A ticket for the price of a movie, everyone has a decent seat, and you get an early look at the NHL's next generation.
What's not to like about junior hockey?
Last week we showcased the American Hockey League, which operates teams in 15 states and three provinces.
This week's alternative to the NHL lockout is much more widespread.
The top junior leagues in Canada and the United States count 100 teams between them, scattered all over the continent.
As the sport's fat cats bumble through another labor war, the junior game is your grass roots option.
All the action, but no 12-dollar beers. No Bettman or Fehr, either.
Who knows? You might never go back to the NHL again.
Read more...
Canadian Major Junior Hockey: The primary source of tomorrow's NHL talent.
American Junior Hockey: A hockey nation reaching from New York to Texas, California, and Alaska.
Photo: Junior hockey fans see guys like Sidney Crosby (R) and Brandon Prust long before they arrive in the NHL. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images).
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