10 season the Tier 1 Elite League has dropped a couple programs and added seven to make 5 divisions of five or 25 total teams. The new divisions are as follows:

Detroit:
Belle Tire
Compuware
Honeybaked
Little Caesars
Victory Honda

Chicago:
Chicago Fury
Chicago Mission
Chicago Young Americans
Madison Capitols
Team Illinois

Mid- Am:
Cleveland Barons
Ohio Blue Jackets
St Louis Blues
Russell Stover (Kansas City)
Dallas Stars

West:
Colorado Rampage
Colorado Thunderbirds
LA Kings
LA Selects
PF Changs (Phoenix)

East:
Boston Advantage
Buffalo Regals
Philly Jr Flyers
Pittsburgh Hornets
Team Comcast (Philly)

On May 9, 2009, the NAHL (Junior league) announced the formation of a second nation-wide Midget AAA hockey league called the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). The 20 teams comprising the NAPHL Midget 18U for the 2009-10 season are as follows:

1. Boston Jr Rangers
2. Carolina Jr Hurricanes
3. Chadders Hockey (Salt Lake City)
4. Florida Panther Alliance
5. Green Bay Jr Gamblers
6. Indiana Jr Ice
7. Lansing Capitals
8. Marquette Electricians
9. Milwaukee Jr Admirals
10. Nevada Stars
11. Omaha AAA Hockey Club
12. Phantom Fireworks (Youngstown)
13. Pikes Peak Miners (Colorado Springs)
14. S2 (Kalamazoo)
15. San Jose Jr Sharks
16. So Cal Titans
17. St Louis Selects
18. Team Maryland
19. Texas Tornado (Dallas)
20. Thunder Hockey (Atlanta/Nashville)

These are 45 of the top 75 Midget 18U teams in the country. The other groups of teams in that top 75 are mostly East Coast Pre/Post (21), Prep (3), Alaska (3) and a couple others. Add to it the Upper Midwest Elite HS League combined with MN, ND and WI high school seasons, and some of the elite Prep School leagues and you have virtually all of the competitively played high school/midget aged hockey in the country.

Best of luck to the new and expanded leagues and the players who decide to make this commitment.