03-23-2019, 03:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-19-2020, 01:16 AM by Jarkko.
Edit Reason: Retcon in light of the recent IRL renaming of Seattle's NHL team.
)
Part 2: Noteworthy International League Systems
2A: North American League System
The North American League System (which covers continental North America - at the lower levels now even including Mexico) is unique in that it works on a franchise-affiliation system rather than the promotion-relegation system that defines most international league systems. Each NHL team has an affiliation tree from which players can be called up or sent down levels.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League in this timeline went dormant for ten and a half seasons, ceasing operations midway through the 05-06 season and starting anew in the 16-17 season. The League officially owns the Stanley Cup, which is the most coveted trophy in hockey, outdoing even the World Championships. Post-Dispersion, the NHL is based in New Polar Canada (where its Toronto headquarters is), the New USA, Cascadia, the New Confederacy, and Dakota, and theoretically could include Utah and Mexico but does not. Some pre-Dispersion clubs or clubs that were being discussed were relocated. The NHL now has 32 teams. Changing the playoff routine up a little, the top four teams from each division advance to the playoffs.
Current clubs (moved teams in red):
In New Polar Canada (11): Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Saskatchewan Warriors (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - expansion team in 2017), Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hamilton Bulldogs (moved from Anaheim, California, Cascadia), Ottawa Senators, Montréal Canadiens, Québec Nordiques (Québec, Québec - moved from Miami, Florida, New Confederacy), and Halifax Hurricanes (moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, New Confederacy).
In Cascadia (4): Seattle Kraken (Seattle, Washington - expansion team in 2017), San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche.
In The New Confederacy (3): Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa, Florida).
In Dakota Republic (3): St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Cavalry (Kansas City - moved from Brooklyn, New York City, New York, New US), and Minnesota Wild.
In New United States (11): Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers (moved from Columbus, Ohio, New US), Indianapolis Racers (moved from Glendale, Arizona, Cascadia), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils (Newark, New Jersey - note: in danger of being moved due to severe lack of attendance), Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks.
The league is split into four divisions of eight teams each, which in turn are grouped into two conferences. They are:
WESTERN CONFERENCE (Defending Champions: Winnipeg Jets)
Far West Division: Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Saskatchewan Warriors, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche.
Central Division: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Cavalry, Minnesota Wild, Indianapolis Racers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks.
EASTERN CONFERENCE (Defending champions: Washington Capitals)
Northeast Division: Toronto Maple Leafs, Hamilton Bulldogs, Ottawa Senators, Montréal Canadiens, Québec Nordiques, Buffalo Sabres, Nashville Predators, and Pittsburgh Penguins
Atlantic Division: Halifax Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Defending Stanley Cup Champions: Washington Capitals
American Hockey League
The second tier of the North American League System and first level down from the parent NHL club. While separately owned or operated in most cases, AHL teams are now required to have an NHL affiliate, and also an ECHL affiliate below. As such, there are 32 AHL teams. As the name implies, most of these are in the area of the Old United States. A number of teams either dropped down to the ECHL, folded, or moved. The top eight teams from each conference (but counting the two division winners of both) go to the playoffs. The winner of the AHL Championship takes home the Calder Cup.
By country:
New Polar Canada (8): Abbotsford Canucks, Kelowna Inferno, Red Deer Bucks, Manitoba Moose, Toronto Marlies, Gatineau Senators, Laval Rocket, and Saint John Saints
Cascadia (4): San José Barracuda, Colorado Eagles (Loveland, Colorado - may move to Colorado Springs), San Diego Gulls, and Bakersfield Condors.
New Confederacy (3): San Antonio Rampage, Texas Stars (Austin, Texas urban area), and Charlotte Checkers.
Dakota (2): Iowa Wild and Nebraska Renegades (Omaha, Nebraska)
New United States (15): Rockford IceHogs, Milwaukee Admirals, Grand Rapids Griffins, Chicago Wolves, Rochester Americans, Syracuse Crunch, Cleveland Monsters, Binghamton Devils, Utica Rangers, Providence Bruins, Springfield Thunderbirds, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Allentown, Pennsylvania), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Hershey Bears.
By division:
WESTERN CONFERENCE (Defending champions: Rockford IceHogs)
Far West Division: Kelowna Inferno, Colorado Eagles, Red Deer Bucks, San Diego Gulls, San Jose Barracuda, Bakersfield Condors, Abbotsford Canucks, Nebraska Renegades
Central Division: Manitoba Moose, Rockford IceHogs, Milwaukee Admirals, San Antonio Rampage, Iowa Wild, Texas Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins, Chicago Wolves
EASTERN CONFERENCE (Defending champions: Hershey Bears)
Northeast Division: Rochester Americans, Syracuse Crunch, Laval Rocket, Toronto Marlies, Gatineau Senators, Cleveland Monsters, Binghamton Devils, Utica Rangers
Atlantic Division: Providence Bruins, Springfield Thunderbirds, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Saint John Saints, Charlotte Checkers, Hershey Bears
Defending Calder Cup Champions: Rockford IceHogs
ECHL
Once called the "East Coast Hockey League," this tag was dropped when the league absorbed the WCHL in 2003. Post-Dispersion, it has been given the semi-joking "Entire Continent Hockey League" since, unlike the two leagues above it, Utah and Mexico have teams in it (one team each). As with the two leagues above it, it has 32 teams. As with the AHL, The top eight teams from each conference (but counting the two division winners of both) go to the playoffs, the winner of which hoists the Kelly Cup.
By country:
New Polar Canada (5): Alaska Aces, Belleville Senators, Brampton Beast, Newfoundland Growlers, and Thunder Bay Salamat
Cascadia (3): Idaho Steelheads, Ontario Reign, Phoenix Roadrunners (last two self-demoted from AHL)
Mexico (1): Mexico City Aztecs
Utah (1): Utah Grizzlies
New Confederacy (6): Allen Americans, Florida Everblades, Jacksonville Icemen, Orlando Solar Bears, South Carolina Stingrays, and Tulsa Oilers.
Dakota (2): Rapid City Rush and Wichita Thunder
New United States (14): Adirondack Devils, Albany Tigers, Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Green Bay Vikings, Ithaca Spartans, Maine Mariners, Manchester Monarchs, Niagara Falls Cascades, Norfolk Admirals, Rapid City Rush, Reading Royals, Toledo Walleye, Wheeling Nailers, Wichita Thunder, and Worcester Railers.
By division:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Far West Division - Anchorage Aces, Idaho Steelheads, Mexico City Aztecs, Ontario Reign, Phoenix Roadrunners, Rapid City Rush, Utah Grizzlies, Allen Americans
Central Division - Tulsa Oilers, Wichita Thunder, Cincinnati Cyclones, Green Bay Vikings, Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Walleye, Thunder Bay Salamat, Wheeling Nailers
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division - Florida Everblades, Jacksonville Icemen, Orlando Solar Bears, South Carolina Stingrays, Norfolk Admirals, Reading Royals, Worcester Railers, Manchester Monarchs
Northeast Division - Adirondack Devils, Albany Tigers, Belleville Senators, Brampton Beast, Ithaca Spartans, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Niagara Falls Cascades
NAMPHA (North American Minor Professional Hockey Association)
Founded in Robertian times as a unified base from which to draw hockey players from for lower-level Robertian tournaments, the North American Minor Professional Hockey Association (typically referred to by its acronym) is actually a conglomerate of several different minor-pro and semi-pro hockey leagues that are specifically tied to a North American country: The Liga Mexicana Élite (from Mexico), the Southern Professional Hockey League (from the New Confederacy), the Great Plains Hockey League, the Minnesota State Professional Hockey League (both from Dakota), the Lake Michigan Hockey League, The Erie Hockey League, The Central Atlantic Hockey League, The New England Hockey League (from the New US), the Pacific Professional Hockey League (from Cascadia), the Utah Hockey League, the Ligue Nord-Americane du Hockey (from Québec), the Maritime Hockey League (the Maritime Provinces of Canada plus Greenland), the Pacific Northwest Hockey League (from British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska), the Prairie-Shield Hockey League (from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), and the Ontario Professional Hockey League (you guessed it - Ontario ). There are two differences for this level from the three above. First of all, a team is not required to have an NHL, AHL, and/or ECHL affiliate, even though the reverse is not true - each NHL team must have a minimum of two NAMPHA affiliates and can have a maximum of ten. The second difference is that it isn't required for the league to have 32 teams, although a minimum of sixteen is (Hawaii hasn't joined NAMPHA for this exact reason, since they only have eight semi-pro teams). The maximum is 32.
Each league has its own championship, but the winners of each championship plus the runner-up from the highest-ranked league play for the Dajobo Cup, which was donated by former New Polar Order emperor Dajobo. The playoffs in every individual league are best-of-five, owing to the fact that there is also the four-round best-of-five playoff for the Dajobo Cup after the fact. In other words, while the three levels above require 16 wins to win their playoffs, in NAMPHA it is as many as 24! (The only leagues for which this is not the case are Mexico's, Utah's, and the MHL's, for which it is 21.) The defending champions of this are the LNAH's Sorel-Tracy Hawks, who defeated the OPHL's Kingston Kings 3 games to 1 in the deciding series.
Liga Mexicana Élite
Unlike most NAMPHA leagues, the LME doesn't have subdivisions. It is also at the minimum of 16 teams. With foreign investment from the major hockey-growing nations, Mexico has been able to put together a semi-professional league that is primarily for the small number of Mexican hockey players that are developed enough to play the North American professional game, even at a low level such as this. While it started in Mexico City in the Robertian Era, three of the "Original Four" joined together in 2016 (as Mayan Astronomers folded) with nine more clubs from different cities in the newly-reformed Mexico to really bolster the league. Four more teams joined after the 2016-17 season. Of the sixteen teams, half of them (exactly 8) have NHL affiliations, many of which can be discerned from the team names.
Teams: Teotihuacan Priests, Zapotec Totems, Aztec Eagle Warriors, Guadalajara Chivas HC, Realistas de Monterrey, Montañeses de Toluca, Búhos de Puebla, HC Chihuahua, La Manada de León, Club Atlético de Pachuca, Jets de Querétaro, Murciélagos de Hielo (Ecatepec), Tiburones de Culiacán, Estrellas de Reynosa, Halcones Negros de Lomas Verdes, Osos Mexico.
Defending league champions: Aztec Eagle Warriors
Southern Professional Hockey League
Although hockey isn't nearly as popular in The New Confederacy as it is in other North American nations, one would be surprised to find out that it is gaining in popularity... well, maybe not surprised that it is gaining popularity in Texas, considering that the Dallas Stars have a vibrant fanbase! But the SPHL has risen from humble beginnings to a full-sized 32-team league. The increased interest in ice hockey has led to the rebirth of several earlier SPHL teams. A decent number of SPHL teams are in the affiliation tree of an NHL team... some very obviously so. In spite of its lower league ranking (9th out of 15), the SPHL has 16 teams with NHL affiliations.
There are no conferences, but there are four divisions in the SPHL. The top four from each go to the playoffs, the winner of which takes home the President's Cup.
SPHL Divisions
Northern Division: Arkansas Predators, Asheville Aces, Chattanooga Chargers, Fayetteville Marksmen, Knoxville Ice Bears (defending champs), Memphis River Kings, Raleigh Reds, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
Eastern Division: Atlanta Gladiators (defending champs), Charleston Mariners, Columbus Cottonmouths, Fort Lauderdale Rockets, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Jacksonville Barracudas, Macon Mayhem, Miami Panthers
Central Division: Biloxi Surge, Birmingham Bulls (defending champs), Houston Aeros, Huntsville Havoc, Louisiana IceGators, Mobile Ice Sharks, Montgomery Capitals, Pensacola Ice Flyers
Western Division: Arlington Oilers, Amarillo Rattlers, Corpus Christi Crunch (defending champs), El Paso Arrows, Fort Worth Stars, Lubbock Lions, McAllen Monarchs, Oklahoma City Tornadoes
Defending league champions: Corpus Christi Crunch
Great Plains Hockey League
Hockey fever has gripped the Dakota Republic! Although their traditions veer more towards their co-official summer sports, baseball and gridiron football, the inclusion of Minnesota and Missouri in the Dakota Republic has ensured that hockey is going to be popular regardless. Minnesota is not included in this one, though, as the state is so crazy about hockey that they literally have their own state minor-pro league! This league is maxed out at 32 teams. The divisions line up along state lines almost perfectly - the Northwest Division is in Montana and North Dakota, the Southwest Division is in Nebraska and Kansas (except for the Omaha Enforcers, which actually play in Council Bluffs, Iowa), the Central Division is in South Dakota and Iowa, and the Southeast Division is in Missouri (except for the KCK Cavalry in Overland Park, Kansas). 13 teams have affiliate-tree deals. The champion takes the LaFontaine Cup.
WESTERN CONFERENCE (defending champs: Topeka Tornadoes)
Northwest Division: Billings Bears, Missoula Moose, Great Falls Deluge, Bozeman Earthquakes, Fargo Flames, Bismarck Brigade, Grand Forks Lightning, Minot Magic
Southwest Division: Lincoln Stars, Grand Island Golems, Topeka Tornadoes, Manhattan Rangers, Salina Stampede, Hutchinson Wheat Kings, West Kansas Outlaws (Dodge City, KS), Omaha Enforcers (in Council Bluffs, IA)
EASTERN CONFERENCE (defending champs: Sioux Fall Mustangs)
Southeast Division: KCK Cavalry (Overland Park, KS), Springfield 66ers, Columbia Academics, Independence Blue Jackets, O'Fallon Blues, St. Joseph Saints, Joplin Ragtime, Jefferson Jets
Central Division: Des Moines Wild (actually in West Des Moines), Cedar Rapids Bohemians, Quad City Storm, Sioux City Tigers, Black Hawk County Hawks (Waterloo, Iowa), Sioux Falls Mustangs, Iowa City Icemen, Dubuque Devils
Defending league champions: Sioux Falls Mustangs
Minnesota State Professional Hockey League
No surprises that this league exists. Minnesota is nuts about hockey, enough that they managed to put together a 32-team minor-pro league just from the one state! A number of the teams are based in the Metro Twin Cities, but a number are also from "the sticks." While every last one of these teams wishes they could be affiliated with the Minnesota Wild, only one actually is. However, it is in the top five for volume of NHL affiliations amongst NAMPHA leagues - ranked fifth with 21 teams having affiliations. The Broten Trophy is the prize for winning the league.
METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Minnetonka Moose)
Twin Cities North Division: Minneapolis Giants, St. Paul Phantoms, Brooklyn Park Blackhawks, Blaine Bruins, Edina Eagles, Hennepin County Huskies (Plymouth), Maplewood Lumberjacks, and Stillwater Rapids
Twin Cities South Division: Bloomington Wild, Minnetonka Moose, Woodbury Wings, Eden Prairie Archangels, Shakopee Sharks, Chaska Chill, Burnsville Brigadiers, and Apple Valley Greens
LAKELAND CONFERENCE (defending champions: Rochester North Stars)
North-Central Division: Duluth Lake Monsters, St. Cloud Penguins, Moorhead Maniacs, Bemidji Flames, Brainerd Bulldogs, Willmar Warriors, Elk River Herd, Hibbing Steel
Far South Division: Rochester North Stars, Mankato Monarchs, Winona Wolves, Owatonna Vikings, Worthington Wizards, Faribault Flyers, Austin Bullets, Albert Lea Thunder
Defending league champions: Rochester North Stars
Lake Michigan Hockey League
One of four fourth-tier leagues that is at least partially within the New US, the LMHL is the league representing Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, each of which has eight teams total, and pair off east-west in conferences. The prize for winning this league is the Modano Plate. The strongest US-based league in NAMPHA, 27 out of 32 LMHL teams are in NHL affiliation trees.
WESTERN CONFERENCE (defending champion: Peoria Rivermen)
Wisconsin Division: Madison Monsters, Kenosha Kings, Racine Rockets, Winnebago County Wolverines (Neenah), Eau Claire Panthers, Janesville Jackhammers, La Crosse Lightning, Sheboygan Sharks
Illinois Division: Danville Dashers, Peoria Rivermen, Aurora Blackhawks, Springfield Speed, Joliet Jetfighters, Decatur Wolves, Bloomington Blues, Champaign Pirates
EASTERN CONFERENCE (defending champion: Lafayette Flyers)
Michigan Division: Port Huron Prowlers, Kalamazoo Wings, Lansing Lions, Upper Peninsula Rangers, Ann Arbor Lumberjacks, Battle Creek Revolution, Saginaw Lakers, Muskegon Maple Leafs
Indiana Division: Evansville Thunderbolts, South Bend Stars, North Indy (Carmel) Fuel, Bloomington Bruins, Southeast Chicago Sentinels (Hammond), Lafayette Flyers, Terre Haute Tigers, Muncie Wildcats
Defending league champion: Peoria Rivermen
Erie Hockey League
Ohio, West Virginia, most of Pennsylvania, and Upstate New York fit into this league, which has 32 teams. Unlike the LMHL, the divisions are uneven between the historical states due to West Virginia's small population and the plurality of adequately-sized cities in Ohio. 24 teams - fourth amongst NAMPHA leagues - have NHL affiliate deals.
SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE (defending champion: Akron Americans)
Ohio North Division: Mentor Ice Breakers, Akron Americans, Parma Panthers, Canton Kings, Youngstown Blades, Lorain Red Wings, Mansfield Mayhem, Findlay Flames
WV-Ohio South Division: Charleston Capitals, Huntington Harriers, Morgantown Miners, Parkersburg Wolves, Hamilton Heat, Dayton Bombers, Springfield Ice Demons, Columbus Blue Jackets
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE (defending champion: Harrisburg Rockhoppers)
Pennsylvania Division: Erie Sabres, Scranton Senators, Bethlehem Bruins, Lancaster Leafs, Harrisburg Rockhoppers, Altoona Aces, York Bulldogs, Williamsport Flyers
Upstate Division: Schenectady Rangers, Troy Talons, Rome Legion, Jamestown Blues, Elmira Enforcers, Auburn Reds, Watertown Wolves, Saratoga Springs Explosion
Defending league champion: Harrisburg Rockhoppers
Central Atlantic Hockey League
While getting 32 teams for this league was more of a stretch than the other New USA leagues, it still happened, and it covers the Lower Hudson/Long Island area of New York, New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania (more specifically, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties), Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Washington, DC, and Philadelphia have the NHL's Capitals and Flyers respectively, so they saw no need for a further team in the actual city. The Paul Holmgren Memorial Trophy was donated by the Philadelphia Flyers organisation to be the championship trophy for this league. They have 19 NHL affiliate deals.
NORTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champion: Tri-Cities Rangers)
Metro NYC Division: Poughkeepsie Predators, Orange County Dutchmen (Newburgh), Tri-Cities Rangers (New Rochelle), Long Island Islanders (Uniondale, Hempstead, New York), Jersey City River Rats, Paterson Devils, Elizabeth Royals, Clifton-Passaic Twins
Upper Delaware Division: Trenton Titans, Camden Flyers, Vineland Victory, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, Norristown Excelsior, Chester Warriors, West Philadelphia Broncos (Upper Darby), Abington Aces
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champion: Roanoke Express)
Delaware-Potomac Division: Baltimore Bruins, Frederick Flames, Rockville Raccoons, Gaithersburg Ghosts, Hagerstown Hawks, Annapolis Navy, Wilmington Wolves, Dover Explorers
Virginia Division: Richmond Renegades, Alexandria Capitals, Roanoke Express, Lynchburg Lightning, Danville Knights, Charlottesville Sharks, Manassas Majors, Harrisonburg Hurricanes
Defending league champion: Roanoke Express.
New England Hockey League
While perhaps not as hockey-crazy as Minnesota, New England still had the passion behind it to drum up 32 teams, representing Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The Esposito Cup is the league championship.
NORTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champion: Concord Capitals)
Far North Division: Lewiston Lions, Bangor Road Warriors, Concord Capitals, Derry Devils, Dover Knights, Rochester Reign, Salem Warlocks, Burlington Canadiens
Central Division: Nashua Blades, Lowell Lock Monsters, Cambridge Bruins, Lawrence Lightning, Framingham Fire, Haverhill Hurricanes, Peabody Predators, Pittsfield Penguins
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champion: Cape Cod Oilers)
Connecticut Division: New Haven Nighthawks, Stamford Stars, Waterbury Wolves, Norwalk Red Wings, Danbury Whalers, New Britain Armada, Middletown Metallics, Norwich Albatrosses
Southeast Division: Warwick Wings, Coventry Blues, Cape Cod Oilers (Barnstable, Mass.), Plymouth Pioneers, Taunton Stingers, New Bedford Nordics, Brockton Bulldogs, Fall River Flyers
Defending league champion: Cape Cod Oilers
Maritime Hockey League
Some of the smallest markets in professional hockey anywhere in the world are in this league. The Saint-Pierre Nordiques of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon can easily lay claim to the smallest, as their 1,200-seat arena can hold a fifth of the population of the "city!" It is a 26-team league, owing to the sparser population of these provinces. Also, there are no subdivisions; the top 12 teams make the playoffs, with the top 4 getting a bye to the second round. The Bobby Smith Trophy is the league championship, donated by the native son of Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The teams are: Greenland Whalers (Nuuk, GL), Saint-Pierre Nordiques (SPM), St. John's Mariners (Mount Pearl, NL), Conception Bay Surge (Conception Bay South, NL), Corner Brook Canucks (NL), GFW Gannets (Grand Falls-Windsor, NL), Gander Flock (NL), Dartmouth Tide (Halifax, NS), Bedford Hurricanes (Halifax, NS), Sydney Capers (NS), Truro Tigers (NS), New Glasgow Highlanders (NS), Glace Bay Gulls (NS), Kentville Kings (NS), Amherst Flyers (NS), Bridgewater Bluenosers (NS), Moncton Hawks (NB), Fredericton Flames (NB), Dieppe Canadiens (NB), Riverview Rangers (NB), Miramichi Maple Leafs (NB), Edmundston Storm (NB), Bathurst Bruins (NB), Quispamsis Rogues (NB), Charlottetown Islanders (PEI), Summerside Sun Devils (PEI)
Defending league champion: Corner Brook Canucks
Ligue Nord-Americaine du Hockey
The name is a bit of a misnomer, as it only covers Québec, and it is voting on a possible name change to go back to a variant of the league's official name, La Ligue de Hockey Professionelle du Québec (LHPQ). In order to keep spots open for hockey-crazy Québecois, there is a limit to the number of players that have not at least played junior hockey in Québec that can be signed by each team, but this is a looser rule than previous, where one had to have played junior hockey in Québec to be eligible to play in the league. It has a reputation as being one of the toughest leagues to play in in terms of things like fighting, although IIHF intervention has taken much of the dirty hitting out of the league. This has created a league where, while toughness is valued, players don't have to worry about their safety too much! Also, it is one of two NAMPHA leagues where every team has an affiliation deal, the other being the OPHL. As with pre-Robertian and even Robertian times when the league was much smaller, the highest prize in this league is the Verdure Cup.
WESTERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Sorel-Tracy Hawks)
Division de Metro-Montréal: Longueuil Léons, Châteauguay Canadiens, Rive-Nord Requins (Terrebonne), Verdun Vipères (Montreal), Les Pétroliers du Nord (Saint-Jérôme), Valleyfield Vitesse (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield), Repentigny Roix, Boisbriand Bruins
Division du Ouest: Val D'Or Prédateurs, Buckingham Sénateurs (Gatineau), Rouyn-Noranda Rouges, Richelieu Cardinaux (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu), Sorel-Tracy Hawks, Saint-Hyacinthe Sabres, Joliette Jets, Lachute Faucons
EASTERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Sherbrooke Shock)
Division du Sud: Saint-Georges Étoiles, Sherbrooke Shock, Lévis Nordiques, Thetford Spartans, Victoriaville Pingouins, Granby Guerriers, Drummondville Diables, Magog Bleus
Division du Nord-et-Est: Jonquière Marquis (Saguenay), Rivière-du-Loup Argonauts, Trois-Rivières Tempêtes, Rimouski Rangers, Alma Avalanche, Baie-Comeau Bouledogues, Gaspé Goélands, Matane Ouragans
Defending league champions: Sorel-Tracy Hawks
Ontario Professional Hockey League
Another 32-team league, with all teams within Ontario borders and primarily in the densely populated south, although there are some teams from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie. All teams have affiliation deals - only the LNAH can also say the same. Brantford native Wayne Gretzky donated the Walter Gretzky Memorial Trophy, otherwise called the Gretzky Bowl, to this league as its championship, and furthermore, "The Great One" is league president and majority-owner.
NORTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Kingston Kings)
North-Central Division: Sault Ste. Marie Falcons, Timmins Tornadoes, Muskoka Hunters (Huntsville), Owen Sound Jays, Sudbury Miners, Barrie Blizzard, Orillia Demolition, North Bay Nordiques
Eastern Division: Cornwall Senators, Kingston Kings, Brockville Bruins, Peterborough Predators, Lindsay Lightning, Pickering Pikes, Oshawa Devils, York County Bombers (Richmond Hill)
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: St. Thomas Stars)
Horseshoe Division: Mississauga Maple Leafs, Burlington Bulldogs, Guelph Generals, Brantford Blues, Caledon Canucks, Paris Penguins, Welland Sabres, St. Catharines Canadiens
Western Division: Orangeville Flames, Tri-Cities Troop (Waterloo), London Leopards, Windsor Wings, Sarnia Oilers, Woodstock Warriors, St. Thomas Stars, Stratford Storm
Defending league champions: Kingston Kings
Prairie-Shield Hockey League
Primarily from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, this 32-team league also has one team each from northwestern Ontario and the Northwest Territories. While not in the same boat as the LNAH or OPHL, a lot of the teams do have affiliation deals. There was talk of putting a team in Iqaluit, Nunavut, but it was too cost-prohibitive, deemed better left to the Maritime Hockey League. The league championship is the Humboldt Memorial Cup.
WESTERN CONFERENCE (defending champs: Medicine Hat Coyotes)
Northwest Division: Leduc Jets, Fort Saskatchewan Pioneers, Grande Prairie Gophers, Camrose Reds, Spruce Grove Oilers, Yellowknife Lakers, Wetaskiwin Wolves, Sherwood Park Shock
Southwest Division: Lethbridge Mustangs, Medicine Hat Coyotes, Airdrie Highlanders, South Calgary Inferno, Okotoks Rams, Cochrane Cavaliers, Brooks Bruins, Lacombe Lancers
EASTERN CONFERENCE (defending champs: Selkirk Stars)
Central Division: Regina Capitals, Prince Albert Royals, Moose Jaw Maniacs, Swift Current Storm, Yorkton Generals, Lloydminster Lions (team is on the Saskatchewan side), North Battleford Posse, Warmarten Warriors (technically in Warman)
Shield Division: Kenora Maple Leafs, Brandon Dust Devils, Estevan Heat, Steinbach Wild, Thompson IceBears, Portage Penguins (Portage la Prairie), Winkler Wanderers, Selkirk Stars
Defending league champs: Selkirk Stars
Pacific Northwest Hockey League
The only multi-state/province league with less than 32 teams, there are 29 in this league, with three divisions of seven and one of eight. Most of the teams are in British Columbia, with five teams in Alaska and one in the Yukon. There aren't particularly many NHL affiliations from this one in spite of the decent calibre of the league. The Pat Quinn Memorial Trophy, bought and donated by a group of BC-born or BC-connected former NHLers (Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, Mark Recchi, Trevor Linden, Rod Brind'Amour, Geoff and Russ Courtnall, Paul Kariya, Scott Niedermayer, Cam Neely, and Cliff Ronning), is the league championship.
EDIT: Starting in the 2020-21 season, there will be 32 teams.
NORTHERN/EASTERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Defending champions: Kamloops Sun Devils)
Far North Division: Anchorage Arsenal, Fairbanks Freeze, Mat-Su Kodiaks, Juneau Spirit Bears, Kenai Peninsula Salmon Kings (Soldotna), Whitehorse Wolves, Fort St. John Flames, Skeena Valley Seals
BC Interior Division: Prince George Roughnecks, Kelowna Lake Monsters, Kamloops Sun Devils, Vernon Outlaws, Penticton Scorpions, Cranbrook Avalanche, Salmon Arm Stars, Williams Lake Warriors
SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Burnaby Canucks)
Fraser Valley Division: Burnaby Canucks, South Shore Storm (Surrey), Abbotsford Heat, Richmond Dragons, Ridge Meadows Rockets (Maple Ridge), Chilliwack Bruins, Mission Grizzlies, and North Shore Wild (West Vancouver)
Island Division: Nanaimo Flyers, Cowichan Cougars (Duncan), Victoria Lumberjacks, Westshore Wings (Colwood), Parksville Predators, Campbell River Sharks, Comox Valley Cavalry (Courtenay), and Alberni Whalers (Port Alberni)
Defending league champion: Burnaby Canucks
Pacific Professional Hockey League
Cascadia's main hockey league, this one has 32 teams spread out throughout the country. All states are represented, but Baja California has only one team while Wyoming and New Mexico have two.
NORTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Tacoma Tempest)
Pacific Northwest Division: Portland Bears, Salem Spiders, Eugene Blues, Medford Blackbirds, Tacoma Tempest, Everett Earthquakes, Yakima Eagles, Bellingham Bulldogs
Northern Rockies Division: Spokane Wildcats, Tri-Cities Steamers (Kennewick), Nampa Phantoms, Idaho Falls Ice, Pocatello Pumas, Cheyenne Shock, Casper Crush, Bend Rattlesnakes
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (defending champions: Pueblo Avalanche)
California Division: Tijuana Tigres, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Capitals, Fresno Falcons, Sacramento Rush, Oakland Sharks, Riverside Rangers, Modesto Goldrush
Cordillera Division: Las Vegas Golden Knights, Tucson Scorpions, Reno Rebels, Albuquerque Stars, Santa Fe Flames, Flagstaff Freeze, Colorado Springs Cavalry, Pueblo Avalanche
Defending league champions: Pueblo Avalanche
Utah Hockey League
The joint-smallest of the leagues in NAMPHA, with the minimum of 16 teams, only one of which is in an NHL affiliation tree (the West Valley City Grizzlies). Ranked the lowest of the fifteen NAMPHA leagues, the Utah League is looking to get one over on Mexico because they beat Mexico in the Worlds (Division VI), but their league was ranked last because their defending champions got swept rather emphatically by the LMHL champion Peoria Rivermen, who would eventually make it to the semis before losing in seven to eventual champs Sorel-Tracy.
Salt Lake City Pioneers, West Valley City Grizzlies, Provo Vultures, West Jordan Wolves, Sandy Storm, Orem Badgers (defending champions), Ogden Wildcats, St. George Scorpions, Layton Lions, Taylorsville Tigers, Cedar City Saints, Logan Ice Dogs, Lehi Angels, Murray Kings, Roy Spiders, Tooele Tornadoes
The NAMPHA leagues are ranked according to strength as well.
1. LNAH (will send two teams to this year's playoffs)
2. OPHL (sent two teams to last year's playoffs)
3. LMHL
4. PSHL
5. EHL
6. PNHL
7. NEHL
8. CAHL
9. SPHL
10. MSHL
11. GPHL
12. MHL
13. PPHL
14. LME
15. UtHL (Yes, that's right. Utah's league ranked below Mexico's.)
Affiliation trees
Each NHL team is required to have affiliation deals with one AHL team, one ECHL team, and at least two NAMPHA teams. Furthermore, any player down to the ECHL level has to have a clause in their contract enabling them to go up as high as the NHL should it be necessary, however those who would prefer not to for whatever reason can be put low on the list so that they aren't nearly as likely to get a callup. Only in the NAMPHA are players not required to have such a clause, which is part of why multiple NAMPHA affiliate teams are required (the other being the sheer plurality of teams at that level, which are a remnant of the Robertian Era). Signing a multi-way contract is purely optional, allowing for more hockey players just to play for love of the game and not so they can earn a bigger paycheque. While the minimum of NAMPHA affiliations is two, every NHL team's affiliation tree goes far beyond that, with the minimum amount of actual affiliations being eight (Buffalo, Edmonton, Halifax, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, New York, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Quebec, St. Louis, Toronto, and Winnipeg), while a few others have actually maxed out at ten (Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay)
The affiliation trees for each NHL team are as follows (in NHL < AHL < ECHL < NAMPHA format) :
Boston Bruins < Providence Bruins < Worcester Railers < Brockville Bruins, Boisbriand Bruins, Osos Mexico, Knoxville Ice Bears, Blaine Bruins, Bloomington (IN) Bruins, Bethlehem Bruins, Baltimore Bruins, Cambridge Bruins, and Chilliwack Bruins
Buffalo Sabres < Rochester Americans < Niagara Falls Cascades < Welland Sabres, Saint-Hyacinthe Sabres, Hibbing Steel, Terre Haute Tigers, Erie Sabres, Orange County Dutchmen, Okotoks Rams, and Quispamsis Rogues
Calgary Flames < Kelowna Inferno < Idaho Steelheads < Orangeville Flames, Richelieu Cardinaux, Fargo Flames, Bemidji Flames, Findlay Flames, Frederick Flames, Framingham Fire, Fredericton Flames, South Calgary Inferno, and Fort St. John Flames
Chicago Blackhawks < Chicago Wolves < Fort Wayne Komets < Sault Ste. Marie Falcons, Sorel-Tracy Hawks, Halcones Negros de Lomas Verdes, Black Hawk County Hawks, Brooklyn Park Blackhawks, Aurora Blackhawks, Huntington Harriers, Hagerstown Hawks, Moncton Hawks, and Fresno Falcons
Colorado Avalanche < Colorado Eagles < Utah Grizzlies < Barrie Blizzard, Alma Avalanche, West Valley City Grizzlies, Ann Arbor Lumberjacks, Troy Talons, Rockville Raccoons, Grande Prairie Gophers, Cranbrook Avalanche, and Pueblo Avalanche
Dallas Stars < Texas Stars < Allen Americans < St. Thomas Stars, Saint-Georges Étoiles, Estrellas de Reynosa, Fort Worth Stars, Lincoln Stars, Rochester North Stars, South Bend Stars, Stamford Stars, Selkirk Stars, and Salmon Arm Stars
Detroit Red Wings < Grand Rapids Griffins < Toledo Walleye < Windsor Wings, Rouyn-Noranda Rouges, Raleigh Reds, Woodbury Wings, Kalamazoo Wings, Lorain Red Wings, Norwalk Red Wings, Camrose Reds, and Westshore Wings
Edmonton Oilers < Red Deer Bucks < Tulsa Oilers < Sarnia Oilers, Les Pétroliers du Nord, Arlington Oilers, Missoula Moose, Muncie Wildcats, Morgantown Miners, Cape Cod Oilers, and Spruce Grove Oilers
Halifax Hurricanes < Springfield Thunderbirds < Newfoundland Growlers < Timmins Tornadoes, Matane Ouragans, Stillwater Rapids, Evansville Thunderbolts, Harrisonburg Hurricanes, Haverhill Hurricanes, Bedford Hurricanes, and Richmond Dragons
Hamilton Bulldogs < Syracuse Crunch < Ithaca Spartans < Burlington Bulldogs, Baie-Comeau Bouledogues, Brainerd Bulldogs, Decatur Wolves, York Bulldogs, Wilmington Wolves, Brockton Bulldogs, Medicine Hat Coyotes, and Bellingham Bulldogs
Hartford Whalers < Bridgeport Sound Tigers < Albany Tigers < Muskoka Hunters, Gaspé Goélands, Apple Valley Greens, Winnebago County Wolverines, Long Island Islanders, Danbury Whalers, Greenland Whalers, and Kenai Peninsula Salmon Kings
Indianapolis Racers < Cleveland Monsters < Cincinnati Cyclones < Orillia Demolition, Valleyfield Vitesse, Chattanooga Chargers, Springfield Speed, Akron Americans, Roanoke Express, Estevan Heat, and Sacramento Rush
Kansas City Cavalry < San Antonio Rampage < Wichita Thunder < Tri-Cities Troop, Verdun Vipères, Fayetteville Marksmen, KCK Cavalry, Burnsville Brigadiers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Cochrane Cavaliers, Comox Valley Cavalry, and Colorado Springs Cavalry
Los Angeles Kings < San Diego Gulls < Orange Valley Reign < Kingston Kings, Repentigny Roix, Realistas de Monterrey, McAllen Monarchs, Mankato Monarchs, Kenosha Kings, Canton Kings, Elizabeth Royals, Rochester Reign, and Long Beach Ice Dogs
Minnesota Wild < Iowa Wild < Green Bay Vikings < London Leopards, Thetford Spartans, Macon Mayhem, Des Moines Wild, Bloomington (MN) Wild, Steinbach Wild, Mission Grizzlies, and Bend Rattlesnakes
Montréal Canadiens < Laval Rocket < Manchester Monarchs < St. Catharines Canadiens, Châteauguay Canadiens, Racine Rockets, Auburn Reds, Jersey City River Rats, Burlington Canadiens, Dieppe Canadiens, and Ridge Meadows Rockets
Nashville Predators < Milwaukee Admirals < Jacksonville Icemen < Peterborough Predators, Val D'Or Prédateurs, Arkansas Predators, Port Huron Prowlers, Poughkeepsie Predators, Peabody Predators, Wetaskiwin Wolves, and Parksville Predators
New Jersey Devils < Binghamton Devils < Adirondack Devils < Oshawa Devils, Drummondville Diables, Dubuque Devils, Champaign Pirates, Springfield Ice Demons, Paterson Devils, Derry Devils, Summerside Sun Devils, and Brandon Dust Devils
New York Rangers < Utica Rangers < Norfolk Admirals < Sudbury Miners, Rimouski Rangers, Manhattan Rangers, Upper Peninsula Rangers, Schenectady Rangers, Tri-Cities Rangers, Riverview Rangers, and Riverside Rangers
Ottawa Senators < Gatineau Senators < Belleville Senators < Cornwall Senators, Buckingham Sénateurs, Duluth Lake Monsters, Battle Creek Revolution, Scranton Senators, Charlottetown Islanders, Anchorage Arsenal, and Spokane Wildcats
Philadelphia Flyers < Lehigh Valley Phantoms < Reading Royals < Owen Sound Jays, Lachute Faucons, Murciélagos de Hielo, Pensacola Ice Flyers, Faribault Flyers, Lafayette Flyers, Williamsport Flyers, Camden Flyers, Fall River Flyers, and Nanaimo Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins < Wilkes-Barre Penguins < Wheeling Nailers < Paris Penguins, Victoriaville Pingouins, St. Cloud Penguins, Southeast Chicago Sentinels, Harrisburg Rockhoppers, Pittsfield Penguins, Dartmouth Tide, and Portage Penguins
Québec Nordiques < Saint John Saints < Maine Mariners < North Bay Nordiques, Lévis Nordiques, Owatonna Vikings, Lansing Lions, New Bedford Nordics, Saint-Pierre Nordiques, Yakima Eagles, and Louisiana IceGators
San José Sharks < San José Barracuda < Phoenix Roadrunners < Pickering Pikes, Rive-Nord Requins, Tiburones de Culiacán, Mobile Ice Sharks, Shakopee Sharks, Sheboygan Sharks, Charlottesville Sharks, Campbell River Sharks, and Oakland Sharks
Saskatchewan Warriors < Nebraska Renegades < Rapid City Rush < Woodstock Warriors, Granby Guerriers, Atlanta Gladiators, Willmar Warriors, Rome Legion, Chester Warriors, Warmarten Warriors, Vernon Outlaws, and Las Vegas Golden Knights
Seattle Kraken < Bakersfield Condors < Mexico City Aztecs < Stratford Storm, Trois-Rivières Tempêtes, Aztec Eagle Warriors, Madison Monsters, Saratoga Springs Explosion, Edmundston Kraken, Swift Current Storm, South Shore Storm, and Tacoma Tempest
St. Louis Blues < Rockford IceHogs < Florida Everblades < Brantford Blues, Magog Bleus, Memphis River Kings, O'Fallon Blues, Bloomington (IL) Blues, Jamestown Blues, Coventry Blues, and Eugene Blues
Tampa Bay Lightning < Charlotte Checkers < Orlando Solar Bears < Lindsay Lightning, Sherbrooke Shock, Miami Panthers, Grand Forks Lightning, Albert Lea Thunder, La Crosse Lightning, Lynchburg Lightning, Lawrence Lightning, Sherwood Park Shock, and Cheyenne Shock
Toronto Maple Leafs < Toronto Marlies < Brampton Beast < Mississauga Maple Leafs, Longueuil Léons, Minot Magic, Muskegon Maple Leafs, Lancaster Leafs, Miramichi Maple Leafs, Kenora Maple Leafs, and Maplewood Lumberjacks
Vancouver Canucks < Abbotsford Canucks < Alaska Aces < Caledon Canucks, Rivière-du-Loup Argonauts, Sioux Falls Mustangs, Champaign Pirates, Altoona Aces, Corner Brook Canucks, Winkler Wanderers, Burnaby Canucks, Casper Crush
Washington Capitals < Hershey Bears < South Carolina Stingrays < Guelph Generals, Jonquière Marquis, Montgomery Capitals, St. Paul Phantoms, Charleston Capitals, Alexandria Capitals, Concord Capitals, Regina Capitals, San Diego Capitals
Winnipeg Jets < Manitoba Moose < Thunder Bay Salamat < York County Bombers, Joliette Jets, Jets de Querétaro, Jefferson Jets, Minnetonka Moose, Joliet Jetfighters, Dayton Bombers, Tri-Cities Steamers
2B: Other Multi-National Systems
The KHL
The KHL, like the NHL, has 32 teams, but rather than historical or franchise groundings, the KHL went to the best teams the NCIS has to offer. Theoretically, any NCIS country could enter a team in the system, but only the best teams get admitted! The NCIS hockey system has a slightly different system than the NHL when it comes to farm systems - the individual clubs have reserve teams that play in the league subsystems of the individual countries they come from, and there is a professional draft held to bring players in. As with the NHL, there are foreigners, although there is a six-player limit for non-NCIS citizens. Here are the current teams as of 28 June 2019:
Uralica - Severstal Cherepovets, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, HK Syktyvkar, Udmurtia Izhevsk, and CSKA Kirov
Transcaucasia - HK Sochi
Russia - SKA Sankt-Peterburg, HK Saratov, Spartak Moskva, CSKA Moskva, Dinamo Mosvka, Vityaz Podolsk, HK Rostov, and Tver' Samolyoty
Novgorod - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Bashkorto-Tatarstan - Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Ak-Bars Kazan', Salavat Yulayev Ufa
Ural-Altai - Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Traktor Chelyabinsk, Barys Astana, Avangard Omsk
Siberia - Sibir Novosibirsk, Amur Khabarovsk, Admiral Vladivostok, Baikal Irkutsk, HK Tom Tomsk
Kazakhstan - Torpedo Öskemen
Baltika - Baltika Kaliningrad, Dinamo Riga
Belarus - Dinama Minsk
Per the IIHF Rankings Committee, the NHL would still be first place in the rankings even if this were to come to pass, but the margin would be smaller. Not only that, it would take the place of Russia's current top level as second place, and with eight teams out of 24 going up to the KHL, Russia's top domestic league would fall behind Uralica's, Nordland's, and Finland's. But they don't care - the KHL would be a boon to hockey in the area, in their view, promoting the absolute best that the NCIS has to offer!
BolakCorp Carpatho-Alpine Superliga
THIS league system actually is currently in operation. Having formed in 2017, it brings together the best teams from the eastern Alps and northern Balkans - Austro-Bavaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Vojvodina, Hungary, and Romania - in one league. Due to the wild variance in talent level of each country, the actual world ranking of the league is eighteenth, but this is still good enough to get it a spot in the IIHF Champions League, which looks at the top 24 leagues outside of North America. There are 30 teams in the league.
Austro-Bavaria (13): Vienna Capitals, Red Bull Salzburg, Liwest Linz, TWK Innsbruck, Klagenfurt Athletic Club, Villacher SV, Graz 99ers, Dornbirner EC, EHC Red Bull München, Straubing Tigers, Nürnberg Ice Tigers, ERC Ingolstadt, Augsburger Panther
Slovenia (7): HKMK Bled, HK Celje, HK Olimpija Ljubljana (defending champs), HDD Jesenice, HDK Maribor, Triglav Kranj, Slavia Junior
Croatia (3): KHL Medveščak Zagreb, KHL Split, KHL Rijeka
Vojvodina (1): KHL Vojvodina Novi Sad
Romania (2): HSC Csíkszereda, ASC Corona Brașov
Hungary (7): Alba Volán Székesfehérvár, DVTK Jegesmedvék, MAC Budapest, Újpesti TE, Debrecen HK, Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák, Ferencvárosi TC
This league is the official top division of the hockey systems of the six countries it represents, but unlike the rest of them, there is no relegation or promotion. Teams can be invited or disinvited, with a maximum league capacity of 32 teams.
British Elite Ice Hockey League
A reformation of the pre-Robertian system, the "hockey visa" concept that North American devised for its system was copied, and also, the Republic of Ireland was included. This, plus increased demand for representation from all corners, saw the league expand to 20 teams. As you probably notice, most of them have the same names as NHL teams - this is no coincidence, since the North American League System has a commitment to growing the game abroad, and teams have actually established partnerships here in the British Isles!
England: Coventry Blaze, Guildford Flames, Manchester Storm, Milton Keynes Lightning, Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers (defending champs), Newcastle Sharks, London Kings
Scotland: Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers, Glasgow Clan, Inverness Hurricanes, Edinburgh Capitals
Wales: Cardiff Devils, Swansea Blues
Northern Ireland: Belfast Giants, Derry Hawks
Ireland: Dublin Bruins, Cork Canucks, Limerick Lions
The New AsiaLeague 1
The top league in Asia and good enough to get into the IIHF Champions League, the New AsiaLeague 1 initially combined the ice hockey systems of Korea and Japan, with Francoist China later invited to add teams. Mongolia and Chukotka were also invited, but have not yet added teams, so currently, there are sixteen teams in the AsiaLeague 1:
Korea (6): Anyang Halla, High1 (defending champs), Daemyung Orcas, Busan Bruins, Seoul Storm, Korean Canucks
Japan (5): Nippon Paper Cranes, Tohoku Free Blades, Oji Eagles, Seibu Prince Rabbits, Nikko Ice Bucks
Francoist China (5): Kunlun Red Star, Shanghai Dragons, Tianjin Tigers, Beijing Bulls, Hong Kong Rangers
Southern Africa Hockey League
A fairly low-lying league on the rankings, but one that is considered to be essential for the development of the game in Africa. It only has twelve teams, but it represents all the countries of the former South Africa (also including Botswana, since it took the largely Tswana-speaking Northwest Province over), and may also eventually expand into Namibia should it decide to give ice hockey a try after playing inline!
Ngunia: Kempton Park Sabres, Tshwane Capitals, Limpopo Lions (Polokwane)
Botswana: Klerksdorp Cheetahs, Gaborone Wild
Afrikaner Republic: Cape Town Kings (defending champions), South Cape Stars
Lesotho: Bloemfontein Blades
Xhosa Republic: Port Elizabeth African Aces, Bhisho Buffaloes
KwaZulu: eThekwini Warriors, Pietermaritzburg Predators
2C: Top single-country top leagues outside of North America
(UPDATED 1 November 2019 to account for return of the KHL and the unified NCIS league system)
While there are good multi-country systems, there are also many excellent domestic systems that are in just one country. Many hockey countries have their own top-class systems, with a whole bunch officially unifying into the KHL system in June 2019. These are actually the top 25 single-country top divisions outside of North America or the KHL (actual all-leagues rank in parentheses):
- (3) Nordland Elitserien
- (4) Finnish SM-Liiga
- (8) Czech Extraliga
- (9) Swiss National League
- (10) Slovak Extraliga
- (11) Deutsche Eishockey-Liga
- (17) French Ligue Magnus
- (22) Italian Elite Ice Hockey League
- (24) Nordland First Division
- (28) Finnish Mestis
- (29) Dutch Hockey League
- (30) Polish Hockey League
- (31) 1st Czech Republic Hockey League
- (32) Ukrainian Hockey Super League
- (36) Australian Ice Hockey League
- (39) New Zealand Ice Hockey League
- (43) Swiss League
- (46) Serbian Hockey League
- (47) Slovak Prvá Liga
- (50) Nordland Allsvenskan (the Swedish division of Nordland's third level)
- (52) Icelandic Men's Ice Hockey League
- (55) Georgian Ice Hockey League
- (56) Anatolian Hockey League (Turkey)
- (59) Israeli-Palestinian Hockey League
- (65) Emirati Hockey League
2D. Overall Top 50 Leagues
1. National Hockey League (North American System)
2. Kontinental Hockey League (NCIS system)
3. Nordland Elitserien
4. Finnish SM-Liiga
5. Uralican Ice Hockey League, Premier Division
6. American Hockey League (North American System)
7. Russian National Hockey League
8. Czech Extraliga
9. Swiss National League
10. Slovak Extraliga
11. Deutsche Eishockey-Liga
12. Ural-Altai Super League
13. Siberian National Hockey League A (highest-ranked league entirely in Asia)
14. Baltikan Virsliga
15. ECHL
16. Uralican Ice Hockey League, First Division
17. French League Magnus
18. Kazakhstan Hockey Championship
19. Carpatho-Alpine Superliga
20. British Elite Ice Hockey League
21. Russian First Hockey League
22. Italian Elite Ice Hockey League
23. Belarusian Extraleague
24. Nordland First Division
25. Novgorodian High League
26. Bashkorto-Tatarstani National Hockey League
27. The New AsiaLeague 1
28. Finnish Mestis
29. Dutch Hockey League
30. Polish Hockey League
31. 1st Czech Republic Hockey League
32. Ukrainian Hockey Super League
33. Transcaucasian First Hockey League
34. Ligue Nord-Americaine du Hockey
35. Ontario Professional Hockey League
36. Australian Ice Hockey League
37. Liga Iberiana de Hockey sobre Hielo (all countries on Iberian Peninsula are in the system except Gibraltar)
38. Siberian National Hockey League B
39. New Zealand Ice Hockey League
40. Hungarian National Championship
41. Russian Second Hockey League
42. Lake Michigan Hockey League
43. Swiss League
44. Uralican Ice Hockey State Leagues
45. Prairie-Shield Hockey League
46. Serbian Hockey Liga
47. Slovak Prvá Liga
48. Baltikan Otra Liga
49. Erie Hockey League
50. Nordland Allsvenskan (the Swedish division of Nordland's third level)s
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