How many imports can a Junior A team have, and does a Canadian citizen count as an import?

Question

Accepted Answer

Under Hockey Canada Regulation E (2026-27): Junior teams can register up to six (6) Imports at any one time during the season (E.19 (c)). Teams below the level of Major Junior (which includes Junior A), other than Junior Female, are not permitted to register any non-North American Imports (E.19 (c)(i)). A non-North American Import is a player who transfers to Canada from a non-North American country, and specifically excludes Canadian citizens (definition 27). No player with Canadian citizenship is classified as an Import in Junior hockey (E.22 (a)). A team cannot exceed its quota of Imports at any time. If it has an unused player allotment it can release an Import up to January 10 to register another properly transferred Import. After January 10 it can sign an eligible Import only if it has an Import vacancy, an unused player allotment and fewer than the maximum registered players (E.20). An Import who is released can return to the Member they transferred from and play there that season without being considered an Import. If they play with another team in their present Member, they are still an Import (E.21).