Amateur Athletic Union adds new Canadian league to UHU

By Michael Caples –

The United Hockey Union – an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned collection of junior hockey leagues – has added a Canadian component.

The newly-formed Canadian International Hockey League was approved as a new member of the UHU at a meeting held in Detroit on Friday.

The CIHL joins the Midwest Junior Hockey League, the Western States Hockey League and the Northern States Junior Hockey League as the four leagues comprising the UHU.

“After months of anticipation and planning, the United Hockey Union, which is the junior hockey council affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union, has as the first order of business at its 2014 annual general meeting, approved the membership of the Canadian International Hockey League,” said Ron White, who serves as UHU president, national junior hockey director for AAU and commissioner of the WSHL. “We are extremely excited about our new partner and the excitement that it will bring to the UHU.”

At the local level, the addition means that MWJHL teams (eight of the nine skate out of Michigan) can now cross the boarder for competition, which also means they can attract Canadian-born players.

“We welcome the challenge to cross borders to compete with our Canadian neighbors,” said MWJHL commissioner Scott Gardiner. “This is a great day for junior hockey.”

The CIHL thanked the MWJHL and their commissioner in the release announcing the news.

“We cherish the opportunity and sincerely thank Ron White of the UHU and the Western States Hockey League, Wayne Sheehan of the Northern States Hockey League and especially the man who helped bring our shared junior hockey vision to the public forefront, Scott Gardiner of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League. I cannot thank these gentlemen enough for putting their faith in our vision and program and I can assure all involved that we will not fumble the ball or cough up the puck.”

The MWJHL and the CIHL are expected to start the 2014-15 season with a joint showcase tournament in Traverse City.

The UHU Has changed its import rule due to the league addition; all Canadian and American-born players are listed as North Americans or non-imports. All four member leagues can unlimited non-imports and 10 imports on their roster. Two grandfathered imports from the prior season will also be allowed.