What does CHL stand for?

CHL stands for Canadian Hockey League, an umbrella organization that operates three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the Western Hockey League (WHL), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The CHL itself does not play games — the three member leagues do — but it oversees shared operations including the Memorial Cup and the CHL Import Draft.

What is the Memorial Cup?

The Memorial Cup is the championship trophy of the Canadian Hockey League, awarded annually to the playoff champion of a four-team tournament held each May. The three CHL league champions (OHL, WHL, QMJHL) qualify automatically, joined by the host team of the Memorial Cup tournament.

How is the CHL different from the NHL?

The CHL is a major junior hockey league for players aged 16–20. It is not professional — players receive a monthly stipend and educational packages but not NHL-scale salaries. The NHL is a professional league. The CHL serves as the primary feeder system for the NHL: roughly half of all NHL players come through the CHL.

How does the CHL Import Draft work?

Each CHL team is allowed a limited number of import players (typically two) — players from outside North America. The CHL Import Draft is held annually and lets teams select eligible international players. Most imports come from European countries and Russia.

What age range plays in the CHL?

CHL players are typically 16 to 20 years old. Players are eligible for the CHL Draft the year they turn 16 and become overage at 20. Most players spend 2–4 seasons in the CHL before transitioning to professional hockey, either directly to the NHL or via the AHL or ECHL.

Guide

CHL GUIDE

The Canadian Hockey League — three member leagues, 60+ teams across Canada and the US, the Memorial Cup, and the primary development path for NHL players.

WHAT IS THE CHL

The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that oversees the operations of three major junior hockey leagues in Canada and the United States. The CHL operates the Memorial Cup tournament, the CHL Top Prospects Game, the CHL Import Draft, and shared player welfare and education programs. Each member league runs its own season and playoffs independently.

Founded1975 (in current umbrella form)

HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada

Member leaguesOHL, WHL, QMJHL

Total teams60 across the three leagues

Player age range16–20 years old

ChampionshipMemorial Cup, awarded each May

THE THREE MEMBER LEAGUES

Each CHL member league covers a distinct geographic region and operates its own season, playoffs, and trophy:

OHL — Ontario Hockey League

20 teams

Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania

League championship: J. Ross Robertson Cup

WHL — Western Hockey League

22 teams

Western Canada and US Pacific Northwest

League championship: Ed Chynoweth Trophy

QMJHL — Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League

18 teams

Quebec, Atlantic Canada, US Northeast

League championship: President Cup

THE MEMORIAL CUP

Each spring, the Memorial Cup tournament brings together the champions of the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL along with the host team of the upcoming tournament. The four teams play a round-robin followed by a semifinal and final, with the winner awarded the Memorial Cup.

Round Robin

4 teams · Round robin

Each team plays the other three once. Top two advance directly to the semifinal.

Semifinal

2 teams · Single game

3rd place vs 4th place in round-robin standings.

Memorial Cup Final

2 teams · Single game

Round-robin winner vs semifinal winner.

The Memorial Cup has been awarded since 1919, originally as a tribute to Canadian soldiers who died in World War I. It is the oldest junior hockey trophy in North America.

RECENT MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

Recent Memorial Cup champions:

2025London KnightsOHL

2024Saginaw SpiritOHL

2023Quebec RempartsQMJHL

2022Saint John Sea DogsQMJHL

2021No champion awardedTournament cancelled due to COVID-19

2020No champion awardedTournament cancelled due to COVID-19

CHL AS AN NHL FEEDER

The CHL is the primary development path to the NHL. Roughly half of all NHL players come through the CHL, including:

Connor McDavid — Erie Otters (OHL), drafted 1st overall 2015
Sidney Crosby — Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL), drafted 1st overall 2005
Connor Bedard — Regina Pats (WHL), drafted 1st overall 2023
Auston Matthews — ZSC Lions (Swiss, but CHL draft eligible), drafted 1st overall 2016

Players who aren\'t ready for the NHL after their CHL careers typically transition to the AHL or ECHL for additional development. Most NHL first-round picks in any given draft year come from the CHL.

FOLLOW THE CHL

Browse the directory to find CHL teams across the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL.

→ All 20 OHL teams → All 22 WHL teams → All 18 QMJHL teams → NHL Draft Guide

RELATED GUIDES

NHL Draft Guide — where most CHL players go next
AHL Guide — the next step after the CHL
Stanley Cup Guide — the NHL\'s ultimate prize
IIHF World Championship Guide