NAHL and EJHL enter into historic competition/marketing agreement
Published on September 30, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
The NAHL is proud to announce that is has entered into a historic competition agreement with the Eastern Junior Hockey League, commencing with the 2004-05 season.
As a result of this agreement, EJHL teams shall compete in the 2004 NAHL Showcase Tournament to be held October 20-23, in Blaine MN. For the first time, NAHL and EJHL teams will face off against each other and have the results count in their respective league's standings.
Thirty two teams will compete in 64 games, making it the largest junior showcase ever.
More than 700 junior age players will put their skills on display for fans and scouts alike.
Also as part of this agreement, the NAHL will have the right to market and promote the EJHL and its teams to the nation, while the EJHL will benefit from the NAHL's national sponsorship, merchandising and equipment supplier programs.
"The NAHL is excited at the opportunity to compete with the premier junior hockey league in the Northeast," says NAHL commissioner Michael Santos. "We look forward to fostering this relationship and developing this agreement in the best interests of junior hockey."
"Our common goal is to promote and elevate USA junior hockey in a manner that honestly and respectfully reflects the quality and standards of the two established successful leagues outside of the Tier 1 program," said Dan Esdale, commissioner of the EJHL.
The combined marketing power of the NAHL and the EJHL will give junior hockey a coast to coast, nationwide footprint, extending from New England to Santa Fe, New Mexico and from New York/New Jersey to Fairbanks, Alaska.
More than 200 players from the NAHL and EJHL graduated to NCAA hockey programs last season.
The Eastern Junior Hockey League has been in operation since 1993 and has grown to 13 teams extending from Vermont to New Jersey, divided into two divisions, Northern and Southern and is largely thought of as the top junior hockey league along the Atlantic seaboard.
Entering its 29th season, the North American Hockey League is the oldest and largest junior A hockey league in the United States.
The NAHL and the EJHL share a primary goal to enhance the development of their players in conjunction with a commitment to academic support. The Leagues' schedules and playoff schedules are designed to minimize school conflicts.
NAHL and EJHL competition helps players make the transition from midget and high school hockey to college hockey by creating an environment that is highly competitive, encourages skill development, while providing time for physical growth, and maturity.
Between them, the NAHL and EJHL have developed more college and professional players than any other junior hockey league in the country.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 30, 2004
- Tough weekend for the Barons - Cleveland Barons
- Fairbanks' Case selected Sherwood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week - Fairbanks Ice Dogs
- Phantoms notch win over Ice Diggers - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Tornado tame Cats in home opener - Texas Tornado
- Bandits win nail-biter, then see rally fall short - St. Louis Bandits
- Spirit splits weekend series with Texarkana - Alaska Avalanche
- Back to work for the Blues - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Bismarck beats Jets in OT, captain and alternates named - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Marshals name team captains - Central Texas Marshals
- Bozeman's Day selected NAHL Offensive Player of the Week - Bozeman Icedogs
- Diggers reach .500 - Alpena IceDiggers
- NAHL and EJHL enter into historic competition/marketing agreement - NAHL
- Healthy Phantoms on the road against Indians this weekend - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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