Blizzard hockey organization announces plans to expand
April 18, 2012 at 11:07 am in Alexandria Echo Press
Blizzard hockey organization announces plans to expand
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This is a step down in competition, correct?
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Yes. The NA3HL is generally considered to be lower than that of the NAHL. The pecking order on the US side of the border tends to go USHL (Tier 1), NAHL (Tier 2) and then the NA3HL (along with the other Tier 3 Leagues). I don’t think you see very many college Division I prospects in Tier 3, but you do see some that will land with Division III and ACHA Club Teams.
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After doing a little research to figure out the difference I noticed that there really isn’t a very big gap. Granite City which will be our closest opponent had a 2 year stretch recently when 16 kids gained college commitments. Also the EJHL which is Tier 3 had somethin like 60+ division 1 commits and well over 100 college commits. Thats pretty promising to hear. None the less best of luck to both teams and can’t wait to be in the arena again next year.
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Out East, there aren’t any Tier 1 or Tier 2 hockey programs that I am aware of. So that plays a lot into why the EJHL has had many NCAA Division I commitments, mostly from hockey prospects who choose to stay out East. Out West, the top prospects tend to end up in the USHL, the next level of prospects in the NAHL, and then the NA3HL fills out with the rest. That doesn’t even take into account the prospects that go to play in the Canadian Junior ranks.
In the end though, it is hockey, and there is nothing wrong with that!
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Good luck to Brookings in the NAHL. The Blizzard owners have done a great job of turning a team that started here with almost no fan base to a team that has had a loyal following.
It’s sad to see our team drop a level of play after having a few good seasons, but I don’t know if our level of support made the NAHL in town profitable. I know that NAHL franchises are pretty valuable since Owatonna and Albert Lea’s were sold to Texas teams in the past few years.
Thanks to the players on this year’s Blizzard team for providing a lot of good times to your local fans.
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