CHL can now play NCAA - change everything !

[Corso]

Minnesota and New England are still going to be harder to crack. Minnesota has an incredibly strong HS hockey culture. That's not going to change quickly if at all. New England has been neglected by the Q for so long that it will take a few years before any kind of mass movement happens. Should see a few more NE kids heading to the Q though. Would really help if they can get a footprint in Maine and New Hampshire.

Apparently the Q is looking at placing two teams in the N.E. area.

Don't be to quick to assume that just because Mass kids previously ignored the Q that they will continue to do so. Many Mass kids pick and move to the USHL and even the BCHL. Many of those will now stay closer to home and play in the Q.

It will be interesting to see where those Minny kids end up after their H.S. seasons are over. At one time most of those kids went directly to the NCAA (as did those from the N.E. area after they graduated from their prep programs) but now many of them end up in the USHL for one, two and even three years. Some of those players will end up in the Dub.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Diego Buttazzoni (2006, WHL, Portland Winterhawks) commits to UMass Lowell

 

[landy92mack29]

Diego Buttazzoni (2006, WHL, Portland Winterhawks) commits to UMass Lowell

I'm curious when he goes as his brother is there already as a 04 freshman, still think he'll do 1 more year in Portland but family factor might have him speed things up.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Apparently the Q is looking at placing two teams in the N.E. area.

Don't be to quick to assume that just because Mass kids previously ignored the Q that they will continue to do so. Many Mass kids pick and move to the USHL and even the BCHL. Many of those will now stay closer to home and play in the Q.

It will be interesting to see where those Minny kids end up after their H.S. seasons are over. At one time most of those kids went directly to the NCAA (as did those from the N.E. area after they graduated from their prep programs) but now many of them end up in the USHL for one, two and even three years. Some of those players will end up in the Dub.

The big issue though is that the Q is a pretty terrible league right now. Which is why they've been flying in total nobodies from the BCHL that have no trouble cracking and playing high in the lineup. So in addition to culture shock, there's not a ton to gain until the Q steps up its quality. Most Americans in BCHL are typically kids that were shoved out the door by the USHL and sought an opportunity for more ice time in a better spot than the NAHL. Probably not the type that would raise the quality of play in the QMJHL to any real degree.

Surprised as an insider on all things junior/college hockey, you haven't really brought up one of the biggest logistic factors, which is how CHL teams are generally run with kids being in camp at 16, usually going back and then breaking in at 17. Are CHL teams going to hold a door open for an American kid that is slightly better than the Canadian kid that's been around their team for a couple years later, to come after the high school season ends and join in full when they're 18? That's never really been S.O.P. and Americans that go to CHL were either coming after their NTDP run or starting when they're 16 just like the domestic players. The MA kids packing their bags for Quebec or Minnesota kids packing their bags for the western league would be a huge paradigm shift, and I'm not sure if the supposed quality difference between major junior and the more traditional path for non-NTDP kids justifies it the way it does for OHL region kids.