CHL Can Now Play NCAA - Changes Everything

[Corso]

Jackson Unger (2005, WHL, Lethbridge Hurricanes) commits to Colorado College

Solid pickup for C.C. Enough 05s have now committed for next year that I believe we can definitely lay to rest the debate as to whether or not CHL players will play through their O/A season before committing to college.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Solid pickup for C.C. Enough 05s have now committed for next year that I believe we can definitely lay to rest the debate as to whether or not CHL players will play through their O/A season before committing to college.

Some will go back for their overage season at the request of the NCAA team, since they want them to develop for another year and/or don't have spots to bring them in for their 19 or 20 year old seasons, but yes, many will leave the CHL while still having junior eligibility.

 

[Blue and Green]

Solid pickup for C.C. Enough 05s have now committed for next year that I believe we can definitely lay to rest the debate as to whether or not CHL players will play through their O/A season before committing to college.

I don't think there was ever much debate on this point. Especially as there are only three overagers permitted per CHL team. Debate has been more on how many CHLers will leave before they finish their non-overage eligibility.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yeah, kids not good enough for college yet will play Age 20 in Junior. A lot of kids will leave at 19. Kids that are very good/ready will leave at 18. Once in a blue moon you'll see a 17 year old draft year (accelerating school is a logistic factor there).

 

[jtechkid68]

A lot of US kids don't give a crap about NCAA Hockey, they don't grow up watching it and mostly grow up watching the NHL if they watch hockey. Only those in Minnesota & then parts of New England, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Wisconsin maybe a couple other states watch NCAA hockey en masse.

also Mass really care too , but that’s basically The whole USA youth hockey community lol . I meant more like USA parents want their kids to get college education over the CHL route .

 

[Corso]

I don't think there was ever much debate on this point. Especially as there are only three overagers permitted per CHL team. Debate has been more on how many CHLers will leave before they finish their non-overage eligibility.

There were some who openly wondered how strong the CHL standard agreements were but yes, most of us were in agreement that those contracts would not preclude players, especially those that played three years already from skipping their O/A year and playing in the NCAA.

Yes, one of the few questions/debates remaining is how many CHLers will opt for the NCAA before their non-overage eligibility.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

also Mass really care too , but that’s basically The whole USA youth hockey community lol . I meant more like USA parents want their kids to get college education over the CHL route .

I said parts of New England. New England includes Massachusetts. And now you can do both, so a kid from Winchester Massachusetts can play a year of public HS hockey, then two or 3 years of prep school, then a year or two in the Q for the Halifax Mooseheads, and then play at whatever Hockey East/ECAC program in the NCAA

 

[WarriorofTime]

I don't think there was ever much debate on this point. Especially as there are only three overagers permitted per CHL team. Debate has been more on how many CHLers will leave before they finish their non-overage eligibility.

Was mostly Corso saying players goal was to sign an ELC as quickly as possible and wouldn't leave their junior team because they made friends.

 

[Blue and Green]

I said parts of New England. New England includes Massachusetts. And now you can do both, so a kid from Winchester Massachusetts can play a year of public HS hockey, then two or 3 years of prep school, then a year or two in the Q for the Halifax Mooseheads, and then play at whatever Hockey East/ECAC program in the NCAA

And if education is important to a kid, that CHL scholarship looks pretty good, especially if he can play four years in a CHL league. If it turns out that he's not good enough to get a full ride from D1, or he suffers a career-ending injury, at least he's got something to help pay for his education that he wouldn't get by playing in high school or in any other junior league. And there's some flexibility to it-- you wanna go to trade school instead of university? Go ahead. You wanna try minor pro leagues for awhile and then double back to get your education? You've got 30 months (18 months for overagers) to give it a whirl. The idea that CHL = death to your education is 20 years outdated.

CHLers with remaining eligibility will be in a better position to make some security demands from NCAA schools compared to kids from other leagues.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I said parts of New England. New England includes Massachusetts. And now you can do both, so a kid from Winchester Massachusetts can play a year of public HS hockey, then two or 3 years of prep school, then a year or two in the Q for the Halifax Mooseheads, and then play at whatever Hockey East/ECAC program in the NCAA

Yeah it's good for the Donut kids especially that can't make the USNTDP but don't necessarily want to be playing Prep/HS in like their NHL Draft year, while still wanting to retain NCAA eligibility.

Generally good overall for anyone firmly in or on the fringes of an NHL Draft Pick. Bad if on the fringes of Major Junior/NCAA D1, but those guys will just play somewhere else until inevitably becoming Men's League Players like everyone else.

 

[Corso]

And if education is important to a kid, that CHL scholarship looks pretty good, especially if he can play four years in a CHL league. If it turns out that he's not good enough to get a full ride from D1, or he suffers a career-ending injury, at least he's got something to help pay for his education that he wouldn't get by playing in high school or in any other junior league. And there's some flexibility to it-- you wanna go to trade school instead of university? Go ahead. You wanna try minor pro leagues for awhile and then double back to get your education? You've got 30 months (18 months for overagers) to give it a whirl. The idea that CHL = death to your education is 20 years outdated.

CHLers with remaining eligibility will be in a better position to make some security demands from NCAA schools compared to kids from other leagues.

Pretty well much. It is primarily the education package, along with additional amenities, that will increasingly make the CHL more appealing to U.S.-born players, at the expense of domestic leagues. We have already observed this trend in the OHL draft and the recent signings of American players in both the Dub and the O. I fully expect more Americans will continue to sign, even in the QMJHL, a league they have largely avoided in the past.

 

[2Mototik2]

There's always been attrition of 19-turning-20 year olds who decide to get their schooling underway (or are just done with junior hockey) instead of returning for their overage year or dropping down to Jr. A, but now there's another, more attractive than USports or Jr. A, avenue for those players if they like what an NCAA team is telling them.

I think the player's and his CHL team's situation are going to be big factors as well. We may see players leave teams that are going to be bad but be more willing to stay if the team is going to be good.

That's why it's important to remember that most of these older CHL players aren't moving to the NCAA as NHL prospects if they haven't already been drafted. I would wager that if the NCAA wasn't an option, most would be back for an OA year.

 

[TomBlizzy12]

The NTDP got basically every player they wanted

Tyler Boucher LOL

 

[bigdog16]

Tyler Boucher LOL

Lol what? I’m talking about about with the most recent CHL-NCAA rule change and the latest 09 group.

 

[frontsfan67]

Guaranteed the Fronts were hoping to have him back as an O/A. Hence the rule change to allow more imports to replace losses like Hay.

Big playoff run thought maybe Tampa would sign him for AHL. After how good he was in playoffs for us didn’t think he would be back. Think with him going NCAA now he gets an extra couple years for Tampa to hold onto the rights? Could be wrong

 

[Corso]

Another 05 off the board and good pick up for Ohio St.