Canadian Hockey League (CHL)

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is a major junior ice hockey organization composed of three regional leagues: the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the Western Hockey League (WHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). It serves as a developmental league for players aged 16 to 20, many of whom aspire to reach the National Hockey League (NHL). The CHL is highly competitive and showcases top young talent, operating as a critical step in professional hockey career progression in Canada and parts of the United States. It also hosts the Memorial Cup, an annual championship to crown the best junior team in Canada.