So you are saying a player will have no issue going as a rookie to the OJHL, BCHL, USHL, or any of the other Junior A and B teams then report to the NCAA. They will though have an issue though going to the OHL, WHL or QMJHL as a rookie of the same age?
You either have an issue or you don't. These 15/16 year olds are deciding to go to the NCAA and they haven't been allowed to do so after playing in the CHL due to a rule that is being changed. There is no reason for them not to play in the CHL now as they will still be able to go NCAA now.
That is exactly what I am saying. Unless the player is elite, the player simply won’t play much as a 16 year old in the OHL. The OHL skews older than the USHL. The 16 year old will play more meaningful minutes in those other leagues (BCHL may be the exception since they’ve gone renegade and have attracted a higher calibre of players).
Look at Hawery in London or Challenger in Erie, or Amidovski in Ottawa. Maybe zero points between them. All top prospects for this draft. The OHL is a very difficult league for 16 year olds.
If a player has zero intention of playing as an 18 year old in the OHL (intent to enroll in U of XXX), they won’t play here as a 16 or 17 year old. It makes no sense. Why would they come to the OHL only to play minimal minutes as a 16 year old vs more meaningful minutes in the USHL? The only reason to report to the OHL as a 16 yer old is if your intent is to be an OHL player. That means 4 years is the goal unless you make the pro jump early.
The advantage for these players is there is no age restriction on NCAA. They can either have it as a primary goal or a Plan B if NHL opportunities don’t transpire. Either way, the players will need to choose. If the NCAA is a Plan B then play in the CHL loop. If you are hell bent on your commitment to NCAA as an 18 year old, play USHL, it is a better league for 16 and 17 year olds.