Canadian Hockey League

What Canadian Hockey League does

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the non-profit governing body for major junior hockey in Canada, established in 1975 and headquartered in Scarborough with regional offices in Calgary, Toronto, and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It coordinates three member leagues — the Western Hockey League (WHL, 22 teams), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL, 20 teams), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL, 18 teams) — operating a total of 60 teams across Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. The CHL organizes national events including the Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, the CHL Import Draft, and the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, and runs player development programs such as the CHL Champions Program, Legacy Scholarship Program, and the Champions of Tomorrow Scholarship (in partnership with Papa Johns Canada).

The CHL's product offering is a platform-plus-events architecture. Its digital hub is chl.ca, supplemented by the CHL App for mobile access and LeagueStat for game statistics and player tracking. Live game distribution runs through streaming partners Victory+ (WHL) and FloHockey (OHL and QMJHL), with broadcast coverage through TSN and RDS. Marketing channels span social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), the CHL Insider newsletter, video content, and community programs.

Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales and venue operations across 60 teams, media and broadcasting rights, corporate sponsorships (Kubota, TotalEnergies, Papa Johns, Bauer, CCM, Upper Deck), and merchandise and licensing. The CHL serves youth hockey players aged 16–20 as the primary feeder pipeline to professional (NHL) and now collegiate (NCAA Division I) hockey careers following a November 2024 rule change, alongside fans, corporate sponsors, and NHL scouting operations as secondary customer segments.

Name

Canadian Hockey League

Legal name

The Canadian Hockey League

Website

https://chl.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Canadian Hockey League is a non-profit governing body for major junior hockey in Canada, coordinating 60 teams across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. It operates national events, digital platforms, and scholarship programs as the primary development pipeline to the NHL and NCAA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports League Governance & Operations

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Hockey Leagues (MPAKAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional Live Sports Leagues & Tours (MPAGAMAA)

Keywords

• Junior hockey league
• Hockey player development
• Amateur hockey governance
• Hockey broadcasting rights
• Major junior hockey

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Venue Operations: Revenue from game attendance, season tickets, and venue concessions across 60 member teams in three leagues
2. Media and Broadcasting Rights: Streaming partnerships including Victory+ for WHL and FloHockey for OHL and QMJHL, plus television broadcast agreements with networks like TSN and RDS
3. Sponsorship and Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship agreements with brands including Kubota (Memorial Cup presenter), Papa Johns Canada (scholarship program), TotalEnergies, and equipment suppliers
4. Merchandise and Licensing: Team merchandise, apparel, and licensed products sales through team stores and retail partnerships

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Canadian Hockey League operates the umbrella organization governing three major junior hockey leagues (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) with 60 teams across Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. It produces and distributes live hockey content via streaming (Victory+, FloHockey) and broadcast (TSN, RDS) partners, runs national events such as the Memorial Cup, CHL Import Draft, and CHL USA Prospects Challenge, and provides player development and scholarship programs (CHL Champions Program, Legacy Scholarship, Champions of Tomorrow Scholarship).

Product overview

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the governing body for three major junior hockey leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and QMJHL (Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec). The CHL's product offering is a platform-plus-events architecture centered on chl.ca as the primary digital hub, supplemented by the CHL App for mobile access. The organization operates streaming services through partnerships (WHL Live on Victory+, OHL/QMJHL Live on FloHockey), runs major events including the Memorial Cup and CHL Import Draft, and provides player development services through the CHL Champions Program, Legacy Scholarship Program, and recruitment platform. The three league sub-brands (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) operate with their own identities while unified under the CHL umbrella.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHL 50: The 50th anniversary celebration of the Canadian Hockey League recognizing five decades of major junior hockey excellence.
• Champions of Tomorrow Scholarship
• Memorial Cup presented by Kubota
• CHL App

Products and services

• CHL.ca Website and Digital Hub The main digital platform for the Canadian Hockey League, serving as the central hub for news, schedules, statistics, standings, and information across all three member leagues. For hockey fans, players, and media.
• CHL App

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% of NCAA Division I commitments from Canadian players within one year of eligibility rule change (November 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Papa Johns CanadacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 May 2026Papa Johns Canada and the CHL partner on the Champions of Tomorrow Scholarship program, awarding $25,000 to young Canadians who demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence both on and off the ice. The scholarship celebrates players whose leadership extends beyond the game into schools and communities.
• TotalEnergies Marketing Canada Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 March 2026TotalEnergies announced an official multi-year partnership with the Canadian Hockey League for the 2026 season, aimed at connecting with Canadian communities and hockey fans. The partnership includes activations at marquee CHL events such as the Memorial Cup presented by Kubota and the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, along with community-focused initiatives. The deal strengthens TotalEnergies' brand presence among younger generations across Canada, aligning with the company's growth strategy and performance-driven mindset.
• KubotaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerKubota serves as the presenting sponsor for the Memorial Cup (2026 and 2027) and associated championship events. The partnership provides major event visibility and community engagement opportunities.
• Victory+coreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming platform for Western Hockey League game broadcasts, providing live and on-demand content access for WHL fans.
• FloHockeycoreTechnology or IntegrationStreaming platform for Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game broadcasts.
• BauercoreOthersOfficial equipment supplier providing hockey gear to CHL teams and players.
• CCMcoreOthersOfficial equipment supplier providing hockey equipment to CHL member teams.
• Upper DeckminorOthersTrading card and licensing partner for CHL player and team memorabilia.
• TSN and RDScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial broadcast partners providing television coverage of CHL events, NHL Draft, and national team competitions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United States Hockey League (USHL): The only Tier I junior hockey league in the United States and CHL's most direct North American competitor for elite 16-20-year-old player development, NCAA/NHL pathways, and sponsorship dollars. Both leagues operate as development feeders to NCAA and professional hockey.

Broad incumbents

• National Hockey League (NHL): The top professional ice hockey league in North America and CHL's primary downstream customer; CHL functions as its principal talent pipeline. Operates in the same sport but at the professional tier rather than amateur development.
• American Hockey League (AHL): The primary professional development league directly below the NHL in North America. Shares the hockey development and talent-pipeline value proposition with CHL but operates at the professional level rather than amateur junior.
• ECHL: Lower-tier professional hockey league in North America and a part of the broader hockey development ecosystem where CHL players eventually progress. Comparable sport/category but different competitive tier and ownership structure.

Emerging players

• NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey: U.S. collegiate hockey pathway that, following the November 2024 rule change, now directly competes with CHL as a destination for elite Canadian and U.S. amateur hockey players. Both are amateur development routes feeding the NHL talent pipeline.

Regional players

• Kontinental Hockey League (KHL): Major professional hockey league across Russia and Eurasia. Operates in the same sport/category as CHL but serves a different geography and competes primarily for international player talent and broadcasting rights.
• Swedish Hockey League (SHL): Top professional hockey league in Sweden and one of Europe's leading development pathways. Comparable in sport/category and development function to CHL but operates in a different geographic market.
• Liiga: Top professional hockey league in Finland, producing significant NHL talent. Comparable in sport and development function to CHL but serves a different European geography.

Others

• Hockey Canada: National governing body for ice hockey in Canada; oversees national team programs (including World Juniors) and amateur development pathways that intersect directly with CHL's player pool. Not a competitor but a closely adjacent ecosystem participant.
• International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF): Global governing body for ice hockey that sanctions international tournaments (e.g., World Juniors, Hlinka Gretzky Cup) in which CHL players compete. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHLHockey
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chl-canadianhockeyleague
• Facebookfacebook.com/CanadianHockeyLeague
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-hockey-league
• Instagraminstagram.com/chlhockey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Hockey League