CHL can now play NCAA - change everything !

[jtechkid]

Looks like the Vees have applied to become an expansion WHL team next season. Makes business and hockey sense, but man they screwed the BCHL over by spearheading their leave of HC.

Several reports circulating suggest the Penticton Vees are set to leave the BCHL - Penticton News

wow and dam - bchl is fading faster than my blue jeans in high school .

 

[Kingpin794]

Why is 33% the limit? That sounds very random. Anything backing it up?

Its literally just an educated guess.

It's not that random if you look at the splits atm. Unless the popularity and accessibility of the sport really picks up in America, they won't have the ability to surpass Canada as the majority of NHL players. Just guessing, Canada settles in at around 40%, USA 33%, Europe takes the other 27%.

 

[jtechkid]

One thing hurts Canada is the cost of hockey as participation rate has dropped a lot . The USA has the same issue but the size , money and new rich markets like texas , florida , Arizona ,California i think better protects the growth factor than the Canada market .

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Its literally just an educated guess.

It's not that random if you look at the splits atm. Unless the popularity and accessibility of the sport really picks up in America, they won't have the ability to surpass Canada as the majority of NHL players. Just guessing, Canada settles in at around 40%, USA 33%, Europe takes the other 27%.

After some further research, I could actually buy 33% for Americans. That would seem to align with the trends, but I also don’t think 40% for Canadians is realistic. The graph year to year for Canadians is a big downward trend. If they’re at 41% now, 40% does not seem to be the point that downward trend ends.

 

[wetcoast]

I can see a team picking him up in the latter rounds (6-7) but I'm not sure how much of a flight risk he'd be for the pros.

Really hope he makes it to BG next year as I'm quite excited to see how that program does in this brave new world.

This article here says that he is still hoping to play pro next year

Vancouver Giants captain Mazden Leslie won't be back next year, opts for NCAA team instead

Mazden Leslie wants to play pro, but if not he'll go to Bowling Green instead of coming back to the Giants as a 20-year-old

theprovince.com

“The Giants have gotten me ready to move up a level, whether that’s pro or NCAA,” Leslie said via text message. “And my focus and commitment right now is still 100 per cent on the Giants and hopefully leading the team on a long playoff run.”

The majority of his teammates are eligible to return next season. Asked about how they responded to him saying that he’d be at Bowling Green next year if he didn’t go pro, Leslie replied: “I think all the guys are excited. I think everyone wants to move up in hockey and eventually end up in pro. So I think this is a step in that direction for sure.”


Frankly I doubt that he gets drafted this year and the reason he still keeps getting looks is that he is a RHD with some size and can score points but he simply doesn't project well on the next level (AHL) nevermind NHL.