Prospect Info: Blues 2024-2025 Prospect Thread

[Brockon]

That's a really weird interpretation. The NCAA admitting McGill? What?

My point is that college hockey in Canada has an opportunity to expand and develop. As @Brockon posted, there are, indeed, opportunities to play college hockey in Canada, but the level of play is not NHL pre-draft quality.

I love the idea of CHL players transferring to the best college hockey programs in the US. That's a fantastic idea. What is also a fantastic idea is for college hockey programs in Canada to develop a league as a developmental track to go along with the CHL. We have NCAA and USHL and the U has mucho opportunity to expand and develop.

I doubt that ever happens to be honest. Despite the attempts to draw talent into the USports program, the preferred development path for talented players has always been a blend of the CHL or BCHL, AJHL, OJHL followed by US NCAA colleges depending on personal preference.

I don't foresee a USports program ever attaining a relevant developmental path recognition, largely because of the difference in population, population density and distance between reputable universities and colleges with hockey programs makes playing meaningful games challenging. There doesn't seem to be a desire to grow the USports circuit into a program that rivals the CHL. I'm not informed enough to know the nuances of why there hasn't been a push for this.

And that's ignoring that many post-secondary institutions here don't have hockey teams. 32/436 institutions have hockey programs, of which 8/32 are located West of Ontario - making travel for games difficult as Winnipeg and Vancouver (most distant of such institutions) are 1400 miles apart.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I doubt that ever happens to be honest. Despite the attempts to draw talent into the USports program, the preferred development path for talented players has always been a blend of the CHL or BCHL, AJHL, OJHL followed by US NCAA colleges depending on personal preference.

I don't foresee a USports program ever attaining a relevant developmental path recognition, largely because of the difference in population, population density and distance between reputable universities and colleges with hockey programs makes playing meaningful games challenging. There doesn't seem to be a desire to grow the USports circuit into a program that rivals the CHL. I'm not informed enough to know the nuances of why there hasn't been a push for this.

And that's ignoring that many post-secondary institutions here don't have hockey teams. 32/436 institutions have hockey programs, of which 8/32 are located West of Ontario - making travel for games difficult as Winnipeg and Vancouver (most distant of such institutions) are 1400 miles apart.

Cool. Thank you for the response. Like I said before, it would be a tall order. But in the end it’s a just a thought. Just an idea. That’s all it was.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

That is what I was trying to ask you?!?!

He’s on first!

 

[ChicagoBlues]

He’s on first!

That was one of the stranger exchanges I’ve had in a quite a while.

Reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode called ’Terminus Algorithmus’.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

That was one of the stranger exchanges I’ve had in a quite a while.

Reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode called ’Terminus Algorithmus’.

Maybe it's just me, but I still don't understand the point you were trying to make.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Maybe it's just me, but I still don't understand the point you were trying to make.

It’s simple, Bro. Follow along.

Developing college hockey in Canada would be good.

Did you catch that?

I was utterly baffled by your interpretations and don’t see how it is possible to come to those conclusions.

The only leaps made were by you.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

It’s simple, Bro. Follow along.

Developing college hockey in Canada would be good.

Did you catch that?

I was utterly baffled by your interpretations and don’t see how it is possible to come to those conclusions.

The only leaps made were by you.

This makes no sense. They already have college hockey in Canada! What are you developing by sending their top players to US colleges?!?!

 

[ChicagoBlues]

This makes no sense. They already have college hockey in Canada! What are you developing by sending their top players to US colleges?!?!

I can’t continue this non-conversation. I get the feeling that you’re reading between the lines and trying to interpret a deeper meaning in a most unnecessary manner.

Whatever.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Pretty sure ChicagoBlues is just stating he wants the Canadian College hockey programs to be brought up to par with US College hockey programs so they can churn out better prospects like CHL and NCAA does. At least that's what my brain is reading.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Pretty sure ChicagoBlues is just stating he wants the Canadian College hockey programs to be brought up to par with US College hockey programs so they can churn out better prospects like CHL and NCAA does. At least that's what my brain is reading.

That seems like a dumb idea! Why would someone want to duplicate the spectacular clusterf!ck that is the NCAA?!?!

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Pretty sure ChicagoBlues is just stating he wants the Canadian College hockey programs to be brought up to par with US College hockey programs so they can churn out better prospects like CHL and NCAA does. At least that's what my brain is reading.

@Bye Bye Blueston

Read this post over and over until it sinks in.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

That seems like a dumb idea! Why would someone want to duplicate the spectacular clusterf!ck that is the NCAA?!?!

Eh, more and more high end developmental Leagues wouldn't be terrible, would allow more kids to get into hockey as well with more spots open for them to play.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836466990216561051

 

[AyeBah]

@Bye Bye Blueston

Read this post over and over until it sinks in.

While I do get what @ChicagoBlues is saying here, I think the more imminent goal for NCAA should be to expand the sport south in to the SEC and Big 12. ASU has been a success and that school is not even that into NCAA sports. Imagine big time athletic schools like Alabama, Texas, or UGA having D1 hockey teams. Lots of these schools already have club teams and I think hockey could take off there, leading to growth at the youth level in non traditional non NHL markets. Ideally the CHL path gives the NCAA a much larger talent base, so there's sufficient depth to roster 30-50 more D1 programs at large schools. That should be the goal, create a sport that is similar to basketball or baseball at the NCAA level (obviously popularity to that level is maybe unattainable) and get it into as many big schools as possible. Anyways, enough of that, lets see how these Blues prospects do at training camp!

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836466990216561051

Seems like this is a bit of a message about the SEL aborted season he had at the beginning of last year. Or maybe not, but I love the message!

 

[SirPaste]

Question to some of you all who might know more about how the leagues work in Russia. I was just looking at the stats of some of our guys over there to start the year and noticed Susuyev is playing in the VHL this season, isn't this basically like the KHL's version of the AHL? Not a big deal as they are at different stages of their careers but just thought it was interesting our old friend Will Bitten is playing for their KHL team while Susuyev is down in the VHL.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Question to some of you all who might know more about how the leagues work in Russia. I was just looking at the stats of some of our guys over there to start the year and noticed Susuyev is playing in the VHL this season, isn't this basically like the KHL's version of the AHL? Not a big deal as they are at different stages of their careers but just thought it was interesting our old friend Will Bitten is playing for their KHL team while Susuyev is down in the VHL.

Yes, VHL is the minor league to the KHL. MHL is the Jr league over there.

 

[Brian39]

While I do get what @ChicagoBlues is saying here, I think the more imminent goal for NCAA should be to expand the sport south in to the SEC and Big 12. ASU has been a success and that school is not even that into NCAA sports. Imagine big time athletic schools like Alabama, Texas, or UGA having D1 hockey teams. Lots of these schools already have club teams and I think hockey could take off there, leading to growth at the youth level in non traditional non NHL markets. Ideally the CHL path gives the NCAA a much larger talent base, so there's sufficient depth to roster 30-50 more D1 programs at large schools. That should be the goal, create a sport that is similar to basketball or baseball at the NCAA level (obviously popularity to that level is maybe unattainable) and get it into as many big schools as possible. Anyways, enough of that, lets see how these Blues prospects do at training camp!

I'm less interested in NCAA hockey expanding into the south as I am in expanding the number of competent D1 hockey programs in general. I think the best path to growth is to build an ACHA D1 power and then try to make the jump to NCAA D1 (which is what ASU and eventually Lindenwood did).

The southern club teams aren't close to that level yet. There are only a couple in ACHA D1 and they aren't anything close to the level that ASU or Lindenwood were.

All that said, the ACHA is actively working to grow the sport in the region with an intent to eventually get some of these teams to NCAA D1. They just announced the creation of the ACCHL, which is an ACHA D1 Conference specifically designed to grow hockey in the south. In order to join, a school must be in one of the Power 5 NCAA conferences with 'historical and current athletic success' and the school can't have an NCAA hockey team. The founding members are Alabama, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Louisville. Three of those teams are jumping from ACHA D2 up to D1 and then they need to find 2 more schools to join.

It's a long road from where most of these southern programs are at to the NCAA. Most of them are playing in rinks that don't come close to meeting NCAA standards and play to crowds roughly on par with a high school crowd at a local rink here. ASU needed $30M+ in donations to make the ACHA to NCAA jump and these schools are miles behind where they were. I think it would be mistake to rush a bunch of new NCAA programs based on CHL eligibility, but I do hope that the ACHA D1 programs can recruit some of these CHL kids when the rules change.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Korotky is dominating MHL right now, 7 goals, 12 points, in 6 games.



Scout from McKeen's.



Clip of 4th goal.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Korotky is dominating MHL right now, 7 goals, 12 points, in 6 games.



Scout from McKeen's.



Clip of 4th goal.

That’s good to see. But still, he’s an ‘05 still playing Russian Jrs. Hopefully he can earn a call-up to at least SKA’s VHL team soon.

 

[bleedblue1223]

That’s good to see. But still, he’s an ‘05 still playing Russian Jrs. Hopefully he can earn a call-up to at least SKA’s VHL team soon.

Right, doesn't mean that much right now. He's at least ahead of where Susuyev was in his D+1 year.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I'm less interested in NCAA hockey expanding into the south as I am in expanding the number of competent D1 hockey programs in general. I think the best path to growth is to build an ACHA D1 power and then try to make the jump to NCAA D1 (which is what ASU and eventually Lindenwood did).

The southern club teams aren't close to that level yet. There are only a couple in ACHA D1 and they aren't anything close to the level that ASU or Lindenwood were.

All that said, the ACHA is actively working to grow the sport in the region with an intent to eventually get some of these teams to NCAA D1. They just announced the creation of the ACCHL, which is an ACHA D1 Conference specifically designed to grow hockey in the south. In order to join, a school must be in one of the Power 5 NCAA conferences with 'historical and current athletic success' and the school can't have an NCAA hockey team. The founding members are Alabama, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Louisville. Three of those teams are jumping from ACHA D2 up to D1 and then they need to find 2 more schools to join.

It's a long road from where most of these southern programs are at to the NCAA. Most of them are playing in rinks that don't come close to meeting NCAA standards and play to crowds roughly on par with a high school crowd at a local rink here. ASU needed $30M+ in donations to make the ACHA to NCAA jump and these schools are miles behind where they were. I think it would be mistake to rush a bunch of new NCAA programs based on CHL eligibility, but I do hope that the ACHA D1 programs can recruit some of these CHL kids when the rules change.

I would agree with this. Either teams with strong ACHA D1 programs or at least larger schools in more traditional hockey markets.

Illinois and Purdue instantly come to mind. Rutgers, Northwestern, Washington, Oregon…

I was told in Feb/March of 2020 that Illinois was imminently going to announce the move to NCAA D1 and building a new arena in downtown Champaign. Announcement was a few days away. Instead, a couple days later, the entire world shut down.

The plan died and it hasn’t been resurrected since unfortunately.

 

[AyeBah]

I would agree with this. Either teams with strong ACHA D1 programs or at least larger schools in more traditional hockey markets.

Illinois and Purdue instantly come to mind. Rutgers, Northwestern, Washington, Oregon…

I was told in Feb/March of 2020 that Illinois was imminently going to announce the move to NCAA D1 and building a new arena in downtown Champaign. Announcement was a few days away. Instead, a couple days later, the entire world shut down.

The plan died and it hasn’t been resurrected since unfortunately.

Yep, the part re Illinois is true. They had the new arena funding and planning all setup. The B10 needs to fill out the rest of the conference with hockey teams, the arena for hockey is just so expensive and hard to envision a decent ROI when it comes to profits.

 

[GoBluz24]

I would agree with this. Either teams with strong ACHA D1 programs or at least larger schools in more traditional hockey markets.

Illinois and Purdue instantly come to mind. Rutgers, Northwestern, Washington, Oregon…

I was told in Feb/March of 2020 that Illinois was imminently going to announce the move to NCAA D1 and building a new arena in downtown Champaign. Announcement was a few days away. Instead, a couple days later, the entire world shut down.

The plan died and it hasn’t been resurrected since unfortunately.

It's an absolute shame that Illinois doesn't have a NCAA D1 program. With Chicago and St. Louis in their back yard, as well as Wisconsin and Michigan, surely they could draw the talent. But, if they feel they don't have the money to properly sustain a D1 program, I guess you stay in club hockey.

 

[Brian39]

It's an absolute shame that Illinois doesn't have a NCAA D1 program. With Chicago and St. Louis in their back yard, as well as Wisconsin and Michigan, surely they could draw the talent. But, if they feel they don't have the money to properly sustain a D1 program, I guess you stay in club hockey.

Especially since the Big 10 is the only traditional conference who actually has a hockey Conference. Big 10 schools looking to start an NCAA D1 hockey program should be able to jump right in to an established Conference and avoid the problem most new programs have where they start Independent and struggle to get teams to come play them.

The hockey Big 10 is NCAA D1's smallest conference with only 7 teams (with one of them being Notre Dame, who isn't in the Big 10 in other sports). It is practically begging for more Big 10 teams to start D1 hockey programs. As you outlined, I think that Illinois would be by far the best suited Big 10 school to start a program. I'm happy about having NCAA D1 hockey in St.. Louis with Lindenwood, but they are going through the struggles of being a small school without a conference. Illinois would be a much more appealing option for top-tier St. Louis recruits as well as offering a good option for the Chicago kids who get passed over by the schools north of them. \

Unfortunately, it looks like any hope is dead unless/until someone with $25M+ of expendable money wants to donate it for a hockey program there.