Mestis vs NCAA D3

Mestis

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

NCAA Division 3 (Men's)

NCAA Division 3 Men’s Hockey is a competitive collegiate level of ice hockey in the United States, sitting below NCAA Division 1.

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 3 (Men's)

NCAA Division 3 Men’s Hockey is a competitive collegiate level of ice hockey in the United States, sitting below NCAA Division 1. Alongside the quality level of hockey, NCAA D3 has a strong emphasis on academics and athletics. The majority of players at this level previously played high level juniors, prep school, and youth hockey levels for many years prior to moving into D3 Hockey.

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 3 (Men's)

"Playing D3 Hockey gave me the best of both worlds. I was able to play close to home and earn my degree all while playing at a high level. I credit my ability to play pro after college to the development I gained here."

Number of Teams in Mestis: 12

Number of Teams in NCAA Division 3 (Men's): 93

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 3 (Men's)

The level of play is quite high and it's quite competitive (especially in the top conferences- ex: SUNYAC). Look at most any NCAA D3 men's hockey roster and you'll find a lineup of players who all have either junior, prep school, or top level youth playing experience prior to them playing at the NCAA level. In recent years, more players coming out of the level are moving on to play professional both in N America and Europe after finishing school.

Mestis vs NCAA D3

How would you compare/contrast Mestis and NCAA Division 3 (Men's)?

Leagues At A Glance