CHL Can Now Play NCAA - Changes Everything

[Oak]

...how?

Why would an American chose CHL over USHL? One of the main reasons is to play with and against the top talent in the country. If all the top talent is leaving after 1-2 years that is one less reason to go there.

Obviously the NHL and USA hockey do not want the USHL to disappear. They will be providing money and more support starting next season. If the USHL catches up to the CHL with amenities and player support, and the CHL no longer retains the top guys for more than a year or two, it becomes less of a reason to go there.

This is obviously just theorycraft but the possibilities are vast and the way things play out who knows.

 

[coooldude]

This is completely wrong. Division 1 athletes have very active and prominent social lives. “Big man on the campus” is very much a thing. I remember on a podcast Scott Darling said being the starting goaltender for Maine is akin to being the starting quarterback at USC.

I believe in BMOC, but come on. USC, one of the biggest and most storied football programs at a big party school, where 80,000 people watch every game and most houses in the beach towns have SC flags flying outside all year round... And the maine goaltender is as big a character? No chance. Is he a BMOC? absolutely. Just not a D1 premium program starting QB level.

 

[ness180]

This is completely wrong. Division 1 athletes have very active and prominent social lives. “Big man on the campus” is very much a thing. I remember on a podcast Scott Darling said being the starting goaltender for Maine is akin to being the starting quarterback at USC.

+1, their response tells me they didn’t attend a NCAA hockey school. Those first and second rounders had just as active social lives as the non-prospects.

 

[David Suzuki]

CHL fans are losing a ton of their top talent for the first time, well, I think the NCAA is a step up, but I fully understand CHL fans being upset

just gonna be bad for the development of the game at the lower levels in canada which will be disasterous for hockey overall.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I believe in BMOC, but come on. USC, one of the biggest and most storied football programs at a big party school, where 80,000 people watch every game and most houses in the beach towns have SC flags flying outside all year round... And the maine goaltender is as big a character? No chance. Is he a BMOC? absolutely. Just not a D1 premium program starting QB level.

Think he meant within the confines of the university, not that he was as big a national celebrity.

 

[Bonin21]

Why would an American chose CHL over USHL? One of the main reasons is to play with and against the top talent in the country. If all the top talent is leaving after 1-2 years that is one less reason to go there.

Great point! CHL won't gain as much as thought and the loss of these top Canadians means it's a net loss.

 

[chaser17]

Long, long term (like 20+ years), strengthening NCAA hockey so much will trickle down to strengthening hockey in the US. But short-term, I think it hurts USA ockey slightly.

Hockey Canada is so cooked in 20+ years if they don't act fast. USA Hockey is gaining more strength every year because Canadian players are choosing to stay in the states after they finish playing and this is only going to make it worse. I know multiple guys personally who played in the NCAA, met a girl and never came home. I don't blame them honestly, our political climate is a mess and the winters can suck.

 

[AyeBah]

The very top NCAA facilities, yes. But we are strictly speaking just athletic facilities. Coaching and hockey-specific training programs are better in professional environments on aggregate. While there are some NHL teams that need to improve their minor league development and coaching, there is lot of sub-par coaching and hockey-specific training (from a development perspective) in the NCAA, including at top programs.


This myth needs to stop being repeated. The vast majority of hockey players will not be getting six-figure NIL deals. Only the star prospects with clear future NHL talent will get those. Financially speaking the AHL on an ELC will still be better for most players.

Another myth is that the social attractiveness of being on a U.S. college campus is going to another motivating factor. For non-prospects, sure. For legitimate future NHL talent, there is so limited non-training/non-hockey free time, especially for draft eligible prospects will not have the luxury of spending their free evenings/weekends acting like a typical college student.

You should pack your bags and move. Living in denial is a tough place to be

 

[rsteen]

The quality of play in the big NCAA conferences is going to quickly get damn close to the AHL

If that's the case then only the elite U20 and U19 players will leave the CHL. Most teenagers aren't ready for the level of play in the AHL. People on the thread keep saying the CHL needs to get younger, but is there any indication the NCAA wants to become an 18-22 league rather than a mostly 20-24 one?

 

[Bonin21]

If that's the case then only the elite U20 and U19 players will leave the CHL. Most teenagers aren't ready for the level of play in the AHL. People on the thread keep saying the CHL needs to get younger, but is there any indication the NCAA wants to become an 18-22 league rather than a mostly 20-24 one?

The NCAA just wants to play the best hockey possible. They'll just take all the best CHL players regardless of age. The top 5 picks will be able to play at 17. The first rounders will be fine at 18.

 

[Golden_Jet]

The NCAA just wants to play the best hockey possible. They'll just take all the best CHL players regardless of age. The top 5 picks will be able to play at 17. The first rounders will be fine at 18.

They won’t have finished high school yet.

 

[Bonin21]

They won’t have finished high school yet.

Verhoeff is going at 17. McKenna will too.

 

[rsteen]

The NCAA just wants to play the best hockey possible. They'll just take all the best CHL players regardless of age. The top 5 picks will be able to play at 17. The first rounders will be fine at 18.

There are already top 5 pics who didn't accelerate, and a few late firsts who do a year in the USHL first. If the NCAA becomes stronger, it's going to be harder for teenagers to play there.

 

[Fatass]

The NCAA just wants to play the best hockey possible. They'll just take all the best CHL players regardless of age. The top 5 picks will be able to play at 17. The first rounders will be fine at 18.

These guys need to have graduated high school. 17 and 18 is still often high school age. 19 is likely their first year for ncaa. And if it’s a top guy he’s onto the National League. There will be 19 year olds who aren’t ready for the nhl, and have only the CHL or us college for their options. 20 year olds are the most likely group to go the ncaa route from CHL. Their numbers are restricted in the CHL. They’re more physically ready to play against men in the ncaa.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Verhoeff is going at 17. McKenna will too.

No word on McKenna yet.

What courses will be Verhoeff be taking, he’s still 16 for a few weeks, that has him in grade 10 atm likely , if skipped a grade, then maybe grade 11 atm.

Guess he could take basket weaving, Didn’t think UND had such low admission standards for education.

 

[jtechkid68]

CHL fans are losing a ton of their top talent for the first time, well, I think the NCAA is a step up, but I fully understand CHL fans being upset

The simple fact is star players drive leagues and now the top CHL boys in their prime year -17-18 will be heading to college . With this happening CHL probably gets younger and USHL doesn’t take as big as hit as people think in regards to the CHL .

 

[Fatass]

The simple fact is star players drive leagues and now the top CHL boys in their prime year -17-18 will be heading to college . With this happening CHL probably gets younger and USHL doesn’t take as big as hit as people think in regards to the CHL .

They need to have graduated high school. That’s the 19 year old players.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Why would an American chose CHL over USHL? One of the main reasons is to play with and against the top talent in the country. If all the top talent is leaving after 1-2 years that is one less reason to go there.

Obviously the NHL and USA hockey do not want the USHL to disappear. They will be providing money and more support starting next season. If the USHL catches up to the CHL with amenities and player support, and the CHL no longer retains the top guys for more than a year or two, it becomes less of a reason to go there.

This is obviously just theorycraft but the possibilities are vast and the way things play out who knows.

Right but at minimum they are going to lose the high end Canadians they have gotten over the years...those players are gone and not coming back. We have already seen an uptick in American players heading to the CHL for next season. I am sure there will be quite a few American players that stick with the USHL...but if this change is a hit to the CHL(it is) it is also a pretty big blow to the USHL.

 

[WarriorofTime]

NCAA Athletes can take academics as seriously or as not seriously as they choose to....

Some guys graduate from tough engineering programs or go to med school after, some do the bare minimum in terms of just showing up and passing the easiest courseload to stay eligible. It's a choose your own adventure kinda deal.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Right but at minimum they are going to lose the high end Canadians they have gotten over the years...those players are gone and not coming back. We have already seen an uptick in American players heading to the CHL for next season. I am sure there will be quite a few American players that stick with the USHL...but if this change is a hit to the CHL(it is) it is also a pretty big blow to the USHL.

Putting aside ego, in order to protect level of play, staying lean (15 proper teams and the NTDP) is going to be important for USHL. The worst thing it can do is expand itself and dilute the product, as that is what would ultimately drive NCAA scouts away if they start to think the level of competition is too low. There's also the NAHL route of upping the number of 20 year old Overagers allowed. It's not pretty, but it ensures a higher level of play and makes for a good destination for 20 year olds that don't have a spot yet.

 

[Oak]

The simple fact is star players drive leagues and now the top CHL boys in their prime year -17-18 will be heading to college . With this happening CHL probably gets younger and USHL doesn’t take as big as hit as people think in regards to the CHL .

If the USHL is smart they will start to get younger as well. Start letting the 16 and 17 year olds play big minutes. Very old league. For most kids no point going before 18.

 

[Bonin21]

No word on McKenna yet.

What courses will be Verhoeff be taking, he’s still 16 for a few weeks, that has him in grade 10 atm likely , if skipped a grade, then maybe grade 11 atm.

Guess he could take basket weaving, Didn’t think UND had such low admission standards for education.

Lmaooo underwater basket weaving is one of the top majors at UND. That is, it's a joke school outside of the aviation/pilot program.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Lmaooo underwater basket weaving is one of the top majors at UND. That is, it's a joke school outside of the aviation/pilot program.

So only a grade 11 education needed in the states to get into D1,
Yep lmaoooo I guess.

 

[Boonk]

Verhoeff is going at 17. McKenna will too.

McKenna is graduating on time with the class of 25' and has a late bday. Verhoeff had to accelerate his schooling over the summer, or had to cram in classes up a grade in the previous few semesters to enter school early as a U18 freshmen. Not many kids will be doing that but some will.

 

[Bonin21]

McKenna is graduating on time with the class of 25' and has a late bday. Verhoeff had to accelerate his schooling over the summer, or had to cram in classes up a grade in the previous few semesters to enter school early as a U18 freshmen. Not many kids will be doing that but some will.

Well ya... That's why I said top 5 picks would be most likely to do it in their draft year but I didn't say all of them will.