Ben Riche C/F - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (2023 Draft)

[Artorius Horus T]

5 foot 9 / 185
Bethune, SK

shoots left

was Warriors 2nd round pick (33rd overall)

18-19 -> 21-22 has scored some impressive numbers in the SAAHL and SMAAHL

32 goals in 36 games (1.33 ppg)
36 goals in 32 games (2.55 ppg)
36 goals in 44 games (1.45 ppg)

First thing when looking at his game,
what a shot!!! wowwee!!!.

and i thought Bedard had an amazing shot

scored 2 first goals of his WHL career in game 1

Western Hockey League

Headquartered in Calgary, Albert, the Western Hockey League (WHL) consists of 22 Member Clubs located throughout Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

whl.ca

 

[MS]

Huge bump on this thread, but Riche is - as far as I can see - the most prominent 2005-born CHL player to accept an NCAA scholarship, in his case at Quinnipiac starting in 26-27 after his overage WHL year. Currenly in/around the top 10 in WHL scoring.

Previously Riche would have basically been a dead-end no-hoper prospect headed for CIS hockey or a low Euro league but now he's a guy who goes into a quality developmental funnel and a team drafting him in 2025 holds his rights for another 5 years.

To me, this and other guys like him, as they accept NCAA scholarships are now some of the most interesting prospects in the draft, and it will be fascinating to see if a whole new developmental pipeline opens up for this type of player and if NHL teams decide that it's worth investing late round picks in this type of player.

 

[landy92mack29]

Even before this news there was a pretty good chance he'd be drafted and at least got a ahl deal if not elc his OA year. Now he adds leverage and can go ncaa for a bit if not quite ready for ahl at 21

 

[Bubbles]

Previously Riche would have basically been a dead-end no-hoper prospect headed for CIS hockey or a low Euro league but now he's a guy who goes into a quality developmental funnel and a team drafting him in 2025 holds his rights for another 5 years.

That's wrong. IF he gets drafted in 2025, it's still only two years as he is being drafted out of the WHL.

 

[MS]

That's wrong. IF he gets drafted in 2025, it's still only two years as he is being drafted out of the WHL.

I don't think so.

The way I read the CBA, section 8.6 (c) would trump 8.6 (b), and it certainly would make logical sense that that should be the case.

If a Player drafted at age 18 or 19 is a bona fide college student at the time of his selection in the Entry Draft, or becomes a bona fide college student prior to the first June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft, and remains a bona fide college student through the graduation of his college class, his drafting Club shall retain the exclusive right of negotiation for his services through and including the August 15 following the graduation of his college class. The Club need not make a Bona Fide Offer to such Player to retain such rights.

To me it would be exactly the same as for a 2005-born USHL player.

Like a lot of things with this, it's probably unclear and there will need to be a CBA amendment or some such to clarify.