Huck Cheever
Registered User
- Sep 27, 2018
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Idea: U17 Canadian National Development Program
- Thread starter Huck Cheever
- Start date
Love this idea... It's time they put effort into developing the elite at a younger age. Every other country is doing it with great success. Hockey Canada still just relies on sheer numbers to get elite talent rather than developing it.
MeHateHe
Registered User
- Dec 24, 2006
- 2,724
- 3,115
Two groups would hate this idea:
Junior A team owners, who would lose out of having elite players selecting their clubs to use as a jumping-off point for college scholarships or major junior careers, all while diluting the talent pool that they draw from.
Major junior leagues, who would see this as increased competition for the guys who would eventually be top picks in the NHL draft, and would also dilute the talent pool.
Hockey Canada needs to keep the junior club owners happy. Whether it's good for elite development is not the point.
Junior A team owners, who would lose out of having elite players selecting their clubs to use as a jumping-off point for college scholarships or major junior careers, all while diluting the talent pool that they draw from.
Major junior leagues, who would see this as increased competition for the guys who would eventually be top picks in the NHL draft, and would also dilute the talent pool.
Hockey Canada needs to keep the junior club owners happy. Whether it's good for elite development is not the point.
As good of an idea as it is it will likely never happen. The CHL leagues would fight it tooth and nail. What we have still works but it is likely to leave us falling behind eventually. Instead of the CHL leagues I always thought we should have U17 and U20 provincial teams. Split them up regionally.
BC could probably have 2 teams one on the coast likely in Vancouver and another in the Okanagan operating out of Kelowna. Alberta could likely field two teams in Edmonton and Calgary. Saskatchewan has one out of Regina. Manitoba has one out of Winnipeg. Ontario would probably need 4 teams, separated by regional population divisions, likely operating out of Toronto and Ottawa for sure as well as two other hockey supporting cities. Quebec would likely need 3 teams operating out of Montreal and Quebec City for sure. Atlantic Canada would likely combine to form a single team in Halifax. So that is basically 14 teams and more could be added as population increases. The kids are invited to camps, make the teams and then play there until they are ready for the NHL. With the good kids going on to AHL if they can make the jump at 18 or 19 making room for more kids to move up. Then you basically have a season between them where they play against each other. Hockey Canada would need to oversee it all but like I said this would never fly as the CHL owners will never let it happen. These teams could easily travel between cities playing in local arenas as one stop attractions. You'd probably only need a 52 game season or something close to it leaving a lot of time to train in world class facilities as well as time for Team Canada National events and schooling. The kids that don't make it can head to the Junior A leagues. The teams would also have no age restriction at the bottom so if a kid is a prodigy they can move up into their local Provincial Team Development Program (PTDP) pretty quickly and establish themselves. There would be no draft to get these kids it is all based on population regions. So kids aren't really ever playing super far from home and the travel schedules would be pretty light with a 42 game season. There would also be no imports so European countries would benefit by keeping their kids at home and developing their own talent.
BC could probably have 2 teams one on the coast likely in Vancouver and another in the Okanagan operating out of Kelowna. Alberta could likely field two teams in Edmonton and Calgary. Saskatchewan has one out of Regina. Manitoba has one out of Winnipeg. Ontario would probably need 4 teams, separated by regional population divisions, likely operating out of Toronto and Ottawa for sure as well as two other hockey supporting cities. Quebec would likely need 3 teams operating out of Montreal and Quebec City for sure. Atlantic Canada would likely combine to form a single team in Halifax. So that is basically 14 teams and more could be added as population increases. The kids are invited to camps, make the teams and then play there until they are ready for the NHL. With the good kids going on to AHL if they can make the jump at 18 or 19 making room for more kids to move up. Then you basically have a season between them where they play against each other. Hockey Canada would need to oversee it all but like I said this would never fly as the CHL owners will never let it happen. These teams could easily travel between cities playing in local arenas as one stop attractions. You'd probably only need a 52 game season or something close to it leaving a lot of time to train in world class facilities as well as time for Team Canada National events and schooling. The kids that don't make it can head to the Junior A leagues. The teams would also have no age restriction at the bottom so if a kid is a prodigy they can move up into their local Provincial Team Development Program (PTDP) pretty quickly and establish themselves. There would be no draft to get these kids it is all based on population regions. So kids aren't really ever playing super far from home and the travel schedules would be pretty light with a 42 game season. There would also be no imports so European countries would benefit by keeping their kids at home and developing their own talent.
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Hello Everone,
This is a great idea to develop 15 and 16 years old kid nationally as we are falling behind compared the Fins and Americans. Add some marketing name, we should call the National Development Academy, have the kids play against junior B levels. Then, when they turn 17, they can decide to go the CHL , NCAA, or Swiss Elite route. We are falling behind in terms of developing players ' skating and puck carrying skills. Marketing baits are that this does not affect CHL teams( 16 years old play very limited minutes), having the best professional trainers and skill development coaches.
It is time, let 's tweet, post on facebook, push the idea out there. Thank you for supporting Canadian Skill Development and Advancement System
