CHL can now play NCAA - change everything !

[bigdog16]

Agreed, we’ll see how this all shakes out over the coming few years. I think the canary in the coal mine is Gavin McKenna and what he may end up doing. If he goes to the NCAA that may end up being the preferred route for late birthdate players prior to the draft who are high end prospects.

I just personally think that the CHL proponents seem to know a lot more about the NCAA than the NCAA proponents know about the CHL. I’ve outlined plenty of issues that may keep players in the CHL/prevent them being eligible for NCAA, so I won’t rehash anymore of that.

If we’re evolving our knowledge and positions on things throughout this process, I think the rigid concept of “this and only this constitutes….whatever” also needs to evolve.

The route by which most players arrive to the NCAA currently is through the USHL. The USHL also employs a draft. It’s a bit a different than the CHL admittedly, but there is a draft nonetheless. Afterwards, players can attend the NCAA school of their choosing. This is not substantially dissimilar to the CHL -> USports route; a player can choose whatever University or College he likes (provided the grades are met and there is reciprocal interest). In my Ottawa example, I am not forced to got to the UofO; I could go to Western, or UofT, or Lakehead….all paid for, so essentially on scholarship.

So, again, while certainly a different process in many ways, these players are still ultimately student athlete in the end, playing University hockey at the same age as their counterparts in the NCAA.

Beauchene and Karabela as well

I think its opposite. CHL proponents are completely downplaying the USHL and NCAA. And many don’t understand the talent level. The CHL is far closer in talent than many want to admit. And theres a significantly larger gap in level of play between the NCAA and the CHL compared to the CHL and USHL.

 

[Corso]

I think its opposite. CHL proponents are completely downplaying the USHL and NCAA. And many don’t understand the talent level. The CHL is far closer in talent than many want to admit. And theres a significantly larger gap in level of play between the NCAA and the CHL compared to the CHL and USHL.

I think a lot of the CHL proponents are fixated on talent while dismissing the age factor. Sure we can argue that the CHL has a slight talent edge over the NCAA but that slight edge is simply not enough to overcome a two to three year age gap. Can the London Knights compete in the Big 10 or Hockey East? Probably but I wouldn't have them as the favorites to win either conference. They are more talented than a majority of the rosters found in both conferences but their age would place them at a disadvantage.

Of course that is not what we are talking about here though. We are focused on development and what will be the best path to a NHL career. Some will have to go through the NCAA as they will need more time in order to be ready for the pro game. Others will simply jump from the CHL to the AHL-NHL route and bypass college all together. It's those last two points that has created a bit of animosity with some posters.

The pro college lads seem to think that the NCAA will become the undisputed top of the pyramid amateur model with the CHL becoming its primary feeder. Now the CHL will indeed become a very important and most likely dominant feeder but the CHL will continue to encourage and promote the pro route for the elite players and the majority of those players will sign ELCs as soon as their able to and bypass the college route.

The pro CHL boys think that no CHLers will leave for the NCAA until they completely exhaust their eligibility and that ALL high end players will sign ELCs before their D+1 or D+2 seasons. Even the WHL commissioner admitted that it would be very arrogant to believe that all players will remain in the CHL until 20 or 21. There will be high end players that leave the CHL at 18 or 19 to play college hockey before signing their ELCs.

The real massive changes are what is going to happen underneath the NCAA/CHL level. Some here believe that the changes will only be at the margins but I disagree with that and time will prove who is right.

 

[wetcoast]

Do you think Quentin Musty is happy with his decision to spurn the NTDP? The developmental pathway aside, USA Hockey doesn't forget. No coincidence that the story leaked about Musty not having been invited to the WJC even if he hadn't been injured.

If Musty was left off teams for choosing his path then shame on USA Hockey.