2023 U Sports Recruiting

[UNB Bruins Fan]

F - Marc Richard to UPEI

 

[AUS Fan]

F - Marc Richard to UPEI

Where did you see that?

 

[AUS Fan]

LOI for May 24

Ethan Martini	Dalhousie University
Daniel Michaud	Queen's University
Christian Lowe	Trinity Western University
Leon Sommer	Trinity Western University
Marc Richard	University of Prince Edward Island
Cade Hayes	University of Saskatchewan
Keeton Oakley	York University

 

[AdamMcg83]

G Matt Onuska (Windsor, OHL) to Waterloo

 

[AUS Fan]

From my scouting staff: Jace Isley, Red Deer to DAL

 

[AUS Fan]

Forward Patrick Leblanc, 4 seasons with Charlottetown, joins UPEI.

 

[Lakeheadfan95]

Does anyone know if the bchl leaving HC will affect usports recruiting cause I know they're not allowed affiliates and idk about trades with cjhl teams

 

[AUS Fan]

Does anyone know if the bchl leaving HC will affect usports recruiting cause I know they're not allowed affiliates and idk about trades with cjhl teams

From what I read in the press release it will give more opportunities to players going to NCAA or CIS. A lot of CIS players come from the CHL or other Junion A leagues. I don't recall many from BCHL.
I think it's a good move based on what I've read.


Read this: https://thehockeynews.com/news/why-did-the-bchl-leave-hockey-canada

 

[Hollywood3]

From what I read in the press release it will give more opportunities to players going to NCAA or CIS. A lot of CIS players come from the CHL or other Junion A leagues. I don't recall many from BCHL.
I think it's a good move based on what I've read.


Read this: https://thehockeynews.com/news/why-did-the-bchl-leave-hockey-canada

UBC and Holy Trinity have lots!

 

[AUS Fan]

UBC and Holy Trinity have lots!

4 on UBC and 2 on TW. Still more than you'd see in the AUS or OUA.

 

[MiamiHockeyII]

From what I read in the press release it will give more opportunities to players going to NCAA or CIS. A lot of CIS players come from the CHL or other Junion A leagues. I don't recall many from BCHL.
I think it's a good move based on what I've read.


Read this: https://thehockeynews.com/news/why-did-the-bchl-leave-hockey-canada

It's a cash grab. Whether it's a good move depends on your perspective.

The BCHL has long been the best Tier II league in Canada, and produces the most NCAA players. That is without question. It is also the wealthiest, drawing good crowds in most markets.

It has not been a big producer for CIS, mainly because players go to the BCHL with their eyes on the NCAA. As you note, even the two CIS programs in BC get their Jr A players from elsewhere.

Its Hockey Canada affiliation has limited it to BC residents up the age of 18. By leaving Hockey Canada, it can now accept players from anywhere in Canada at any age.

So what, you say?

Imagine that you are a wealthy parent hoping to get your child an NCAA scholarship, and your child has been drafted into your local Jr A league (CCHL, for argument's sake). Right now your only option is to play for that team OR send them to a private hockey academy due to Hockey Canada restrictions. That's not a great choice for many parents, who may not like or trust the coaches of their Jr A team, and for whom private hockey academies are a poor substitute for Jr A.

Starting in September, a BCHL team could take your child at any age.

Do the math ... they will find top players, and fund those players with depth players from parents willing to pay for their child to play in the BCHL.

This is already the Cranbrook Bucks' business model ... it's pay-to-play.

I'm not here to judge whether this is good or bad. It just is.

But it essentially ends the BCHL as a source of CIS players.

 

[Lakeheadfan95]

4 on UBC and 2 on TW. Still more than you'd see in the AUS or OUA.

Lakehead has 3 Gerrie ho and van unen

 

[AUS Fan]

It's a cash grab. Whether it's a good move depends on your perspective.

The BCHL has long been the best Tier II league in Canada, and produces the most NCAA players. That is without question. It is also the wealthiest, drawing good crowds in most markets.

It has not been a big producer for CIS, mainly because players go to the BCHL with their eyes on the NCAA. As you note, even the two CIS programs in BC get their Jr A players from elsewhere.

Its Hockey Canada affiliation has limited it to BC residents up the age of 18. By leaving Hockey Canada, it can now accept players from anywhere in Canada at any age.

So what, you say?

Imagine that you are a wealthy parent hoping to get your child an NCAA scholarship, and your child has been drafted into your local Jr A league (CCHL, for argument's sake). Right now your only option is to play for that team OR send them to a private hockey academy due to Hockey Canada restrictions. That's not a great choice for many parents, who may not like or trust the coaches of their Jr A team, and for whom private hockey academies are a poor substitute for Jr A.

Starting in September, a BCHL team could take your child at any age.

Do the math ... they will find top players, and fund those players with depth players from parents willing to pay for their child to play in the BCHL.

This is already the Cranbrook Bucks' business model ... it's pay-to-play.

I'm not here to judge whether this is good or bad. It just is.

But it essentially ends the BCHL as a source of CIS players.

I agree with this.
That was kinda my 1st thought when I read it. Hockey is a business and if they think they can monetize this then they will. You mention rich parents and I agree again with you.
But, what about the poor parents who have a "gifted" son who is forced to play in a lesser league. Now he can play in the BCHL, go on to NCAA and be the next Power, Makar, Fantilli,
Like all fanbases, BCHL fans want to see the best product. They don't care that someone will not go to York. Most AUS teams are stocked with CHL players so their fanbase doesn't care.

While not a fan of the "pay-to-play" model, I think it's common at almost every level of minor hockey. As long as there are parents who think their kid is the next one there will be programs willing to take their money.

I like the BCHL decision because it's a little poke in the eye of HC. I'll withhold judgement for a year or so until I see the fallout from this.

As always, you bring a good argument to the table.

 

[Hollywood3]

I agree with this.
That was kinda my 1st thought when I read it. Hockey is a business and if they think they can monetize this then they will. You mention rich parents and I agree again with you.
But, what about the poor parents who have a "gifted" son who is forced to play in a lesser league. Now he can play in the BCHL, go on to NCAA and be the next Power, Makar, Fantilli,
Like all fanbases, BCHL fans want to see the best product. They don't care that someone will not go to York. Most AUS teams are stocked with CHL players so their fanbase doesn't care.

While not a fan of the "pay-to-play" model, I think it's common at almost every level of minor hockey. As long as there are parents who think their kid is the next one there will be programs willing to take their money.

I like the BCHL decision because it's a little poke in the eye of HC. I'll withhold judgement for a year or so until I see the fallout from this.

As always, you bring a good argument to the table.

The BCHL is kind of in competition with the US leagues. Those leagues have been an option for those unhappy with Junior A. Thunder Bay was once in the USHL.

 

[AUS Fan]

The BCHL is kind of in competition with the US leagues. Those leagues have been an option for those unhappy with Junior A. Thunder Bay was once in the USHL.

The USHL is the top Junior league in terms of NHL players who have gone thru the system. BCHL wants to be seen in the same light.

 

[Aces89]

4 on UBC and 2 on TW. Still more than you'd see in the AUS or OUA.

Queen's has a bunch. Kolton Cousins, Holden Katzalay, Trevor Longo and Nolan Hutcheson all played in the BCHL at one point late in their junior careers. Katzalay won OUA East Rookie of the Year in the 2021-22 season

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

The USHL is the top Junior league in terms of NHL players who have gone thru the system. BCHL wants to be seen in the same light.

you mean junior a right.

 

[AUS Fan]

you mean junior a right.

Yes, I mean Junior A, but give this a read: Rating The Junior Hockey Leagues – 2022 Edition – Top Twenty Leagues At All Levels

 

[MiamiHockeyII]

Yes, I mean Junior A, but give this a read: Rating The Junior Hockey Leagues – 2022 Edition – Top Twenty Leagues At All Levels

The USHL is not the development league it claims to be. Yes they have the MOST NCAA Commitments, but that's an illusion they foster by bringing those players to the USHL after they have already committed.
Exhibit A: Bodie Nobes (son of Kelly Nobes) earned a scholarship at Maine after playing for Stanstead College and the Ottawa Jr Senators. He committed to Maine while with Ottawa. A USHL team (Green Bay) then brought Nobes in for one season, and added him to their list of NCAA Commitments ... but they were not the team or league where he earned that commitment.
If you look at their American and Canadian players, you'll find a long list of NCAA Commitments who earned those elsewhere - especially from their HS or Prep Teams in the US - and were then brought in to a USHL team for a year of development. They are also buoyed by the US National Development Program, which is an All-Star Team of Draft-Eligible players that HAPPENS to play in the USHL.
The USHL is currently the fourth best Junior league in North America.
I believe the BCHL is trying to bring in top Canadian players at a younger age (16/17) and develop them for more years than the USHL currently does. Whether they succeed will be interesting to see. They could surpass the USHL in a few years if the top Canadian 16/17 year olds flock to BC.

 

[MiamiHockeyII]

Queen's has a bunch. Kolton Cousins, Holden Katzalay, Trevor Longo and Nolan Hutcheson all played in the BCHL at one point late in their junior careers. Katzalay won OUA East Rookie of the Year in the 2021-22 season

Like most Jr A leagues in Canada, BCHL teams have a long history of bringing in Major Junior veterans to help them win. Katzalay, Longo, and Hutcheson all fit that bill. I am curious whether the BCHL will stop that practice, given that they are clearly focused on the NCAA and teams are no longer trying to win the Centennial Cup. It would not surprise me if they put in a rule banning ex-Major Junior players (i.e. those with no NCAA eligibility) given this quote from the BCHL CEO:

“We believe U18 players should have two development paths in Canada – Major Junior leading to the National Hockey League (NHL) being one and college-tracking junior leading to a US college and then the NHL being the other. Both are important. Both should be supported,” said BCHL CEO Chris Hebb.

The BCHL see themselves as an alternative to Major Junior, so I suspect that we've seen the last of players like Katzalay, Longo, and Hutcheson playing their 20 year old season in the BCHL before heading to USports.

 

[AUS Fan]

The USHL is not the development league it claims to be. Yes they have the MOST NCAA Commitments, but that's an illusion they foster by bringing those players to the USHL after they have already committed.
Exhibit A: Bodie Nobes (son of Kelly Nobes) earned a scholarship at Maine after playing for Stanstead College and the Ottawa Jr Senators. He committed to Maine while with Ottawa. A USHL team (Green Bay) then brought Nobes in for one season, and added him to their list of NCAA Commitments ... but they were not the team or league where he earned that commitment.
If you look at their American and Canadian players, you'll find a long list of NCAA Commitments who earned those elsewhere - especially from their HS or Prep Teams in the US - and were then brought in to a USHL team for a year of development. They are also buoyed by the US National Development Program, which is an All-Star Team of Draft-Eligible players that HAPPENS to play in the USHL.
The USHL is currently the fourth best Junior league in North America.
I believe the BCHL is trying to bring in top Canadian players at a younger age (16/17) and develop them for more years than the USHL currently does. Whether they succeed will be interesting to see. They could surpass the USHL in a few years if the top Canadian 16/17 year olds flock to BC.

I don't "follow" the USHL but I've seen what you're talking about regarding players who have already committed from prep school, etc. The USNDTP is a prime example.

 

[AUS Fan]

This whole BCHL "experiment" will take a few years to develop or fail. They have an approach that they feel will work for them.

Time will tell.

 

[FreddyFoyle]

The USHL is not the development league it claims to be. Yes they have the MOST NCAA Commitments, but that's an illusion they foster by bringing those players to the USHL after they have already committed.
Exhibit A: Bodie Nobes (son of Kelly Nobes) earned a scholarship at Maine after playing for Stanstead College and the Ottawa Jr Senators. He committed to Maine while with Ottawa. A USHL team (Green Bay) then brought Nobes in for one season, and added him to their list of NCAA Commitments ... but they were not the team or league where he earned that commitment.
If you look at their American and Canadian players, you'll find a long list of NCAA Commitments who earned those elsewhere - especially from their HS or Prep Teams in the US - and were then brought in to a USHL team for a year of development. They are also buoyed by the US National Development Program, which is an All-Star Team of Draft-Eligible players that HAPPENS to play in the USHL.
The USHL is currently the fourth best Junior league in North America.
I believe the BCHL is trying to bring in top Canadian players at a younger age (16/17) and develop them for more years than the USHL currently does. Whether they succeed will be interesting to see. They could surpass the USHL in a few years if the top Canadian 16/17 year olds flock to BC.

Essentially many NCAA teams recruit drafted and undrafted players and then 'park' them with USHL teams. Rarely now do recruits directly advance from high school / prep school to the university teams unless they are really talented.

 

[AUS Fan]

Here are all the CIS LOIs since September.

Thomas Couture	Acadia University
Tyler Deline	Acadia University
Ethan Ernst	Acadia University
Matthew Corbisiero	Carleton University
James Mayotte	Carleton University
Nikolas Hurtubise	Concordia University
Loick Daigle	Concordia University
Romain Rodzinski	Concordia University
Charlie Campbell	Concordia University
Vincent N. Fredette	Concordia University
Nick Chenard	Dalhousie University
Alec Bélanger	Dalhousie University
Dawson Stairs	Dalhousie University
Ethan Martini	Dalhousie University
Joseph Serpa	Dalhousie University
Vincent Scott	MacEwan University
Samuel Simard	MacEwan University
Zach Gallant	McGill University
Julian Recine	McGill University
Charles-Antoine Dumont	McGill University
Thomas Belzile	McGill University
Stephane Jr Huard	McGill University
John Logan Camp	Ontario Tech University
Alexander Drover	Ontario Tech University
Antoine Desrochers	Ontario Tech University
Ben Roode	Ontario Tech University
Samuel Ivanov	Ontario Tech University
Derek Hamilton	Queen's University
Nathan Ribau	Queen's University
Aidan Spooner	Queen's University
Sam Marburg	Queen's University
Cole Shepard	Queen's University
Daniel Michaud	Queen's University
Cameron Tolnai	Queen's University
Ethan Kearney	Royal Military College of Canada
Liam Serviss	Royal Military College of Canada
Joseph Ingram-Chambers	Royal Military College of Canada
Evan Jamieson	Royal Military College of Canada
Dell Welton	Royal Military College of Canada
Reid Perepeluk	Trinity Western University
Christian Lowe	Trinity Western University
Leon Sommer	Trinity Western University
Olivier Adam	Université de Moncton
Marc-Antoine Mercier	Université de Moncton
Alex Arsenault	Université de Moncton
Yannic Bastarache	Université de Moncton
Kaylen Gauthier	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Zachary Gravel	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Pier-Olivier Roy	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Anthony Munroe Boucher	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Xavier Filion	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Loris Rafanomezantsoa	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
William Dumoulin	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Jérémy Fontaine	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Edouard Cournoyer	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
William Veillette	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Mavrick Gauthier	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Charles Beaudoin	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Charles-Antoine Lavallée	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Owen Wareham	University of Manitoba
Andrew Boucher	University of Manitoba
Jacob LeGuerrier	University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa
Francesco Lapenna	University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa
Anson McMaster	University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa
Vincent Labelle	University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa
Luka Verreault	University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa
Joe Ranger	University of Prince Edward Island
Yanic Crête	University of Prince Edward Island
Chase Lammi	University of Prince Edward Island
Noah Sedore	University of Prince Edward Island
Cole Larkin	University of Prince Edward Island
Cameron Morton	University of Prince Edward Island
Keiran Gallant	University of Prince Edward Island
Josh Currie	University of Prince Edward Island
Patrick LeBlanc	University of Prince Edward Island
Ben McFarlane	University of Prince Edward Island
Cade Kowalski	University of Prince Edward Island
Michael Stubbs	University of Prince Edward Island
Marc Richard	University of Prince Edward Island
Ben Tkachuk	University of Saskatchewan
Mac Gross	University of Saskatchewan
Cade Hayes	University of Saskatchewan
Reed Jacobson	University of Saskatchewan
Keaton Sorensen	University of Saskatchewan
Raphael Pelletier	University of Saskatchewan
Jordan Fairlie	University of Toronto
Zack Terry	University of Toronto
Owen Luik	University of Toronto
Christian Stevens	University of Toronto
Ryan Mansfield	University of Toronto
Dylan Schives	University of Windsor
Nathan Kelly	University of Windsor
Jacob Boucher	University of Windsor
Matteo Lalama	Wilfrid Laurier University
Isaac Sooklal	Wilfrid Laurier University
Kallaway Mercer	Wilfrid Laurier University
Matt Tovell	York University
Lucas Eagle	York University
Jacob Vreugdenhil	York University
Keeton Oakley	York University
Logan Holm	York University
Ethan Strik	York University

 

[AUS Fan]

From Ben Stiener, Twitter: The TWU Spartans make a big splash in net for the upcoming CW season. They're adding Leon Sommer, who was on Team Austria for the 2021 and 2022 World Junior Championships.