San Jose Jr Sharks

The San Jose Jr Sharks are excited to announce that they have been accepted into the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL). Participation will begin in the 2015-16 season.

The Tier 1 Elite Hockey League is the Nation’s premier amateur hockey league featuring 20+ organizations stretching from coast to coast.  With significant visibility, top level talent and elite coaching often coming from the upper levels of professional hockey, the Tier 1 Elite League boasts the ability to move young, talented players to level of hockey such as Major Junior, Tier I Junior Hockey, NCAA Hockey, NHL and other professional leagues.

The T1EHL showcase tournaments and games are heavily attended by scouts from the USHL, the WHL, the OHL, the QMJHL and NCAA schools.  This has led to a significant percentage of Tier 1 Elite Hockey League players moving on, making the league one of the most respected in the United States for amateur hockey.

All of the Jr. Sharks AAA teams (18AAA, 16AAA National, 16AAA American, 14AAA, 13AAA, 12AAA and 11AAA) as well as the Squirt A (05 birth year) team will be participating in the T1EHL. This is exciting for our club as it finally gives our minor birth year teams a league to play in. The 18AAA, 16AAA National, 16AAA American and Bantam 14AAA teams’ will all compete in a league playoff, which is currently held in Blaine, MN. The Jr. Sharks are also exploring the opportunity to have girls teams compete in T1EHL events.

“It is our good fortune that we were able to add the San Jose Jr Sharks organization to our league. It is my belief that with the teams we have and have added will make us the strongest Tier 1 league in the nation. Thank you for joining with us,” said T1EHL commissioner Larry Johnson.

“Joining the Tier1 league gives credibility to our birth year philosophy. Now all of our birth year teams have a league structure that we have not had in the past from squirt to midget. The competition against some of the country’s top programs will challenge us to be the best we can be,” said Curtis Brown, Director of the Jr Sharks.

Why did the Jr Sharks make the move to the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League? As a club, the Jr. Sharks decided to move from the NAPHL to the T1EHL for the following reasons:

1. Less School Days Missed/Less Travel - The T1EHL gives member clubs the flexibility to choose their desired events. The T1EHL also has most of their showcases and league events on holiday weekends which minimizes days of school missed.

2. Lower Travel Costs - By joining the T1EHL the Jr Sharks are making an effort to keep more games and league events in the Western United States. Players and parents can expect more tournaments/showcases in places like Phoenix, Dallas, Colorado and Southern California. This will help keep airline costs and hotel nights down. The Jr Sharks will participate with the top level western and NHL Youth Clubs including the Kings, Ducks, Coyotes and Stars allowing their to be more regional competition.

3. Elite Competition - T1EHL members have consistently finished in the top 30 teams throughout the country. Member teams include the Colorado Thunderbirds, Dallas Stars Elite, LA Jr. Kings, Chicago Fury, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets, Victory Honda, Colorado Rampage and more. By competing against elite competition, the Jr Sharks hope to elevate the level of competition in our club.

4. Increased Exposure - The T1EHL is the most scouted Tier I league in the country.  The T1EHL teams and players annually dominate the USHL Draft and NAHL Tender List. As well as create opportunities for kids in NCAA Hockey.

5. Fits Our Development Model - The League will allow all of our minor teams to have a league to play in, including a more consistent schedule from year to year. Teams will still participate in CAHA as well and have the ability to supplement additional events when desired.

For more information on the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, please visit: http://tier1elitehockeyleague.pointstreaksites.com/view/elitehockeyleague/home-page-940.

Tryouts for the San Jose Jr Sharks Tier 1 teams will be held May 15th-16th at Sharks Ice at San Jose. More information on tryouts is available on our website by clicking HERE.