How Much Money Do Echl Hockey Players Make

So you want to play professional or semi pro hockey?

In this post, we'll cover everything for you from defining what semi professional hockey is quickly to covering the various levels from top to bottom. We'll also briefly cover professional hockey in Europe in how it compares to the minors in N. America.

Let's get started...

Table of contents:

What is semi pro hockey?
What is the lowest level of pro hockey?
FPHL Hockey Salary
SPHL Salaries
European Hockey
How good do you have to be to play semi-pro hockey?
FPHL Skill Level
SPHL Skill level
ECHL Skill Level
Can you tryout for hockey leagues in the minors?

What is semi pro hockey?

For starter's, semi pro is a minor league level of hockey.

The word semi derives from the latin word "half", so it literally means half professional.

Most all semi-pro hockey leagues compensate their players financially, but many of these players can't rely on that salary alone as a full time occupation.

In the lower levels, some younger players will work in the summer and then focus on hockey in season.

Other players might additionally coach/work part-time in season too...

On the high end, you have the ECHL which is only two steps removed from the NHL. On the lower end of semi-pro, you have the FPHL (commonly referred to as the Fed).

What is the lowest level of pro hockey?

The FPHL is currently the lowest organized semi-pro hockey league in North America.

If you look at team rosters, you'll probably find a mix of players with strong junior and NCAA experience playing here. You'll find some Europeans sprinkled in as well.

Moving up from the FPHL, you have the SPHL.

The level of hockey in the SPHL is higher than the Federal league and you'll commonly find players with stronger resumes. The Southern Professional Hockey League sits between the FPHL and the ECHL.

If we jump up to semi pro hockey in Canada, you have the LNAH which stands for Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey.

LNAH is based in the province of Quebec.

This league is a bit different that the minor leagues in the US. It's filled with a mix of ex-QMJHL, USports, & a handful of former NHL players. Many would still consider it to be one of the toughest and most physical leagues in the world.

In 2016, Vice Sports did a great documentary piece on LNAH called Drop The Gloves: Canada's Toughest Hockey League.

Moving back to N. American minor leagues....

A step above the SPHL, you have the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League).

Although it's hard statistically to make the NHL from here, it's becoming a more common path each season for drafted players to develop and for goalies who generally mature a few years later post juniors or university.

Years back, you had the CHL (Central Hockey League) & the IHL (International Hockey League), but these collectively molded into what is now the ECHL.

The majority of ECHL have affiliations with both NHL and AHL clubs.

This is important to mention since the ECHL has become a more common feeder system to the above leagues, with players regularly moving up/down between the ECHL and the AHL.

#Do semi pro hockey players get paid?

Yes, but it varies depending on which league you're in and how good you are.

FPHL Hockey Salary

In the FPHL, players are generally only making a couple hundred dollars a week (tops). If you're a top 3 player on your roster, you might have a special arrangement with bonuses where you're making more.

Because of this, some FPHL clubs are able to intrigue a strong SPHL level player to play for them with those added conditions (aka extra money).

SPHL Salaries

SPHL players make a little bit more than players in the FPHL on average, but not substantially more.

The average SPHL player is making a few hundred dollars a week, with higher end players making more. Weekly salary caps in the SPHL are tight, therefore, that cap total must get divided up amongst their active roster.

Whether you're playing in the Fed or the SP, one of the biggest drawbacks we hear from players is that after taxes/paying for food/and so on, they're not able to take home that much money at seasons end.

Although most players in the minor leagues know this going in....it's still worth reviewing.

Some of the higher end guys are able to a bit more, but it's quite a grind otherwise financially.

European Hockey

When we help players place in European professional hockey leagues, one common feedback we hear from players is that the day-to-day living is more enjoyable for them both on and off the ice.

This makes sense….since European clubs are usually located in beautiful cities.

Hockey leagues in Europe also have lighter game schedules which can allow for more travel in-season.

If you're interested in how much money hockey players make in Europe, we covered this at length in this previous piece.

How good do you have to be to play semi-pro hockey?

There's a minimum threshold, but it truly depends on which hockey league you're interested in playing in.

Some leagues are considered pro.....whereas others are semi-pro.

FPHL skill level

If you look at an FPHL roster, you'll find an assortment of hockey resumes.

They'll range from top junior and a few European players to more high end players that have some NCAA/USports experience.

SPHL skill level

The SPHL is getting more competitive each year. If you haven't played NCAA, USports, or were an elite level junior player, it's going to be hard to gain any interest from a club here.

Even if you have played at this level, your play needs to be a good level since many players are getting sent down from the ECHL, Europe, etc.

ECHL skill level

ECHL clubs are looking for players with strong collegiate or major junior experience.

With the bulk of coast teams being affiliated with NHL clubs, they have no shortage of players in development systems being sent their way.

Can you tryout for hockey leagues in the minors?

Yes, various clubs throughout the FPHL and the SPHL have free agent camps.

We generally wouldn't advise it though for the majority of players.

Here's why…

If you've spoken directly with the club ahead of time (coach, GM) and they've shown genuine interest in signing you, it might be okay to attend.

Otherwise, attending a free agent camp with hopes of earning a roster spot isn't a wise move.

You are paying to be there and you'll be on the ice with a wide mix of players (many of whom shouldn't be there based on their level of play).

Sure, you could show up out of nowhere and give the coaches no other choice but to invite you to main camp, but it's not a likely outcome.

If you are good enough to play for a club in these leagues, you'll likely be speaking with the club directly (either via an agency or yourself). You won't be signing up online, attending a free agent camp, and ending up on the 1st line PP.

In closing, I hope you've taken away some useful information regarding semi pro hockey, hockey salaries, and the overall experience that minor league players may go through.

If you're a player who's looking to keep playing and you have the skillset to do so, send us a message.