United States Hockey League (abbreviated USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in United States. As of the 2003-2004 season, it had 11 teams, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger. The teams are located in Midwestern United States. USHL is strictly amateur; players are not paid for playing. This allows former USHL players to compete in NCAA college hockey (which does not allow players who have been paid athletes before college).

USHL was established in 1973. It was semi-professional for some time and became fully amateur in 1979.

Many USHL players have gone on to compete in professional and college hockey. In 2003-2004, the National Hockey League had 38 players with USHL experience.

List of USHL teams

East Division

• Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
• Chicago Steel
• Des Moines Buccaneers
• Green Bay Gamblers
• Indiana Ice
• Waterloo Blackhawks

West Division

• Lincoln Stars
• Omaha Lancers
• Sioux City Musketeers
• Sioux Falls Stampede
• Tri-City Storm

Currently out for the 2004-2005 season

• St. Louis Heartland Eagles

An earlier United States Hockey League was a minor ice hockey league that existed from 1945 to 1951. It is unrelated to the present USHL.

External link

• USHL website