TEN BEST: SOUTHERN PRO MARKETS TO FLIP TO JUNIOR HOCKEY

Expansion. Just the utterance of the word gives junior hockey purist the shakes. “Stop it already, the level of play is watered down as it is,” is the most common comment. I’m often referred to as one of the old school hockey guys. So, I get the concern.

So, lets be realistic, free-to-play junior hockey is a more viable business model than low level minor professional hockey. With the National Hockey League’s continued push for more control over player development, there’s minimal opportunity for players from the Southern Pro Hockey League and Federal Prospects Hockey League to successfully climb the ladder of development to the big show.