Mestis vs NCAA D1

How would you compare/contrast Mestis and NCAA Division 1 (Mens)?

NCAA D1 hockey takes the edge here head to head in terms of caliber. Top players in Mestis and the bottom portion of NCAA D1 rosters might be similar, but depth wise, NCAA D1 is stronger as well as skill.

We have scouted both leagues for numerous years via our partners in N. America and Europe so our analysis stems from this.

Mestis

Mestis is the 2nd highest level of ice hockey in Finland.

NCAA Division 1 (Mens)

NCAA Division 1 Hockey is the top level of collegiate men's hockey in the United States.

Location: Finland

Location: United States

Skill Level in Mestis

It's a quality 2nd league in a powerhouse hockey country. In general, Mestis is a slightly younger league with a lot of quality up-and-coming talent. Compared to other hockey countries, most clubs here don't have the same financial budgets that other 2nd leagues (HockeyAllsvenskan, DEL2) might have. The majority of players in the league are Finnish.

Skill Level in NCAA Division 1 (Men's)

NCAA Division 1 Men’s Hockey is the top level of collegiate ice hockey in the United States, featuring elite collegiate players. The level of competition is strong. Many of top junior, prep school, and U18 players around the globe who want to go the NCAA route strive to play here at this level.

Player Perspective: Mestis

"It's a good league with lot of young players coming up. We play in southern Finland (Södra) so our travel schedule is a bit lighter, but we keep busy between all training, matches, and team event. I have played in Liiga of course, but am happy here now raising a family in my home town."

Player Perspective: NCAA Division 1 (Men's)

"Playing NCAA hockey was the best preparation I could have had for my professional career. I was able to mature and gain more confidence too. The level of competition is intense."

Number of Teams in Mestis: 12

Number of Teams in NCAA Division 1 (Men's): 64

Caliber of Players and Imports in Mestis

As we mentioned above, the majority of players across Mestis are Finnish. This equates to less imports on each team throughout the league. The caliber of play in Mestis is good as it's filled with a mix of talented young players and veterans. The average age across all teams is young with team average ages ranging from 22 on the lower side and 25-26 average age on on the high end. In most cases, if you're an import here, teams will expect you to have some good pro experience or strong stats playing in NCAA/USports/etc. Since they're picky about imports in Mestis, this is especially the case.

Caliber of Players and Imports in NCAA Division 1 (Mens)

The skill level in NCAA D1 is exceptionally high. The far majority of players are coming from top junior leagues, prep schools, and a number of international teams (European players). Many rosters have a number of players who are NHL draft picks. If not draft picks, players across rosters each have solid hockey resumes and notable playing experience. Only top-tier players have the chance to compete at this level.