Typically, American high schoolers graduate and march off to college to continue their education-and sometimes their athletic careers-at around 18 years old. Meanwhile, in men's ice hockey, the average age of an NCAA first-year is 20. Where do these players spend their time, and what do they do before they enter collegiate or professional franchises? They head to juniors. In juniors, players experience being cut or traded between teams and leagues, they battle it out to earn scholarships or professional contracts, and sometimes they compete in front of thousands of fans. Junior Ice Hockey: The Leagues Before The League introduces readers to the junior hockey system in North America and provides an in-depth perspective from a former player's experience navigating the leagues, challenges and all. Whether you are a parent, coach, athlete, fan, or simply curious about the unique experience, Junior Ice Hockey: The Leagues Before The League is packed full of information about junior ice hockey in North America: what it is, how it works, and what to expect.