Hockeyville USA
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North Dakota closing in on a commitment from an OHLer, per Schlossman on his podcast yesterday.
I’m fully aware that things can change, no guarantees, etc etc….
But the Yukon Premier and the chief Corporate sponsor of this event both are very clear in their expectation that Gavin McKenna will be in Whitehorse playing for Medicine Hat for this mini pre-season tournament vs Kelowna next September. I think its pretty likely they have some assurances
I don’t understand the thought process of expecting anything else. McKenna is a CHLer til he’s not. The people putting the tourney on aren’t gonna say “he may or may not be here next season” while trying to build it up. It’s all evidence of nothing.
Everything is always subject to change in this brave new world but it sounds like he plans on playing another season in the Hat...
For what it's worth, was told by a fairly reliable source that NoDak would be his preferred destination if he were to go and play in the NCAA but Michigan is still in the mix.
Hockeyville USA
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Can someone explain how a kid that is from Alaska, played in the BCHL, didn’t do much, committed to one of the Alaska schools, got picked up by Moncton?
Yes and why would he go to the NCAA after he gets drafter number one overall? Not happening.
No one is suggesting he would, just that if he were to go the NCAA route, he would very likely end up at one of those schools I mentioned. It does appear, for now, that he intends to play his D-0 year in the Hat and it would be highly unlikely that he would go the college route in his D+1 year.
Close to the 80 mark now on CHL O/A committing. A pretty decent pick up by New Hampshire, was rated by NHL CSB in his draft year but never drafted and ranked as a 4 star prospect by NZ.
Hockeyville USA
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I'm sure we will see more commitments.
If you, however, are referring to high end prospects committing, well that may take a bit more time. As has been previously noted, many of them are waiting until after the draft to make final determinations for the following seasons.
I'm looking forward to the upcoming OHL/WHL drafts next month as those should give us a good indication as to the number of Americans moving north next season. Also, the conclusion of the USHL season and the lifting of transfer fees will give us an even better sense of what leagues the top young prospects will be gravitating towards.
Hockeyville USA
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Andy Dufresne
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- Jun 17, 2009
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Whl draft might be a little murky. There's a seperate draft for Americans, so if we see some big name guys at the top of that draft does that mean those guys are coming for sure? Or is it teams gambling, and choosing to take a chance at a top guy vs a lesser player who's a sure thing (to at least show up).
Also right now US prospects draft is only 2 rounds, if we see that expanded that would be an indication that more western US kids wil be coming north. Still not expecting any Minnesota kids, HS hockey is already their version of junior hockey.
Hockeyville USA
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Most Minnesotans still go play junior in the USHL or NAHL after being done with MN HS Hockey, so will any be willing to play their 18, 19, and/or 20 year old seasons in the Dub? Likely not many since most USHL teams are far closer than the vast majority of the Dub teams, but we'll see.
You will see more Minnesota kids migrate towards the Dub. Granted the numbers are tiny now so there is only room to grow but a lot of regional Dub scouts and GM's have been saying that there is a tremendous amount of interest in the league as opposed to prior years.
Hockeyville USA
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Hockeyville USA
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Hockeyville USA
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I think all 3 CHL leagues and the whole NCAA can benefit a ton from the rule change if they're willing to adapt. Both will get tons of great players that they hadn't been able to get previously.
There will be varying degrees of winners and losers. The Q, has the most to gain and it appears that they will make most of those gains.
landy92mack29
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Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
Think that’s a great decision by USPORTS at least for a year or two. They’re are a ton of 20/21 year olds in the ECHL that would love to take the college route but can’t because of NCAA rules. This will give them a talent pool to keep going until they pin down where their players will come from permanently
BondraTime
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Would be pretty surprised if Matthew Butler doesn't sign somewhere in the coming months for the 2026 season
Hockeyville USA
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WarriorofTime
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- Jul 3, 2010
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Mews is an 06, aka not AHL eligible for 2025-26. Assuming that means Michigan got next season then something something dominoes and he could theoretically hide out in college beyond his must sign date. Simplest thing would be to treat him like any other ncaa player and state he stays on reserve list until august 15 of entering class graduation
