NA3HL sets new standard for NAHL tenders and draft picks
June 6, 2019
St. Louis Jr. Blues defenseman Blake Dangos was one of six NA3HL players who played in the NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament in May to hear their name called in the 2019 NAHL Draft. 26 NA3HL players were selected in the annual event.
The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) is pleased to announce that it is has set a new standard for player exposure and advancement to the North American Hockey League (NAHL) thanks to some record-setting numbers on the heels of the completion of the 2019 NAHL Draft, which took place on Tuesday, June 4th.
Not only did 26 NA3HL players sign a tender to play in the NAHL for the 2019-20 season, but 26 more players were selected in the 2019 NAHL Draft.
No other league has had more movement and advanced more players onto play in the NAHL than the NA3HL. Thanks to additional and enhanced initiatives that were put in place this past season in cooperation with the NAHL, more players from the NA3HL play, practice, and earn NCAA Division I scholarships with the NAHL than any other league.
The tendering and draft pick process selections play a big part in the eventual advancement of players each season
“The development ladder that the NAHL shares with the NA3HL is a really important part and feature of what we are trying to do. It starts with good partners. We have some incredible people and teams in both leagues and when they work together, the sky is the limit,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “We are seeing the direct and immediate benefits of the new development and advancement initiative we put in place at the beginning of the season. NA3HL players are getting called up, affiliated, and practicing on a regular basis with NAHL teams and we have seen so much interaction with the two leagues that it has built momentum to lead into what you saw during the NAHL Draft.”
As part of the new and enhanced initiatives that were put into place this past season, all NAHL teams engaged and worked in cooperation with NA3HL teams for increased access to players, including allowing NA3HL players to practice with NAHL teams during the season. The program created additional dialogue between NAHL and NA3HL teams to find prospects and provide them an in-season opportunity for NAHL experience and evaluation. Its direct benefits are resulted in one-of-a-kind opportunities not found anywhere else in USA Hockey-sanctioned junior hockey.
The NA3HL not only saw 52 of its players tendered or drafted by NAHL teams, but over 50 NA3HL alumni played in the NAHL this past season. The NA3HL is also the only league that has an exclusive NAHL tendering system available only to NA3HL players.
In addition, the NA3HL also saw the benefit of taking part in the NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament back in May, which included their own team of young prospects. The team finished Runner-Up at the event and six NA3HL players who played in the event for the NA3HL, heard their names called in the NAHL Draft.
The NA3HL also continues to make its mark and is one of the leaders in junior hockey with the advancement of players onto the NCAA. So far in 2019, the NA3HL has over 110+ college commitments, with almost 70% of those being NCAA commitments. In addition, over 300 former NA3HL players are currently playing in the NCAA, and 13% of NCAA Division III freshmen this season previously played in the NA3HL.
The NA3HL also saw 24 former players not only move onto the NAHL, but also then earn an NCAA Division I commitment while playing in the NAHL.
