USHL, NAHL announce new transfer agreement
By @MichaelCaples –
Today, the USHL announced that it has revised its player movement agreement with the NAHL, effective immediately.
The new agreement between USA Hockey’s lone Tier 1 junior hockey league and the lone Tier 2 junior hockey league is a revision on the previous policy, which was established in 2007.
With the new agreement, USHL teams may automatically recall designated affiliate players who are skating in the NAHL without a trade form.
It also allows for USHL teams to loan players to the NAHL on a temporary basis.
“We are thrilled to finalize a new player movement agreement with the NAHL and update our partnership in conjunction with USA Hockey’s Ladder of Development.” said USHL President and Commissioner Tom Garrity in the release. “This new agreement is all about more and better opportunities for junior hockey players, which is exactly what we aim to provide.”
The release states that the new agreement offers USHL teams “the unprecedented ability to recall designated affiliate players from the NAHL without having to execute a formal trade.”
“It’s another great day for the players entrusted to us, as we strengthen our partnership with the USHL and within the USA Hockey family, further reinforcing our common core commitment to develop players for the NCAA and NHL,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “Combining the resources of the USHL and the NAHL for player development equals an unmatched investment into the hockey community.”
USA Hockey has signed off on the new policies.
“We’re extremely pleased with this agreement,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Operations for USA Hockey, “It’s a positive step forward and a central piece to the ladder of development in junior hockey.”
From the release:
About the USHL
The USHL celebrates its 17th season as the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league in 2018-19. The USHL had a record 45 players selected at the 2018 NHL Draft, more than any junior league in the world, and more than 400 players on team rosters last season committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent.
About the NAHL
The North American Hockey League (NAHL), the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 24 teams from across North America, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. During the 2017-18 season, the NAHL recorded a record-breaking number of 331 NCAA commitments, 70% of which were NCAA Division I commitments. In addition, nine players with NAHL experience were selected in the 2018 NHL Draft.