Junior hockey is a catch-all term use to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between the ages of 16 and 20 years old. Some Canadian junior hockey leagues are recognized as professional by organizations such as the NCAA as players receive a small stipend, however, the earnings for junior players are invariably far smaller than can be earned in most levels of professional hockey. American junior teams are considered fully amateur unless they play in the Canadian Hockey League. The vast majority of current NHL players played some level of junior hockey.