| In the Canadian junior ice hockey system almost every | | | | do not make the American Hockey League find |
| young player dreams about one day making it to the | | | | themselves looking for a job in the minor leagues at |
| National Hockey League.When you do a fast count in | | | | the level below. A few of these leagues are East |
| your head you soon realize that there are a huge | | | | Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League and |
| number of guys playing junior hockey in Canada. You | | | | the United Hockey League.As you understand the |
| also soon realize that very few of these ice hockey | | | | players do not make as much money in the minors as |
| players actually will make it to the National Hockey | | | | they do in the NHL and life is tougher as well.You still |
| League.This article will focus on all those ice hockey | | | | play about 70 to 80 games a season in the minors and |
| players that do not make it directly to the NHL.These | | | | it is very rare that teams at this level travel by plane. |
| players have to prove themselves in the minor hockey | | | | So, if you do not know how to sleep on a bus, you |
| system, before a few of them head up to the NHL | | | | better learn. Fast!A game day in the life of a minor |
| where they want to play.The minor hockey leagues | | | | league ice hockey player could look like this:You wake |
| are as follows:At the level below the National Hockey | | | | up at around eight, have breakfast and arrive at the |
| League you find the American Hockey League and | | | | rink at nine. At the rink you make sure that your |
| here most of the players have NHL contracts. It is | | | | equipment is OK and you get ready for the mandatory |
| good ice hockey with many good players.Players that | | | | pre-game skate. |